Chandigarh, Jul 22 (PTI) The Haryana government has approved a series of major initiatives to further strengthen child protection, healthcare and rehabilitation services under ‘Mission Vatsalya’.
The state-level monitoring committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Wednesday, approved the proposal to extend Ayushman Bharat health coverage to all eligible children residing in these institutions.
The committee also reviewed and approved measures to strengthen specialised healthcare, bridge education, vocational training, adoption services, sports activities, legal support, institutional infrastructure and inter-departmental coordination to ensure holistic care, protection and rehabilitation of vulnerable children across Haryana.
Chairing
the meeting, Rastogi said Mission Vatsalya is creating a comprehensive child protection ecosystem that integrates healthcare, education, counselling, rehabilitation, legal assistance and social reintegration for children in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law.
He emphasised coordinated action among all stakeholder departments to ensure timely delivery of child welfare services.
To further strengthen healthcare services, the committee decided that Ayushman Bharat cards would be issued to all eligible children residing in Child Care Institutions, ensuring timely access to quality healthcare and financial protection for medical treatment, an official statement said.
The committee also decided that specialised quarterly health check-ups under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) will be conducted in all Child Care Institutions, covering dental, ENT, skin and other specialised medical interventions.
The health department was directed to ensure expeditious preparation of medical examination reports (MERs) to facilitate timely adoption of children, particularly those with special needs.
Recognising education as an essential pillar of rehabilitation, the committee reviewed measures to strengthen bridge education in Observation Homes, Special Homes and Places of Safety by ensuring the availability of qualified teachers.
It also decided to expand skill development and vocational training programmes to equip children with employable skills and improve their future livelihood opportunities. Vocational courses, including CCTV repair and tailoring, are already being conducted for children in institutional care.
A key proposal discussed during the meeting was to collaborate with the State Institute of Mental Health, Haryana, for deploying psychologists in Child Care Institutions across the state.
The committee also reviewed measures to strengthen the functioning of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) by ensuring continuity of trained Child Welfare Police Officers and improving support for tracing families of children belonging to other districts and states.
It also stressed better coordination among the Home Department, Women and Child Development Department, Police and other agencies for effective implementation of child protection laws.
To strengthen rehabilitation and positive engagement of children in Child Care Institutions, structured and regular sports and physical activities shall also be organised to channelise their energy constructively and promote physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, and emotional well-being. PTI SUN APL APL
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