Jammu 27 December: Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India called upon to strengthen Mission Vatsalya and Child Protection Mechanism and service delivery in Jammu and Kashmir. He was speaking in workshop organized by the National Development Foundation Jammu, in collaboration with the District Administration Jammu and the Directorate of Mission Vatsalya J&K organized a One Day Convergent Workshop for Strengthening Child Protection Mechanism as envisioned in Mission Vatsalya and the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2015. Around 120 participants from the Department of Police, Education, Labour, Health, Mission Vatsalya, Mission Poshan, Care Givers and Civil Society Organizations attended the Programme. Ms. Harvinder Kour, JKAS, Director Mission Vatsalya and Sh. Sandeep Seointra, Additional DC Jammu attended the workshop as Guests of Honour and addressed the participants highlighting the efforts of District Administration & Mission Vatsalya for the Care & Protection of the Children.

The Technical Session was facilitated by Mr. Hilal Bhat, Child Protection Specialist J&K, UNICEF India while the Panel Discussion on the Roles and Responsibilities of Stake Holders is facilitated by Dr. Nancy Mengi, Head Social Work Department Central University of Jammu, Sh. Rameshwar Singh Jamwal Sr. Advocate / President Criminologists Society, Sh. Amit Kumar JKAS, ALC Central, Labour Commissioner Office, J&K, Jammu and Sh. Bilal Rashid Mir, Dy. Director Samagra Shiksha J&K. Mrs. Arti Sharma, CEO NDF welcomed the participants and gave brief introduction about the objectives of the Programme. Ms. Nisha Pandita, APO NDF conducted the stage while the Panel Discussion was moderated by Mr. Sunny Kumar, Programme Manager NDF. Mr. Rajiv Khajuria, President National Development Foundation presented the key note address detailing the Roles & Responsibilities of various Stake Holders for Strengthening Child Protection Mechanism. Mr. Khajuria emphasized that all Departments have schemes and mechanisms for Children, the need of the hour is to cement convergent action to support and sustain children in difficult circumstances.

Sh. Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, Addl. Secretary MWCD, Govt. of India in his address said that Government of India is open to support all proposals of Mission Vatsalya for building a robust infrastructure for the children in need of Care & Protection and the children in conflict with law. He asked the Mission Director Vatsalya to involve the Civil Society Organizations like National Development Foundation to strengthen the Child Protection Mechanism at Village, Block & District Level. He asked the Mission Director Vatsalya to hold similar workshops for promoting convergent approach at district level also. He asked that Govt. of India will provide additional funds if required for the leftover sponsorship cases if any. He emphasized that Prime Minster of India has a vision of reaching to all children particularly those in difficult circumstances so that no children is left behind. He complimented the work and efforts of National Development Foundation for bring all stakeholders to one platform to cement the convergent actions to support and sustain the children who need Care & Protection.