Mumbai: A ready reckoner for people working with children who are victims of sexual abuse, trafficking and other crimes is out. The compendium, published by the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) in collaboration with non-governmental organisations International Justice Mission (IJM), Prerana and UNICEF, lists ways to sensitively handle ‘children in need of care and protection’.
Pravin Ghuge, MSCPCR Chairperson said, “The compendium has important forms and formats that can be readily used in day-to-day work.” Sanjay Macwan, Regional Director at IJM, explained what the compendium comprised of. “The compendium is a collation of the best practice forms, templates and orders that are required to be made for every child produced before the CWC. It also seeks to help standardise processes followed by child care institutions.”
On April 7, 31 new Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) were constituted with a chairperson and four members for three years as the tenure of the previous CWCs had come to an end.
Orientation tips
The compendium provides guidelines on orientation of a child in a child care institute at the time of admission, as well as interacting with a child in need of care and protection. It also outlines important points of the Maharashtra State Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2018, and has forms and formats of reports that need to be filled by the CWC and members of voluntary organisations.
Sharda Talreja, Chairperson Mumbai Suburban CWC said the section on trauma and mental well-being in the compendium is crucial for those working with children who suffer abuse-related trauma.
Among the topics it covers are ways to handle trauma better, knowledge of trauma symptoms and concerns, how to strive to be emotionally mature, be patient, genuinely empathetic and caring, how to encourage survivors to participate in decisions that affect them and to make their own choices, how to seek preventative practices.
The compendium will be distributed in all the State’s districts and will be translated in Marathi soon. It will be used by the MSCPCR for training the new CWC members.
