State Government requests expansion of Saarathi Training

The training will focus on the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 and will be aimed at members of Child Welfare Committees and the Juvenile Justice Board, as well as Heads and Officers of the Indian Administrative Service.  The Director of the Juvenile Justice Department of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Kismat Kumar, has proposed an expansion of the partnership with The Trust to deliver training to key legal officials across the State.

UNICEF, a co-partner in the project, has pledged to provide financial support for the initiative and the JJD Director, in consultation with the Special Chief Secretary of Women and Child Welfare, Ms. M. Chaya Ratan, is to deliver a formal proposal to The Trust.

This request was the result of a successful Saarathi training session for State government departments, which was well received by participants for its insight into legal issues surrounding support for children at-risk.  The Saarathi project delivers training on how to support and counsel children at-risk to 1,500 government social welfare workers in Andhra Pradesh.

On 5 December, 100 individuals from key government departments – including Education, Health, Women and Child Welfare, District Child Protection and the District Rural Development Authority - attended an orientation workshop on the Juvenile Justice Act.

The training included information on the Integrated Child Protection Scheme and children’s rights.  It also examined the roles of child welfare committee members and district probation officers who are often the first to come into contact with children at-risk.

On 27 December, Dr. Sukumaran, the Joint Director of the Juvenile Welfare Department, inaugurated a three-day training programme for 39 frontline workers in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.  The sessions focused on how to communicate with and counsel vulnerable children.  Important legal issues arising from the Juvenile Justice Act and the Juvenile Justice Board were also covered.