Two satellite centres to be set up for runaway children

Islamabad
The Federal Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights plans to establish two satellite centres, in Nurpur Shahan and Pirwadhai, to rehabilitate runaway children.
The plan was discussed during a visit of Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights Secretary Justice (r) Raza Khan to the National Child Protection Centre on Tuesday. He was briefed on the objectives and planned functioning of these centres meant to protect children from the marginalised community of the respective areas.
National Child Protection Centre (NCPC) Director Muhammad Yousaf Shah informed the ministry officials that the basic objective of the satellite centres will be to rehabilitate dropout and runaway children as these areas have the highest concentration of such children.
Muhammad Yousaf also explained the objective and working of NCPC in the meeting. He said that the centre is providing protection to vulnerable children while ensuring their rights since 2006. “Currently, 58 children are enrolled in the non-formal section of the centre where they receive primary education,” he said. Most of these children are in the age group of 6 to 14 years.
Along with education, they are provided with pick and drop facility. The education is totally free of cost. Besides education other activities are also organised for these children like free eye check-up camp.
He informed the visiting delegation that before joining the centre, these children were involved mainly in beggary. “The centre staff held meetings with their parents and convinced them to send them for education,” he informed. He said that so far, the centre has rehabilitated more than 1,500 children.
“We also adjust vulnerable children in nearby government schools and if the facility is not available they bring them at the centre,” said Yousaf. The centre also has a temporary centre where children under police protection were kept for a short time.
The ministry official said that a bill for establishing a Child Protection Bureau would also be tabled soon for the welfare of these children.
National Commission for Child Welfare and Development Director General Muhammad Hassan Mangi accompanied Justice (r) Raza Khan during the visit. The secretary expressed satisfaction over the working of the centre and admired the efforts of the staff for giving a new life to these children.