The social justice department (SJD) launched the pilot project of ‘Karuthal’ for vulnerability mapping of children in two panchayats of the state on Monday. The project is launched under the integrated child protection scheme (ICPS) of SJD at the Vilappil in Thiruvananthapuram and Kodur in Malappuram district.
“Project Karuthal under ICPS and based on Juvenile Justice Act 2015 is for the vulnerability mapping of children in Kerala,” said ICPS consultant Maria Mathews. The project would be to identify children less than 18 years of age belonging to four target groups which include children in need of care and protection, children in conflict with law, children in contact with law and other vulnerable children, she said.
It is estimated that around 170 million children in India are vulnerable to or experiencing difficult circumstances.
As per the recent statistics published by state crime records bureau (SCRB) there is a 200% increase in reported crimes against children in the state of which rape cases top the list. It is relevant to note that this rise in numbers started since 2011. It is perplexing to find that 97% of the abuse of children is perpetrated within the family by the closest of kin or by the teachers in schools. When caregivers turn into abusers the impact of the abuse lingers lifelong. The vulnerable children include destitute, abandoned and orphaned children, children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, child drug abusers, children of substance abusers, child beggars, children of prisoners, and street and working children.
“Now, this project is for a preventive mode to devise area specific interventions for vulnerable children and to strengthen decentralized planning and implementation of child-related programmes on the basis of vulnerability status of the children in the panchayats,” ICPS consultant Maria Mathews. “The SJD plans to implement it across the state,” said district child protection officer K K Subair.
Details will be collected through sources such as panchayat office records and police station reports and interviews using questionnaires. Ward-level discussions will also be held to identify such children. Kudumabsree workers will visit such families and collect the details. The project report will be prepared after compiling all the details.
Minister for Social Justice K K Shylaja inaugurated the project on Monday. V S Sivakumar, MLA, presided over the function.
Post Your Comments