The inmates of children’s homes in the district would soon be issued identity cards as a measure of protection.
The State Government had already issued directions to enrol all inmates for Aadhaar cards. Coimbatore district had a total of 78 children’s homes having 4,436 children as inmates.
The decision was taken after the District Child Protection unit led by District Child Protection Officer G. Vijaya held consultations with various Government agencies involved in protecting children’s rights such as the Department of Social Welfare, National Child Labour Project, District Differently Abled Rehabilitation Officer, Integrated Child Development Services, Child Welfare Committee, Anti Human Trafficking Unit and Juvenile Special Unit of the police besides child Welfare Officers in the Railways and Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society (TANSACS) personnel.
A DCPU official said that it was also decided to strengthen the village committees formed to tackle child abuse and strengthen children’s rights.
They are headed by respective panchayat presidents with the local Block Development Officer being the convener.
These committees would be asked to convene more frequently and would be used to spread awareness about child rights. Volunteers would also be roped in to conduct awareness programmes in rural areas.
Further, visual content and games would be utilised to create awareness about child abuse in schools.
A short film on child abuse would be shown initially in government schools. Special emphasis would be paid to train children on how to avoid getting kidnapped and avoid strangers.
Coimbatore district has a total of 78 children’s homes having 4,436 children as inmates
