Media Round Table On ‘Alternative Forms Of Child Care’ Held In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Family is a natural environment for growth, well-being and protection of children. However, children with inadequate or no parental care are at special risk of exploitation and abuse and require alternative care services.

To inform and discuss alternative forms of child care for children in need of care and protection of those separated from their parents, the UNICEF organised a media round table on ‘Alternative forms of Child Care’ here recently.

Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) member Harihar Nayak and Youth Council for Development Alternatives (YCDA) secretary Rajendra Meher, UNICEF Specialists Laxminarayan Nanda and Alka Gupta were present as panelists.

Setting the context to the media round table, Laxminarayan Nanda said, “Children are separated from their parents for reasons that include forced migration, natural disasters, diseases, abuse or neglect, social exclusion, death of one or more parent, and even a lack of household resources. Putting these children into long-term institutional residential care affects the holistic development of the child.”

He also said, “ UNICEF is collaborated with the Department of W and CD and YCDA to advocate for effective implementation of JJ (CPC) Act-2015 and integrating the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (2009) into its policies; strengthen community-based activities and social protection services to support and strengthen families to prevent separation, and support family reintegration when possible.”

YCDA secretary Rajendra Meher spoke about Odisha’s experience on different forms of Alternative Child Care, “Instead of institutionalising children, alternative child care is a better option, as it provides them a safe environment to grow until they are reunited with their parents or are permanently rehabilitated.”

“YCDA in collaboration with the district administration of Boudh, Balangir and Khurdha and technical partnership with UNICEF, has initiated several interventions to demonstrate alternative forms of child care. This includes kinship care, independent living, sponsorship and after care,” he added.

Harihar Nayak spoke about the role of the commission towards Protection of Child Rights. He said, “Since Kinship Care is a widely accepted practice especially in rural areas, it is important to bring Kinship Care and Independent Living practices into the legal framework, so that the children get their rights and entitlements.”

Notably, alternative child care is provided to children (separated from parents) by caregivers, who are not their biological parents.