KOZHIKODE:In order to provide security to children in need of care, a District Child Protection Unit has been set up in Kozhikode under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme being implemented by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
District Child Protection officer Sheeb Mumthaz is heading the unit which will be monitored by District Collector N Prasanth. Social Justice Department is implementing the programme in the state.
The scheme aims at preventing child labour, child beggary, trafficking and exploitation of children. With the setting up of the Unit, the Department aims at rehabilitating children and those in need of care and protection, the destitute and differently-abled, victims of crimes like those subjected to abuse, child labourers and children of convicts and children in conflict with law like those who have committed crimes like murder or theft and orphans.
As part of implementing the programme smoothly, a District Child protection Committee has been constituted with district panchayat president Kanathil Jameela as chairperson and District Collector N Prasanth as co-chairman.
Besides, block and panchayat-level committees have also been set up. With the formation of Unit, the protection guaranteed under various programmes and projects of the state and Centre will be brought under a single umbrella.
As a first step, the unit will create a database of children who need to be brought under protection, said officials with Social Justice Department.
It will provide legal and emotional support for the victims and their parents. It will also arrange medical aid and rehabilitation programmes. Also, the adoption of children who need urgent care and selection of their sponsors has been entrusted with the Unit.