BREADS and its Don Bosco partners take every opportunity to advocate for a safer world for children. In Kalaburagi, on 29 May 2026, a consultation was organised under the Child Safety Net (CSN) initiative, with various Government stakeholders, to strengthen the Caring Community Groups (CCGs). CCGs are local community groups, willing and interested to become guardians of child rights protection. They are often first responders when a child’s rights violation is observed. Seventy-six people attended the consultation including CCG members from Jafferbad, Tarfail, Sanjeev Nagar, Ramji Nagar, Babalad, Sindagi, Naganahalli, Taj Sultanpur, Kamalnagar, and Bhopal Teganur.
Hon’ble Srinivas Navale, Senior Civil Judge, Member Secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) inaugurating the consultation, appreciated that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) often work more effectively than government departments in certain areas. He recommended that the government departments collaborate with NGOs like Don Bosco to ensure that no child is out of school and that children are provided with a safe environment.
The Programme Coordinator in Don Bosco PYaR, Ms. S. Geeta, introduced the CSN programme and its interventions in the past year, conducted in coordination with various departments: 243 children were mainstreamed through counselling for parents and them, 10 CCGs were formed, 510 house visits, school visits, children’s camps, and awareness created on child protection among communities. Among the various Don Bosco initiatives, she highlighted the health interventions which included 114 health camps, facilitating the issue of 118 UDID cards, and 40 assistive devices.
District Child Protection Officer, Mrs. Manjula Patil recognising that outsiders often notice issues concerning children more quickly than family members themselves, exhorted all the CCG members to be more vigilant regarding children’s safety and welfare. She appreciated Don Bosco PYaR’s efforts in facilitating birth certificates and Aadhaar cards for children.
Mr. Manohar, member of the Child Welfare Committee, explained to the CCG members that children in need of care and protection should be produced before the committee. State Child Labor Project Officers Mr Sharanappa Halli and Santosh Kulkarni were also present as was Deputy Planning Coordinator (Education), Mr. V. Pattar. Director of DB PYaR, Fr Kuriakose, was also present.
Headmaster Mr. Rajkumar Patil of Tarfail Government High School acknowledged that DB PYaR’s listing of out-of-school children and door-to-door visits, helped increase school enrollment. Appreciating its remarkable work of helping children obtain birth certificates and Aadhaar cards, he requested everyone’s support of initiatives like Child Safety Net, which works towards a safe environment for children, ensuring they are protected from all forms of exploitation and abuse.
