Latest news with #Koderma
Time of India
04-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Defunct state women commission a concern in J'khand: Union min
M inistry of women and child development minister and Koderma MP Annapurna Devi talks to Kritika Tiwary on her agenda and ongoing efforts to uplift women and children nationwide. Excerpts: How many women and child development projects are currently active in Jharkhand? At present, there are over 37,815 anganwadi centres in the state. Of them, more than 16,700 centres have been approved under the Saksham Anganwadi initiative, which includes facilities like clean drinking water with RO systems, LED lights, Poshan Vatika (nutrition gardens), and water harvesting structures. These upgrades aim to provide a healthier environment to children and mothers. How effective is the women and child related schemes in the state? Twenty four districts have active 'One Stop Centres', and approval has been granted for 11 more in large or underserved districts. These centres support women in distress. Women can call the 181 Women Helpline. Upon receiving the call, the team tracks the location and immediately dispatches support. We also have counsellors and legal aid (DLSA) tied up with every centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Every district has a dedicated women empowerment hub. Are there specific projects for children in need of protection? Yes, there are over 50 Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the state that cater to both CNCP (children in need of care and protection) and CCL (children in conflict with law). Separate facilities exist for boys and girls, and we also coordinate with Childline 1098. What financial schemes are provided under the PMMVY in state? Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, the state has provided benefits to approximately 9.3 lakh women. For the first child, mothers receive Rs 5,000, and for the second child (if a girl), they receive Rs 6,000. In the last financial year alone, Rs 421 crore was disbursed directly to beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can now self-register digitally for schemes. Are any new infrastructure projects sanctioned recently? Seven new working women hostels have been sanctioned in Jharkhand. We've also approved Palna-cum-creche facilities at anganwadi centres. Has the Centre assessed Jharkhand's performance? Yes. Performance varies across schemes. States like Haryana (Palna), Tamil Nadu (hostels), and Gujarat (nutrition) are doing well in respective areas. In Jharkhand, despite progress, the absence of a state women's commission for the past 6 years is a concern.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Defunct state women commission a concern in Jharkhand: Union min
1 2 3 Ministry of women and child development minister and Koderma MP Annpurna Devi talks to Kritika Tiwary on her agenda and ongoing efforts to uplift women and children nationwide. Excerpts: Q. How many women and child development projects are currently active in Jharkhand? At present, there are over 37,815 anganwadi centres operational across the state. Among them, more than 16,700 centres have been approved under the Saksham Anganwadi initiative, which includes facilities like clean drinking water with RO systems, LED lighting, Poshan Vatika (nutrition gardens), and water harvesting structures. These upgrades aim to provide a healthier environment to children and mothers. Q. How effective is the women and child related schemes in the state? Twenty four districts have active 'One Stop Centres', and approval has been granted for 11 more in large or underserved districts. These centres support women in distress by offering immediate rescue, legal assistance, medical aid, police intervention, counselling, and temporary shelter for up to 25 days. Women can call the 181 Women Helpline. Upon receiving the call, the team tracks the location and immediately dispatches support. Based on the need whether legal help, police support, or medical attention the necessary services are provided. We also have counsellors and legal aid (DLSA) tied up with every OSC. Every district has a dedicated women empowerment hub, which serves as a convergence point for all Central and state schemes such as Mission Shakti, PMMVY, and Saksham Anganwadi. Q. Are there specific projects for children in need of protection? Yes, there are over 50 Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the state that cater to both CNCP (Children in Need of Care and Protection) and CCL (Children in Conflict with Law). Separate facilities exist for boys and girls, and we also coordinate with Childline 1098, which is active even at railway stations and remote pockets to rescue and assist vulnerable children. Q. What financial schemes are provided under the PMMVY in state? Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), the state has provided benefits to approximately 9.3 lakh women. For the first child, mothers receive Rs 5,000, and for the second child (if a girl), they receive Rs 6,000. In the last financial year alone, Rs 421 crore was disbursed directly to beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can now self-register digitally through mobile-based platforms for schemes like PMMVY, Poshan Tracker, etc. Currently, around 31 lakh beneficiaries are connected digitally under various nutrition and maternal health schemes in state. Q. Are any new infrastructure projects sanctioned recently? Seven new working women hostels have been sanctioned in Jharkhand with a total cost of Rs 167 crore, offering safe accommodation to employed women. We've also approved Palna-cum-creche facilities at anganwadi centres to support working mothers. We've ensured district-level outreach for both women and children in need. Q. Has the Centre assessed Jharkhand's performance? Yes. Performance varies across schemes. States like Haryana (Palna), Tamil Nadu (hostels), and Gujarat (nutrition) are doing well in respective areas. In Jharkhand, despite progress, the absence of a state women's commission for the past 6 years is a concern. The Centre is ready to provide all support, but the state must strengthen implementation, especially in Saksham Anganwadi rollouts, which are still lagging.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Child labour survivors share stories of hope and courage
Ranchi: Children, who were once forced to work in homes, factories, and roadside stalls, narrated the struggles of their past lives and thereafter, the path of hope after being rescued. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The survivors shared their stories during a programme organised on the occasion of 'World Day Against Child Labour' by the Bal Kalyan Sangh (BKS) in coordination with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The event aimed to raise awareness about the realities of child labour and highlight the importance of rescue, rehabilitation, and education for affected children. Meanwhile, 120 children from Khuti district were engaged in agriculture, domestic work, and unregulated industries in cities in May this year. Chaibasa, Sahibganj, Pakur, Gumla, Simdega, Ranchi, Latehar, Chatra, and Khunti were the most vulnerable districts that contributed to the child labour pool. This was revealed during a survey conducted the BKS. A 16-year-old rescued domestic worker from Delhi, Mina Sangha, said, "I used to clean, cook, and take care of children from morning till night. I didn't know what school even looked like. But today, I go to school in my Chhata village. I dream of becoming a teacher so that no child undergoes what I did." A report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in 2024 found 228 Koderma children engaged as labourers. In West Singhbhum, 595 orphans and 1,393 children were identified in vulnerable circumstances and are in the process of being mainstreamed. Around 508 children, many hailing from the state's tribal and rural areas, were found involved in domestic and other forms of labour in metropolitan cities like Delhi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The kids were rescued and rehabilitated. Rescued in 2019 after four years of labour in Ghaziabad, Rima Kashyap was brought back to her native village in Ratu block. Rima said, "I was forced to work in harsh conditions from a very young age. After rescue, I was enrolled in a vocational training programme, under which girls are trained as security guards at Burmu. I have been working as a security guard with the Central Institute of Psychiatry since 2023." Budhmani Oraon, who was taken as a child labour when she was a 7-year-old, said, "I was admitted to Project Uchayaa Vidyalaya, Bijupara. I developed a deep interest in social justice." A paralegal volunteer (PLV) working with the district legal services authority (DLSA), she helps others understand their legal rights and fights against child labour and abuse. The national project coordinator at the ILO, Lakshmi Narasimhan Gadiraju, said, "Ending child labour means empowering families, educating children, and strengthening communities. Dial 1098, the toll-free national child helpline, available 24/7 to ensure timely rescue and protection." State labour department secretary Jitendra Kumar said, "We are actively working to eliminate child labour. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child is deprived of a safe and nurturing childhood." A rescued child labourer from Ratu block, Fatima Ekka, said, "I was rescued and brought back to Jharkhand in 2023 after being employed as a domestic worker in Delhi for over four years. With the support from BKS Security, Burmu, I received training as a security guard and now serve as the security head at Audrey House." BKS, in coordination with the International Labour Organization (ILO), would implement a state action plan on child labour later this month to focus on identification, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of child labourers, with dedicated strategies tailored to the state's socio-economic and demographic realities.
