Only intensive efforts can help prevent crime against children, Minister for Social Justice K.K. Shylaja has said. The Women and Child Development Department has drawn up a mega campaign, ‘Karuthal Sparsham – Kaikorkkam Kuttikalkayi’, towards this end, she said.
She was addressing employees and workers from across the State at a training programme ahead of the launch of the campaign here on Wednesday.
The Minister said the campaign would run from June 1, Global Parenting Day, to November 14, Children’s Day, by coordinating the activities of various departments.
The campaign had been devised by conducting discussions with various experts against the backdrop of many crimes against children.
Besides awareness programmes, the campaign aims at practical steps to check such steps. Children spent maximum time in schools, and hence teachers and other school staff should be attentive to any change in behaviour of children.
Harsh punishment
Harsh punishment such as spanking would not serve any purpose as behavioural change could be spurred by many factors. Physical and mental well-being of family members was important. Children should be drawn away from substance abuse. Those responsible for cruelty or violence against children should be given stringent criminal punishment.
Protection of children was society’s responsibility too.
The Health Department had a critical role in ensuring physical and mental health of each family.
The Department was devising a project Ammamanassu to address emotional and psychological problems faced by women.
She also called on department workers to intervene in various areas for ensuring love and protection for children.
Nearly 1 lakh people – anganwadi and ASHA workers, school counsellors, students’ police units, Our Responsibility to Children. Childline, school health nurses, teachers, junior public health nurses, NSS, and non-governmental organisation representatives - took part in the training programme across various centres in the State.
The Minister and experts held interactions at the Victers channel studio as part of the training that was telecast live. Social Justice Special Secretary Biju Prabhakar, Women and Child Development Director Sheeba George were present along with psychiatrists R. Jayaprakash, K.P. Jayaprakash, Arun B. Nair, and Mohan Roy.