The Department of Social Defence has submitted a proposal to the State government to constitute two more Child Welfare Committees (CWC) in Chennai. The officials said that having two more CWCs, apart from the one already existing in the city, would help in better discharge of duties related to children in need of care and protection, and help in their successful rehabilitation.
“The proposal has been submitted to the State authorities and is still under consideration,” said a senior official from the Department.
According to the Department officials, they have proposed a plan where one CWC each can be constituted in north, south and central Chennai. The city currently has only one such committee, that too without a chairperson and only three members. The committee has weekly hearings; two at the Royapuram Government Children’s Home for Boys and one at the Kellys Government Children’s Home for Girls.
“Any child which has been rescued by the juvenile aid police or stakeholders has to be produced in either of these two homes, even if they are at the other end of the city. And they find it difficult to commute,” said Sheila Charles Mohan, member CWC Chennai. “We should have four more CWCs as there are many cases of children needing proper attention, which is tough with the strength we currently have,” she said.
Speedy disposal of cases
Adding to this A. Narayanan, director, CHANGEindia, said, “Chennai has over 70 lakh population and children constitute at least 43% of it. Having more CWCs would also help in speedy disposal of cases and avoid overcrowding in government homes.”
According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) 2015 Act, every State government shall constitute one or more Child Welfare Committees for exercising powers and to discharge duties in relation to children in need of care and protection and also ensure that induction training and sensitisation of all members of the committee is provided within two months from the date of notification.
“One committee is not enough. Other cities like Delhi have four or more CWCs to pay attention to such children. We have been asking for this for a very long time now. We hope the committees are constituted soon,” said Girija Kumara Babu, general secretary, Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW).
