The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Kushal Singh convened a meeting with State Government officials for the welfare of missing and disaster-affected children in Dehradun on Wednesday. During the meeting, she instructed them to expedite the information collection system for missing children and make foolproof arrangements for the rescued children, including orphans.
She also said that the State Government should also focus on children who are stranded with their families in villages that have lost road links. She also assured the State Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar that the Union Government is with the State in this situation. If it is required, the Union Government would not hesitate in making relaxation in norms under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).
Kumar said that 35,000 people were rescued by air. "During rescue operations, we evacuated the injured, old, women and children on priority basis. Currently, no pilgrims are stranded in the State. Now, we are giving emphasis on sending ration by air in villages that have lost connectivity and also working round the clock to restore power and water connectivity on war footing. We are also sending bleaching powder, chlorine tablets in affected villages as a part of precautionary measure to check epidemic. We are procuring data of pregnant women and making arrangements of institutional delivery system. Beside it, we are also immunising children and sending milk powder in ration for the sake of children only," he said.
Joint secretary Women and Child welfare department of Government of India, Vivek Joshi, said that several Aaganwadi centres have damaged and Union Government will make 100 per cent contribution for their restoration while there is a provision of 75:25, which union will bear 75 percent of its expense, but now will make 100 per cent. Meanwhile, the Union Government has released Rs 94 crore to the State with immediate effect. For sabla, Swadhar, pregnant and breast feeding women project, the Union Government will make separate contributions. He also assured that whatever proposals the State Government sends under ICPS will be approved by the Union Government.