Monday, 19 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Stating that some vacant posts in the departments concerned can hinder the child protection programmes run by commission in Uttarakhand, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has written to the Women Welfare Directorate to know the current status of the vacant posts. The officials informed that in most of the districts of the State, crucial positions like probation officer and child protection officer are still vacant. Officials on these posts are responsible for the welfare of the children living in different child homes like Bal Niketan, Balika Niketan and Shishu Niketan in a district but in several districts, these positions has been vacant for years, added the officials. They further informed that some officials have been given the charge of two or more districts due to vacant positions across the State to manage the child homes among other duties. Since the commission is planning to start a campaign against substance abuse very soon, the absence of officials concerned at district level who are responsible for implementing the child protection programmes in a district might adversely affect the programme.
According to the chairperson of the commission, Usha Negi, the probation officers are responsible for the management of children homes in their respective districts while the child protection officers manages various aspects associated with children protection programmes. The presence of such officers is vital for ensuring proper implementation of child welfare schemes, stressed Negi. She informed that since all such posts are managed under the women welfare directorate, the SCPCR has recently sent a letter to the directorate to present their side before the commission.
According to the officials, the commission has directed the director of the directorate to inform the commission about action being taken to fill the vacant posts and asked him to submit a report in commission within 15 days.
Meanwhile, the officials also informed that the SCPCR’s campaign against substance abuse among children might get delayed too due to sudden surge in Covid-19 cases as many officials and organisations are reluctant to participate in the campaign during the pandemic.
