To inform and discuss alternative forms of childcare for children in need of care and protection or for those separated from their parents, Unicef organised a media roundtable on ‘Alternative Forms of Child Care’ here on Monday.
Panellists included Harihar Nayak, Member, Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR), Rajendra Meher, secretary, Youth Council for Development Alternatives (YCDA), which is implementing some of the alternatives in the State, and Unicef specialists Laxminarayan Nanda and Alka Gupta.
Setting the context, Laxminarayan Nanda told, “Children are separated from their parents for reasons that include forced migration, natural disasters, diseases, abuse or neglect, social exclusion, death of one or more parent, and even a lack of household resources.
Putting these children into a long-term institutional residential care affects the holistic development of the child.”
YCDA secretary Meher spoke about Odisha’s experience on different forms of alternative childcare.
“Instead of institutionalising children, alternative childcare is a better option, as it provides them a safe environment to grow until they are reunited with their parents or are permanently rehabilitated,” he told, adding, “The YCDA in collaboration with District Administration of Boudh, Bolangir and Khurdha and technical partnership with Unicef, has initiated several interventions to demonstrate alternative forms of childcare. This includes kinship care, independent living, sponsorship and aftercare.”
OSCPCR Member Nayak spoke about the role of the commission towards protection of child rights.