Jammu, Sep 14 (Bureau) The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday framed Committees for Mission Vatsalya and Juvenile Justice Care (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. As per Government Order No: 1051-JK (GAD) of 2022 Dated: 12-09-2022 issued by Dr Piyush Singla, Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Department of General Administration Department, read that three committees of UT Level Monitoring and Review Committee, UT Level Child Welfare and Protection Committee and District Level Child Welfare and Protection Committee (s) have been constituted for implementation, monitoring and review of the ‘Mission Vatsalya’ and Juvenile Justice Care (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. As per order, the UT Level Monitoring and Review Committee will have Chief Secretary as its Chairperson, Administrative Secretary, Home. Administrative Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Administrative Secretary Department of Skill Development, Administrative Secretary Department of School Education, Administrative Secretary, Department of Labour and Employment, Administrative Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj as members, Administrative Secretary, Department of Social Welfare as Member Secretary, Administrative Secretary, Department of Health & Medical Education, Administrative Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Administrative Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs as Member and any other domain expert/statutory body/departments as Co-opted Member.
However, the Committee shall monitor and review the implementation of the scheme in UT, make special efforts for convergence so as to ensure benefits under all possible government welfare schemes for the children, shall closely monitor and review working of structures, services and progress under various components of the Mission Vatsalya, ensure full and unhindered implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and Rules and also review implementation of all other laws applicable for welfare of children such as Right to Education Act, 2009, Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 etc. and all schemes being run by the departments for the benefit of children. Meanwhile the UT Level Child Welfare and Protection Committee will have Administrative Secretary, Department of Social Welfare as Chairperson, Representative of the Home Department (not below the rank of Additional secretary) Representative of Department of Housing and Urban, Representative of Department of Skill Development, Representative of Department of School Education, Representative of Department of Labour and Employment, Representative of Department of Rural Development, Representative of Department of Health and Medical Education, Representative of Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Representative of Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs as Member and Mission Director, Mission Vatsalya as Member Secretary and any other domain expert/statutory body/departments Co-opted as Member.
The Committee shall prepare an annual action plan including financial proposal for the UT and submit to the Government for approval, closely monitor and review the working of structures, services and progress under various components of the Mission Vatsalya, hold quarterly review meetings with District Child Welfare and Protection Committees for effective implementation of the scheme, take needful measures for advocacy, awareness, generation, capacity building, of all stakeholders on child rights and child welfare and address road-blocks, issues, complaints received regarding care and protection of children in the UT, make special efforts for convergence so as to ensure benefits under all possible government welfare schemes for the children and ensure that all institutions are set up under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and Rules thereof and with the assistance of UTCPS (Union Territory Child Protection Scheme) may also frame a media and communication plan to generate awareness among the public on various aspects of the Mission for the rehabilitation and procedures for better protection of children.
The District Level Child Welfare and Protection Committee(s) wil have District Magistrate as its Chairperson, Additional District Development Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Representative from District Legal Services Authority District Programme Officer, Poshan Abhiyan, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Local Bodies Chief Planning Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Education officer, Assistant Labour Commissioner and District Youth Services and Sports Officer as its Member and District Social Welfare Officer as its Member Secretary, District Skill Development Officer, Child Development Project Officer HQ, Representative of SC/ST/BC Corporation as its Member and Any other domain expert/statutory body/departments as Co-opted Member. The Committee shall closely supervise and monitor the activities as well as the overall implementation of Mission Vatsalya at the District level, with the assistance of DCPU (District Child Protection Units) shall conduct periodic and regular mapping of all children related services in the district for creating a resource directory and making information available to the Committees and Boards from time to time, shall assess the number of children in difficult circumstances and create district specific databases to monitor trends and patterns, shall also facilitate the Implementation of non-institutional care programmes including sponsorship, Foster Care and After Care at the district level, with the assistance of DCPU may also frame a media and communication plan to generate awareness amongst public on various aspects of the Mission for rehabilitation and procedures for better protection of children and make special efforts towards convergence with other government departments to ensure the benefits of welfare schemes for children percolate to the concerned stakeholders in the district.