The first phase of a field study on itinerant children, being conducted by the Social Justice Department in association with the city police and Childline India Foundation, commenced in the city on Sunday.
The objective of the study is to verify the identity of all wandering children and their parents under the department’s ‘Valsalyam’ scheme.
Squads comprising police officers, Social Welfare Department personnel, and Childline India Foundation volunteers visited various public places in the city and conducted awareness programme about the project among petty traders and auto-rickshaw drivers. Stickers explaining the importance of the drive and important telephone numbers were stuck at public places and on vehicles.
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“Though the purpose of the survey is to meet the wandering children and their parents, it will be done in a gradual way without giving much publicity.
“We have completed the ground work for the same,” said District Child Protection Officer Sheeba Mumthaz. According to Mr. Mumthaz, the department, with the support of all participating agencies, would hold an official review meeting at the Collectorate on October 7 to plan the survey activities.
Police officers currently supporting the department in the drive too would attend the meeting, she added.
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In the second phase, the survey would be conducted in all orphanages in the district to verify the address and other identity details of the children.
Social Welfare Department officials said the details will be uploaded on government portal — trackthemissingchild.gov.in