Sirmaur admn to hold camps on POCSO Act

Nahan, July 29

The quarterly meeting of the District Child Welfare and Protection Committee concluded today. The meeting was organised under the chairmanship of Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Sumit Khimta. Officials at the meeting reviewed ‘Mission Vatsalya’ and the Chief Minister’s Sukh Ashray Scheme. Additionally, the inaugural and introductory meeting of the Mukhyamantri Surakshit Bachpan Yojana was held.

During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Khimta said that reviewed the activities of the District Child Protection Unit, the Child Welfare Committee, and the Child Helpline Sirmaur under Mission Vatsalya. The mission provided institutional and non-institutional services.

The Deputy Commissioner orphans eligible for a child care home should be sent as soon as possible. He also said new children under the sponsorship scheme should be identified. He said the identified children should avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.

In the context of the Mukhyamantri Surakshit Bachpan Yojana, Deputy Commissioner Khimta said all formalities should be completed promptly, and a meeting should be held soon. He directed officials to organise awareness camps to apprise children and parents of the POCSO Act at the district, block and village levels.

During the review of the Chief Minister’s Sukh Ashray Scheme, Deputy Commissioner Khimta said the directorate should be requested to expedite the approval of pending cases related to higher vocational education, marriage grants, and home construction. He said the committee also approved sending 50 per cent of the funds received for the fiscal year 2023ndash;24 to the state-level fund.

He said under the Sukh Ashray Scheme, eligible individuals between 0 and 27 years old were given Rs 4,000 monthly social security grant. Similarly, children aged 0ndash;14 years receive Rs 1,000, and those aged 15ndash;18 receive Rs 2,500.

Sumit Khimta stated that 272 beneficiaries received a total grant of Rs 41.49 lakh during the fiscal year 2023ndash;24. Additionally, 103 beneficiaries received a total of Rs 12.25 lakh under this scheme.

District Child Protection Officer Rama Retka organised the meeting and provided detailed information on the various functions of the District Child Welfare and Protection Committee.

District Council President Seema Kanyal; District Welfare Officer Vivek Arora; District Programmeme Officer Sunil Sharma; District Panchayat Officer Vikram Thakur; Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramakant Thakur; Deputy Director of Elementary Education Rajiv Thakur; and District Programmeme Officer Health Dr Vinod Sangal, among others, were present in the meeting.