The South Asia Center for Peace and People’s Empowerment (SACPPE), a civil society organization, in collaboration with UNICEF India, held a day-long meeting with stakeholders of child protection in Srinagar district on Wednesday.
The meeting was presided over by Principal Magistrate Juvenile Justice Board (Srinagar) Mainaaz Qadir.
Resource persons, including Child Protection Officer Srinagar Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairperson Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Srinagar Dr Khairul Nisa and Prof Zaid Wani from IMHANS, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar highlighted different aspects of child protection and substance abuse in the district.
Among others, the meeting was attended by members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) of Srinagar.
The meeting focused on enhancing coordination among various child protection bodies to ensure better safeguarding of vulnerable children, particularly those at risk of exploitation, abuse, and neglect.
Officials discussed challenges in implementation and shared best practices for improving the efficiency of child welfare services. The aim was to streamline the response system and create a more effective and responsive environment for at-risk children.
Additionally, to raise awareness about substance abuse among children and adolescents in Srinagar, SACPPE launched a series of road shows and sound truck campaigns. The campaign, aimed at raising awareness and promoting healthier lifestyles, was flagged off from Rajbagh in Srinagar, by Dr. Khair ul Nisa, Chairperson CWC, Srinagar.
While emphasizing the importance of community engagement in addressing the alarming rise in substance abuse among young people in the region, she urged parents, teachers, and local communities to work together to protect children from the dangers of drug addiction and create a safer environment for their development.
The road shows, equipped with sound trucks, are set to travel through various parts of Srinagar, and distributing IEC material on the hazardous substance abuse. Sound trucks equipped with loudspeakers are navigating the narrow streets of Srinagar, broadcasting messages in both Urdu and Kashmiri. The road-shows, starting from the Rajbagh, are intended to engage directly with the public.
The programme is supported by UNICEF India.
Under its “Dekh Bal” initiative, SACPPE’s sound truck campaigns and road-shows are designed to raise awareness, educate communities, and mobilize collective action to protect the region’s most vulnerable population.
These initiatives are part of SACPPE’s broader strategy, which includes close collaboration with law enforcing agencies, existing child protection units, health institutions and other stakeholders to prevent and rehabilitate substance-abusing children and adolescents in Srinagar.
SACPPE, in partnership with local organizations and authorities, has long been working towards improving the welfare of children and youth in the region.
SACPPE organizes meet on child protection mechanism in Srinagar
