Monday, 21 AUGUST 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Geeta Khanna said that the children in the Vikasnagar area must have been traumatised by the collapse of their homes in front of their eyes in the recent disaster and must be provided with necessary psychological help. She said this during her visit to the Jakhan village of Vikasnagar where homes of over 20 families collapsed on Wednesday following heavy rain. She met the affected families and listened to their problems and suffering. She also asked them about the help provided by the administration to rehabilitate them. Khanna said that the families told her that they are being provided with proper food and shelter by the local administration. Inquiring about the children of the affected families, she came to know that parents have sent their older children to the homes of their relatives and the younger children are living with them. Khanna said that sending children away from their families during such a difficult time when they witnessed such a horrific incident is not right. She opined that this incident can have a traumatic effect on them besides severely affecting their studies. Considering this, she asked the officials to resume school as soon as possible while ensuring children get help from a psychologist to minimise their trauma. The women also told Khanna that they take their small children to fields with them as they are the only ones who have to look after them. They said that maintaining their fields and crops is quite a challenge for them after losing everything in the disaster. Considering this, Khanna directed the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to arrange Anganwadi centres near the refugee camps where small children can be taken care of from 8 AM to 2 PM to assist the young mothers. The affected families also appealed to her to rehabilitate them in the same location rather than in different places so that all the affected families can live together. Khanna said that the commission will provide all possible help to them.
