NCPCR Chairperson Calls for Cooperative Shelters to Rehabilitate Street Children in Thane District

Thane, 31st May 2024: NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo has advocated for the establishment of cooperative shelters to support the rehabilitation of street children and their families in the Thane district.

In a statement released by the District Administration on Friday, Kanoongo stressed the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the permanent rehabilitation of street children and their families. During a meeting held at the collector’s office on Wednesday, Kanoongo emphasized the urgency for immediate action and highlighted the importance of joint endeavours for sustainable rehabilitation.

Kanoongo underscored the initiatives launched since 2016 and urged Municipal Corporations and Municipalities to take proactive measures to enhance financial capacity and facilitate school enrollment for street children in rehabilitation programs. He proposed the creation of “Cooperative Shelters” as an effective solution and directed officials to explore the successful Rehabilitation Project in Bhopal for inspiration and replication.

The NCPCR had previously launched the ‘CiSS application’ under the Bal Swaraj Portal in June 2022 to aid in the rehabilitation process of Children in Street Situations (CiSS). This portal facilitates online tracking and real-time monitoring of children in need of care and protection, following a detailed six-stage framework for their rehabilitation. Additionally, it serves as a platform for professionals and organizations to assist children in need.

Under the Standard Operating Procedure for Care and Protection of Children in Street Situations 2.0, any child living on the streets alone, during the day, or with their family is categorized as a ‘Children in Street Situation’. The migration of families from rural to urban areas in search of a better standard of living is identified as the root cause of children living on the streets.

Kanoongo urged officials from the Women and Child Development Department to visit and study similar projects, analyze their methods, and implement them in the Thane district Street Children Rehabilitation Project to ensure positive outcomes.