Latest news with #LahariVimukthaKeralam
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Time of India
Govt plans ‘help box' in schools to protect kids from domestic abuse
Kottayam: State govt is set to launch 'Suraksha Mitram', a comprehensive project aimed at identifying and protecting children from abuse at home and in the community, announced general education minister V Sivankutty on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The move comes in the wake of the Class IV girl's harrowing ordeal. The incident came to light when a teacher of Hidayathul Islam LP School, Nooranad in Alappuzha district, noticed what the child wrote in her notebook about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepmother and father. Speaking to the media after visiting the child at Charummoodu, Sivankutty said violence against children would not be tolerated at any cost. Govt is addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and will ensure all necessary protection and support for the child, he said. General education department is formulating Suraksha Mitram that will help identify the sufferings experienced by children and will provide necessary protection to them, said Sivankutty. To achieve this goal, a 'help box' will be installed in all schools where students can submit their complaints and bad experiences in a confidential manner. The headmaster or headmistress, in-charge of this, should open it at least once a week and the issues raised should be assessed and reported to the education department for further action. Teachers will be given special training to enable them in observing children for behavioural changes and identifying issues by interacting with them in a friendly way. Ideas like diary writing or zero hours will provide students with opportunities to interact freely and openly with teachers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project envisages turning teachers into primary counsellors for the students. This will be helpful in resolving teenage, physical and mental issues students of secondary and higher secondary classes face. Discussions were held between general education secretary, Child Development Centre, career guidance and counselling department and women and child development department in this regard. The project will be implemented with the support of women and child development, social justice and local body departments and their help will be sought to provide necessary medical support, counselling and rehabilitation of the children. The functioning of the existing child welfare committee and helpline 1098 will be made more efficient. The existing parental clinics for providing counselling to parents with problems will be made more active. Facilities like govt homes and other special homes functioning for children, who need protection, will be put to greater use. Director of public education will bring out a standard operating procedure for the safety and protection of children along the lines of Lahari Vimuktha Keralam project, said Sivankutty. He said govt was committed to ensuring the protection of children and sought everyone's cooperation for it.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Slew of events mark International Day Against Drug Abuse in Kochi
The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), Ernakulam, under the Health department, conducted 23 awareness classes reaching over 2,300 people as part of the State government's 'Lahari Vimuktha Keralam' campaign to combat the growing threat of drug abuse, in the six months leading up to the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday (June 26, 2025). A cross-section of society — including health workers, senior citizens, students, parents, teachers, and officials from various government departments — benefited from the sessions. Besides, informative programmes were held in collaboration with the Local Self-Government department and other community stakeholders, along with training for police personnel, school counsellors, and Nashamukth officers. The DMHP in association with District Medical Office (DMO) Ernakulam, National Health Mission Ernakulam and Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, North Edappally, organised a function on Thursday to observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. DMO Asha Devi inaugurated the event. Daya Pascal, nodal officer of the DMHP, led a seminar on 'Drug Abuse Among Teenagers and Its Preventive Measures.' Students from SIMET Nursing School, Palluruthy, and Government Vocational Higher Secondary School performed an awareness skit and flash mob. The event concluded with a torchlight rally and a bicycle rally. Corporation's event Literary critic M.K. Sanoo inaugurated a youth-focused anti-drug campaign organised by the Kochi Corporation in association with the Higher Education department and the NSS Kochi Cluster. The Kochi City police, the Excise department, and various other organisations took part. The campaign highlighted the message of 'loving humanity and rejecting drugs'. Deputy Mayor K.A. Ansiya presided over the function. An interactive session was held on the topic 'Biology, Mental Health, and Chemical Drugs'. Excise dept. T.J. Vinod, MLA, inaugurated an anti-drug awareness campaign organised by the Excise department and the Vimukthi Mission. He called for concerted efforts from all sections of society to combat the drug menace. Deputy Excise Commissioner T.N. Sudheer led the awareness session. Mission Drug-Free India The Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) (CCP), Kochi, organised an awareness campaign for schoolchildren as part of the 'Mission Drug-Free India' initiative at the Government Higher Secondary School for Girls, Ernakulam. Shaikh Khader Rahaman, Chief Commissioner of Central Tax, Central Excise, and Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone, was the chief guest. T. Tiju, Commissioner, CCP Kochi, led the campaign. School Principal Mini Ram and Jeo Paul Mampilly were also present. Anti-drug awareness seminar Additional Superintendent of Police M. Krishnan inaugurated an anti-drug awareness seminar organised by the Ernakulam Rural police. Earlier, he administered an anti-drug oath at the district police headquarters. Educational institutions Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, organised an anti-drug oath-taking programme under the aegis of the NCC. Students and teachers took part in an awareness rally through Kalady town. Students also staged a flash mob and distributed brochures carrying anti-drug messages to the public. Many participated in a poster-making competition. An anti-drug awareness seminar was held in association with the Kalady Excise Office and the Department of Sanskrit. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi campus, organised a human chain against drugs under the aegis of Amrita College of Nursing. Faculty and students from Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Centre for Allied Health Sciences, Amrita School of Dentistry, and Amrita School of Medicine, along with members of Amrita Nursing Services, took part in the event. T.N. Sudheer, Assistant Commissioner of Excise, inaugurated the programme. K.T. Moly, M. Sabitha, S. Rakesh, Sheela Pavithran, K.L. Ajee, and C.V. Vinayakan were present. Rally featuring schools Infopark hosted a series of anti-drug awareness programmes, including a rally featuring students from eight schools. Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police P.S. Shiju inaugurated the event. The rally was held from Athulya building to the Infopark police station.
