Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Jun: A State-Level Coordination Meeting on issues related to increasing violence against children, missing children, child trafficking, kidnapping, social exploitation, and child protection was held today at the office of the ‘Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights’, Dehradun, under the chairpersonship of Dr Geeta Khanna, Chairperson of the Commission.
The meeting was attended by Dhirendra Singh Gunjiyal, DIG (Law & Order); Dr Shiv Kumar Barnwal, Secretary; Dr Satish Kumar Singh, Under Secretary, Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights; Senior Superintendents of Police, Additional District Magistrates and their representatives from all districts; District Probation Officers (DPOs); Chairpersons and Members of Child Welfare Committees (CWCs); Labour Enforcement Officers; representatives of various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); and other key stakeholders associated with the child protection system.
During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on various challenges concerning the safety and protection of children and adolescents in the state. Special emphasis was placed on issues such as child trafficking, child beggary, missing and recovered children, child labour, child sexual abuse, juvenile delinquency, social exploitation, and strengthening inter-departmental coordination in handling sensitive cases.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Geeta Khanna expressed serious concern over the increasing incidents of violence and crimes against children. She emphasised that effective prevention and redress of such issues require strong coordination among all concerned departments and institutions. She reiterated that ensuring the safety and protection of every child is a collective responsibility and must remain a top priority.
The participating officers and stakeholders presented several suggestions, based on which consensus was reached on developing a comprehensive action plan to further strengthen child safety and protection mechanisms. Emphasis was also laid on prompt action in sensitive cases, effective monitoring, and strengthening information-sharing among departments.
The Police Department was directed to provide the Commission with detailed data and reports regarding all missing children in the state over the last three years, including the reasons behind their disappearance and the current status of children who remain missing as of date.
The Police Department was further advised to strengthen coordination with the Education Department during special drives and make use of the student tracking ID system maintained by the Education Department to identify school dropouts and obtain other relevant information concerning children.
It was also directed that information regarding special police operations should be shared with Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) so that organisations working in the field of child protection can be effectively engaged in the follow-up and rehabilitation of rescued children.
During the meeting, the Chairperson stressed the need for establishing separate facilities for children affected by substance abuse, distinct from those meant for adults. She stated that such dedicated spaces would help protect children from further exposure to addiction while providing them with appropriate rehabilitation, guidance, and opportunities for reintegration into society.
The Commission also reiterated its commitment to continuously monitor matters concerning child rights and taking all necessary measures to prevent crimes against children and ensure their protection and well-being.
