State Commission honours child protection efforts at Balsnehi Awards 2024 | File Photo
Mumbai: The ‘Balsnehi Awards 2024’ ceremony was held on Monday at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The event recognised officers and organisations for their significant contributions to child protection.
Sushiben Shah, Chairperson of the Commission, emphasised the necessity of a transparent mechanism akin to the Crime Branch within the Police Department to ensure the safety of women and children.
She announced the development of the ‘Chirag App’, designed to raise awareness of children’s rights and facilitate complaint redressal. “Efforts will be made to enhance child safety through modern technology,” she stated.
To further awareness on the subject, a wall poster and an updated booklet detailing regulations for child care and protection were unveiled. These posters will be displayed in all police stations, according to Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, who was present at the event. The posters will feature a QR code that provides detailed information about the Child Rights and Protection Commission.
Minister Tatkare reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening the Commission. She also underscored the importance of leveraging modern technology for the protection of women and children.
The ceremony also recognised the contributions of private NGOs actively supporting the Commission’s initiatives. Awards were presented across several categories, including Best Self-Initiative for Safety, Best Special Adoption Agency, Best District Women and Child Development Officer, Best District Women and Child Development Office, Best District Child Protection Unit, Best Child Welfare Committee, and Best Child Care Institution.
The awards event was conducted under the ‘Balraksha Abhiyan’, an initiative launched by the Commission to safeguard children’s rights and welfare. The campaign, running across February and March, includes workshops in multiple districts such as Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Nagpur, Akola, Nashik, Pune, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
As part of the initiative, each district will train 150 participants, including teachers, parents, PTA representatives, and selected students. In the first phase, approximately 7,000 individuals will receive training from expert child protection institutions, reinforcing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the state.
