Punjab Govt unites 90 missing children with their families

Ninety children, separated from their parents, have been reunited by the Punjab Government as part of its special campaign to unite missing children with their respective families.  Till date, 90 missing children in the state have been successfully sent to their biological parents during the current year. Approximately 140 other children have been kept in government managed homes and other recognised child care units. 

“These children have been kept under constant supervision and were being provided safe and secure environment ensuring their all-round physical and emotional growth,” said the state Health and Social Security Minister Surjit Kumar Jiyani, adding that efforts were on to unite them with their parents.

“The government has been providing special attention to the children who are confined to the homes under Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, and National Pan of Action. The government is also providing all the necessary assistance to rehabilitate such children,” he said. 

Referring to the proper implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, the Minister said that special initiatives have been taken to help the abandoned children under this Act. In order to save the girl child and to encourage parents to accept the girl’s birth, District Child Protection Unit Patiala has been a pioneer to take the initiative to give ‘Badhai Patras’ duly signed by the Deputy Commissioner to all the parents who gave birth to girl child in government hospitals. 

Jiyani said that this initiative has been followed by Muktsar district where besides this, a Crisis Centre for victims under POSCO Act has been set up. The non-government organizations (NGOs) were being roped in to work jointly with the state government to identify abandoned children and also provide required protection under protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POSCO). 

The minister said that the Punjab Government has decided to upgrade district Child Protection Units to provide quality care to the children being kept under protection. As many as 18 child protection units have been set up in 18 districts under Integrated Child Protection Scheme,” he said. 

He said that remaining four districts — Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Pathankot and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar — were also in the process of setting up such units.