Taking child protection message to the grassroots with PLF

Sankari Santhanam, member, Child Welfare Committee, speaking a session on child protection for members of the panchayat-level federations in Tiruchi on Thursday. Photo: A.Muralitharan

The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) has embarked on the task of driving home the message on child protection, child rights, and aspects connected with it to the members of Panchayat Level Federations (PLF) .

The capacity building programme organised by the DCPU for PLF members here on Thursday was aimed at sensitising the participants to issues connected with child protection and child rights

Around 85 women from Manachanallur, Andhanallur, Manapparai, and Lalgudi taluks took part in the programme that featured sessions on various topics.

This is the first time that such a programme was being organised for the PLF members, who are part of the Village and Block Level Child Protection Committees, said the District Child Protection Officer R.Devika.

The programme was targeted at PLF members as they have good liaison with the public of their respective panchayats, Ms.Devika said.

The role of DCPU, functions of Child Line, roles and responsibilities of PLF members, and authorised bodies to be approached during times of crimes against children were explained to the participants. The rights of children, social evils of child labour, and child marriage persisting in the society, role of PLF as a group in bringing down such social evils were also put across to the participants.

Child Welfare Committee members Sankari Santhanam and Muthumala Devi handled sessions on PLF members role in care and protection of children, complications of child marriage, and strengthening of the family system, and crimes against children among others.

V. Karthika, Protection Officer, DCPU, spoke on child rights and protection. A similar programme for another batch of PLF members is slated to be held on December 17.