Workshop in City spreads word on Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalaya

Lucknow: For the effective implementation of Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti, a two-day workshop of Deputy Chief Probation Officers and District Probation Officers concluded on Wednesday. The workshop was organized in Lucknow under the joint aegis of Women and Child Welfare Department, Uttar Pradesh and UNICEF.

The objective of the workshop was to make the officers aware of the new points and guidelines of the Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya schemes run by the Women’s Welfare Department and to ensure effective operation of the schemes.

In the workshop, discussions were also held on promoting coverage and promotion of schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Yojana and One Stop Centre.

The workshop was inaugurated by Honorable Minister for Women and Child Welfare,  Baby Rani Maurya  and in the closing session of the workshop, Honorable Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare,  Pratibha Shukla addressed the officers.

On the first day of the workshop,  Maurya emphasized on developing sensitivity among the officers. She said, “We have to assure every woman and child of the state that our department is always ready to give them all kinds of protection and assistance.” The children of home and observation home should also be encouraged to develop their abilities according to their interest.

Addressing the officials on the second day of the workshop,  Shukla said, “Become guardians of children living in government homes. We can transform the lives of children in conflict with the law and make them good citizens. Take out time to sit with the children and talk about their problems and aspirations. Children have a lot of potential and it is our responsibility to instill in them the confidence so that they too can excel in life and contribute towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat.” He appreciated the efforts of UNICEF and suggested the authorities to take cooperation of legislators at the local level to create awareness about social security schemes for women and children.

Anamika Singh, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Welfare, said, “Mission Vatsalya is a comprehensive child protection scheme that seeks to strengthen the institutional care system for children, promote family-based alternative care, and develop programs such as toll-free helplines. insists on doing. Mission Shakti is a comprehensive program of empowerment of women and girls, which focuses on the protection, care and empowerment of women and girls under Sambal and Samarth points.

Under the new rules of the schemes, Childline will now be operated by the Women and Child Welfare Department itself. Along with this, the Women’s Welfare Department will now work together with the Skill Development Department on the skill development of women and children living in government homes.

A District Hub for Empowerment of Women will also be started under Mission Vatsalya so that all concerned departments can work together for the empowerment of women and girls.

Discussing the rights of children in the workshop, Dr. Amit Mehrotra, Program Manager, UNICEF said, “The first thing we should strive for is that every child and girl child is protected from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Every child has the right to grow up in a family environment. Staying in a state-run children’s home should be the last option for any child and if any child has to stay in a children’s home, he should get quality care there.” Dr. Mehrotra said that working at the block and village level Women were also advised to be involved in the dissemination / implementation of their programs by women and child welfare.

In the workshop, the Chairman of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Dr. Devendra Sharma said that a report is being prepared by the commission on the actual status of child and women observation homes of the entire state, which will be shared by the state government soon. Dr. Sharma emphasized on the registration of voluntary organizations working for women and children in the districts so that their accountability can be fixed.
The Director, Women and Child Welfare, Ms. Sarneet Kaur spoke about the formation of a partnership with the Skilling Mission to run 48 home-based training centers across the state with a provision for job placement.
In the two-day workshop, along with major amendments to POCSO Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, the main points of health, education, skill development etc. schemes were also discussed. In the workshop, discussions were also held with representatives of related departments like health, education, skill development, labor department and police and civil society organizations.

Officers from 30 districts of the state participated in the workshop. Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Department Mr. Puneet Mishra, Mr. BS Niranjan, Mr. Prabhat Ranjan, Mr. Anu Singh and Ashutosh Singh were present in the workshop.