A block-level sensitisation workshop of PRI members of Khariar block on the Integrated Child Protection Scheme was held by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) at Khariar on Saturday.
The Sarpanches and Samiti Members of the block were trained by the trainers of the DCPU and members of the District Child Welfare Committee on different aspects of child rights.
District Child Protection Officer Baladev Ratha presented the Panchayat-wise figures of destitute children of the block. Basing on a survey conducted in September, Ratha revealed that there are 2,155 destitute children in the block out of which 1,267 are fatherless, 583 motherless, 122 neglected and 183 do not have parents.
“We were advised by the district Collector to conduct the survey when a small girl of Bada Dohel village approached the Collector at a grievance meeting and expressed that she wanted to read. When we went to her village to meet her, we found that she was an orphan. We found five more such children at the village who were in need of support and care,” said Ratha.
The workshop was chaired by member of district CWC Dr Fanindam Deo. Other resource persons in the workshop were Trainer Aswini Patra,
legal Protection Officer Bikash Ranjan lawrence and social worker Srinibash Behera.