KOZHIKODE: The campaign of women and child development (WCD) department to trace out children in the streets of the state has gone awry for lack of planning.
It was decided to kick-start the campaign on December 15 to 27 to draft a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the children in the street, those engaged in child labour and beggary.
Sources admit that lack of planning over the financial expenditure and non-clarity of the implementation were reasons. “Each district child protection unit (DCPU) has been asked to submit a proposal, and DCPUs gave proposals which are entirely different as there was no parameter given,” said an officer at Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
A few districts had figured out '40,000 to implement the project, and others went for a detailed plan which demanded '3,00,000 for the execution.
The huge difference in the proposals baffled the authorities at the top meeting, and finally, it was decided to call it off. There were no similarities even in the proposals submitted by districts which share a border with other states, where there are chances of more such children.
“The proposal was submitted as per the order, but there was non-clarity over the fund distribution,” said Palakkad district child protection officer, Anandan K.
WCD department director Sheeba George said the same is being implemented through ‘Saranabalyam’ project which has been implemented in Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kottayam.
“The survey work was done in a few districts. As the Saranabalyam project is going statewide, the surveying and rehabilitation of the street children would go along with that,”said she.
