AState-level programme under Project Shishu for rehabilitation of children orphaned due to Covid-19 was organised by the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority in the virtual presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court Cum-Patron-in-Chief Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority, Dr Ravi Ranjan, Judge Jharkhand High Court cum Executive Chairman JHALSA, Aparesh Kumar Singh and other honorable Judges, Jharkhand High Court on Sunday.
Under Project Shishu, a complete scheme has been made for the rehabilitation of orphaned children. The programme started with NALSA song and welcome message by Member Secretary JHALSA Mohammad Shakir.
Justice S. Chandrashekhar Hon'ble Judge Jharkhand High Court & Judge In-Charge Judicial Academy, Sujit Narayan Prasad Hon'ble Judge Jharkhand High Court Chairman Jharkhand High Court Legal Services Committee, other honorable Judges, Jharkhand High Court and other distinguished guests were present on the occasion.
Launching the programme, Chief Minister Soren said that under Project Shishu, a campaign has been started to support the orphaned children. Soren appreciated the efforts of Jhalsa members in launching the project. Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan described Project Shishu as a major step taken for the rehabilitation of children orphaned in the epidemic. He said that this project has been launched at the right time and urged that there is a need for human sensitivity for the rehabilitation of children.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh emphasized on the statutory basis and objectives of Project Shishu and said that under this project—the emphasis is to search and identify such children who have lost their parents or earning guardians. Also, under Project Shishu focus will be to arrange for the children to be placed in a family environment with their relatives such as grandparents, grandparents and uncles,etc if they so desire. Linking such children with education, health, sports and complete rehabilitation plans. To keep those children under continuous care so that nothing untoward happens to them and to make arrangements for their upbringing and education till they are 18 years old.
In this programme, children identified under Project Shishu were given the benefit of a sponsorship scheme and other government schemes in the presence of judicial officers and other officials at their residence. Virtually, children who became orphaned at Sonahatu and Bero block joined the scheme.
Member Secretary JHALSA Mohammad Shakir said that as part of the inaugural function, two kids at Sonahatu block who lost their father in the pandemic were linked with a scholarship scheme. The two kids will get Rs 2000 as scholarship for three years. Also, the kids were admitted at Kasturba Gandhi Residential School at Sonahatu. Green cards were provided to kids under which they will be covered under medical insurance. The mothers who became widows in a pandemic will get a widow pension. Also the family will get financial assistance under MGNREGA schemes.