A three-day long convention to end violence against children organised by Odisha Alliance for Child Rights and National Action and Coordination Group in association with the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights here ended on Saturday.
The issues taken up included child protection, child marriage, child trafficking, child labour, child migration and child safety in educational institutions. They also discussed on the safety and security of children in disaster situation.
It was learned that the matter of child marriage in Odisha was least discussed. Many communities practice child marriage soon after the girl child attains puberty. Further, it has been a higher concern in district with high women illiteracy, it was revealed.
Children participating on the occasion pointed out the challenges of reaching of the benefits of Government schemes to the grassroots in addition to the lack of accessibility to children even when they reach the point of implementation. They had observed that there was a need by the system to see that the provisions were reaching the children. Promotion of 1098 phone number of Childline be made more extensive by creating awareness on the service at the Anganwadi and school level, they demanded.
While child labours were rescued from different places, the system had no adequate space and provision to rehabilitate them properly. The children suggested for opening centres for rehabilitation at district level.
Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board chief Subash Singh emphasised on the spending of MP, MlA lAD funds for building school infrastructure. The valedictory function was presided over by Odisha Alliance for child Rights chairmen Ranjan Mumar Mohanty and addressed NACG-EVAC chairman by Dr Chiranjeev Kakoty.