Gandhinagar, May 8: In a state-level workshop titled “Child Rights: Issues and Challenges” held in Gandhinagar, the focus was on enhancing the protection of child rights through a unified approach between government institutions and social organizations.
Gujarat’s Minister of Labour, Skill Development, Employment, and Rural Development, Kunwarji Bawaliya, addressed the workshop on Thursday, highlighting the commendable cooperation between the government and social organizations in the field of child safety.
He emphasized that the responsibility for nurturing and protecting children is collective. Just as a potter shapes clay into vessels, society plays a crucial role in shaping children’s lives through care, values, and safety.
This workshop, which also served as a training program, was organized jointly by the Gujarat State Child Rights Protection Commission and the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation at the Forest Training Center in Gandhinagar.
Representatives from voluntary organizations, civil society groups, and NGOs gathered to participate in detailed sessions led by subject experts on child rights and associated challenges. The Mayor of Gandhinagar, Meera Ben Patel, also attended the event.
Minister Bawaliya stated that the government is committed to ensuring that welfare schemes reach all children in society, including those from labor families and vulnerable backgrounds. He stressed the urgent need to focus on their access to education and healthcare.
He mentioned the launch of digital initiatives like the ‘Labour Bridge Portal’ and ‘Labour Assistance Call Center’ to provide immediate support and grievance redressal for workers and their families. Continuous awareness is essential to address social issues like child marriage.
The minister praised the efforts of the Child Rights Commission in organizing district-level public relations activities to raise awareness about child safety.
He called for stronger coordination between government bodies and social organizations to ensure the effective implementation of measures related to child welfare.
Dharmishta Gajjar, Chairperson of the Child Rights Protection Commission, remarked that children are the foundation of society and play a vital role in nation-building. Coordinated efforts from all stakeholders are necessary to safeguard children’s rights, health, and education.
She emphasized that working for a secure future for children is a collective responsibility. During her address, she highlighted the need to expand awareness campaigns against child labor and child marriage.
Gajjar also noted that the commission is actively monitoring institutions like schools and anganwadis to ensure that children’s rights are not violated.
She mentioned that over the past year and a half, the commission has visited various districts to ensure that government schemes reach children at the grassroots level and address their concerns.
The workshop also focused on identifying current challenges in the protection of children’s rights and sharing best practices from grassroots organizations to improve implementation outcomes.
Participants discussed ways to strengthen coordination between NGOs and government agencies for more effective implementation of child welfare initiatives.
During the event, Mahi Bhatt from Ahmedabad was honored for her achievements.
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