The issues concerning children are not mostly visible at the superficial level. But when one decides to dig deep, they are manifold. This is what the Bala Suraksha Yatra that began at Onchiyam panchayat on Saturday unravelled.
The Balasuraksha Yatra is a novel project of Childline Kozhikode that involves a deep study of one panchayat at a time, analysing the problems concerning children there and solving them, if possible. Childline has envisaged the project as a 10-month programme, concentrating its attention on seven grama panchayats at a time.
The first step is to hold a workshop for teachers, panchayat members, Anganwadi, Kudumbasree and Asha workers, students and any other concerned groups through their representatives. An open discussion would reveal the status of the panchayat with respect to 15 problems concerning children. A vulnerability map of the panchayat is made based on the inputs at the discussion. Childline volunteers will then visit places that are found vulnerable. The problems will be solved if possible, or else a report will be submitted to higher authorities like police, or health or education departments, based on the nature of the problem.
Serious cases
“We found that there was a serious case of drug abuse among lower primary students in Onchiyam. The little children are used as carriers and there have been instances when the parents had beaten up the children for it,” said M.P. Muhammedali, District Coordinator of Childline.
President of Onchiyam grama panchayat Kavitha P.S. inaugurated the workshop while vice president P. Jayarajan presided over it.
Major issues
The participants raised many other serious issues like absence of vaccination and sexual abuse.
The Balasuraksha Yatra team visited Government Fisheries LP School at Madaikara and interacted with teachers and students.
The programme was organised in association with the District Legal Services Authority.
