Alipurduar District Pushes for Child Safety Measures, Plans Child-Friendly Villages Initiative

KalimNews, Alipurduar, November 7, 2024: The Alipurduar district administration will take several measures across the district to prevent crimes against children and to develop settlements as “Shishubandh Gram” (child-friendly villages). This decision was made after a series of recent incidents, including the rape of minor girls and the murder of two people to conceal crimes. 

District Magistrate R. Vimala said on Thursday that she has instructed block officials to activate Child Protection Committees at the village panchayat level. 

“All panchayat-level Child Protection Committees will hold a meeting by November 15. In these meetings, they will plan to visit homes, meet with children, and interact with them, particularly those with special needs or those living with grandparents and relatives. Complaint boxes will be set up in these areas where any child can register a complaint. The goal is to develop rural areas into child-friendly villages,” she said.

Initially, the administration has identified 53 of the district’s 64 panchayats where this initiative will be implemented. In the remaining 11 panchayats, the focus will be on child protection and the socio-economic upliftment of women.

A source within the administration said that they aim to develop a system to ensure that children and adolescents remain safe. 

The source added, “Committee members will work with local residents to keep an eye on children. Like in rural areas, committees will also be active in the municipal wards of Alipurduar and Falakata (two urban areas in the district).” 

The committees will also ensure that children receive proper nutrition in schools, monitor school dropouts, and keep track of families that have sent their children to other states for work.