Centre has asked the State government to convert primary schools having low enrolments in urban and semi urban areas into integrated hub of services for children especially vulnerable ones.
In a recent communication addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Krishna Tirath, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, expressed concerns over inadequacy of services for deprived children like shelters, creches and residential schools especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
“A number of primary schools are having low enrolment and thus, are under consideration of closure. There may be unutilised government buildings and similar infrastructure in cities as well,” Ms. Tirath pointed out.
She suggested that such schools and buildings could be better utilised for establishment of an integrated hub of services for children.
“Services available in such hubs could include open shelter under Integrated Child Protection Scheme, creche facilities under Rajiv Gandhi National Creches Scheme for Children of Working Mothers (RGNCS), anganwadis under Integrated Child Development Schemes and residential schools under Sarva Sikshan Abhiyan,” the Union Minister noted seeking Chief Minister’s intervention for expeditious establishment of such centres. Sources in State Women and Child Development Department that steps had already been initiated to action plan on the proposal.
Meanwhile, the State government has decided to set up six more anti human trafficking units (IAHTUs) to track human trafficking in the State. These units would be located at office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Crime Branch, Cuttack, DIG (North Central Range), Talcher, DIG (South Western Range), Koraput, Inspector General of Police (Railway), Cuttack, Sundargarh and Kandhamal districts.
At present there are six IAHTUs operating in the State. The locations are office of IG (Crime Branch), Cuttack, Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar and offices of IG of Police, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore and Berhampur.
