A total of 42 children belonging to the families below poverty line and in the age-group 4-17 years in different parts of the district have been identified for the ‘Integrated Child Protection Scheme’ (ICPS). Each of them will get a monthly assistance of Rs.1,000 till they complete 18 years of age.
Funded jointly with the Centre’s share of 75 percent and the state government’s contribution of the balance 25 per cent, ICPS is implemented with retrospective effect from January this year in the district and aims at ensuring education, health care and food for the children who had endured some odds or other under various trying circumstances, said Jayashree Muralidharan, District Collector.
Speaking after giving away cheque for Rs.3,000 to each beneficiary towards the assistance for three months from January to March this year marking the inauguration of the scheme in the district, the Collector said that many parents belonging to BPL category preferred some private home as an asylum for their wards thereby depriving the children of right environment and parental care. The assistance would go a long way in preventing such poverty-driven situation, the Collector added.
R. Devika, Child Protection Officer, District Child Protection Unit, said that the beneficiaries were identified after a thorough verification. The children endured various environments and the assistance is being granted as part of ensuring juvenile justice. While a few children were orphans others were afflicted with symptoms of some disease. She said that the parents or guardians had opened bank accounts on the name of minor children and the assistance would be credited to the bank accounts.
Career counselling
Shortly after distributing cheques, the Collector interacted with the children, motivating them to choose their educational career. She also gave useful tips in emerging successful in the Union Public Service Commission’s competitive examinations. She said that the students should develop interest for gaining in-depth knowledge in specific subject. The Collector also underlined the importance of reading newspapers, editorials and various articles for developing their skills for completing the UPSC tests.