Panel to step up campaign against child abuse

Highest number of cases reported from Njarackal and Kothamangalam

The District Child Welfare Committee will step up awareness campaigns against child abuse in Ernakulam district.

A meeting of the committee convened by District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla here on Tuesday decided to carry out awareness programmes in the wake of an increase in crimes against children. An official release issued here said that the highest number of such cases were reported from Njarackal and Kothamangalam.

Awareness initiatives will be strengthened in these regions. School counsellors will receive training. Parent-Teacher Associations will be part of the awareness programmes.

It was found that the number of child marriages had gone up in Kothamangalam. Stringent action will be taken against those responsible for conducting such marriages.

The meeting also decided to prepare a directory of child organisations in the district.

Assistance to the poor

Child protection committees at block and panchayat levels will be strengthened. The release said that the district administration had been providing an assistance of ₹2,000 per month to poor students to better their life conditions as part of a sponsorship programme. The money is being disbursed through the district child welfare committee.

The meeting discussed setting up a fund that would provide money directly to the police station chief concerned for arranging vehicles to take child victims in various cases. A proposal to take vehicles on rent and meeting the expenditure for operating them was also discussed.