Stakeholders meeting at Ramanagara district, Karnataka

Under the Child Rights Education and Action Movement (CREAM) programme, Don Bosco Yuva Marg, Ajjanahalli, Ramanagara, hosted a district-level meeting of stakeholders from the Health, Education, Child Welfare, and Labour departments on 4 January 2020.   Inaugurating the programme, Mr. C.V. Raman, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), Ramanagara, told the gathering that children are special gifts to our nation and the rights and future of children must be protected and safeguarded with high priority.  He lauded Don Bosco Yuva Marg for being a support to the deserving and needy children by rehabilitating them with quality education,  helping them to reach the forefront of mainstream society. Mr. Surendra, District Child Protection Officer (DCPO),  said that the rights of children should not be violated and parents need to be mindful and aware of the rights of children. Apart from providing education to children, the parents also must ensure the overall and holistic development of children. Mr. Chandru, working president, Kannada Janapada Parishath, Ramanagara district; Mr. Dinesh, Labour Officer, Ramanagara; Fr. John Peter, Director, DB Yuva Marg, also spoke on the occasion.

During the function, Champion of Child Rights awards were presented to Mr. Surendra and Mr. Chandru. Mr. Eerappa, Head Master, Government Higher Primary School, Unasanahalli, Kanakapura taluk; Ms. Amrutha, President, Janodaya child rights club, Janodaya High School, Thenganayakanahalli, Kanakapura taluk were also awarded.   Champion of Child Rights is the recognition of individuals who have contributed greatly towards the protection and promotion of child rights/stopped child marriages/child labour etc. The district-level stakeholders meeting provided a platform for the officials to share experiences and understand child rights-related violations in the district. DB Yuva Marg shared the CREAM project activities in the district, especially formation of child rights clubs, and child protection committees in the gram panchayats; campaigns, and actions by the children themselves to protect and promote child rights.