Beef up security at child welfare homes

Kurnool: State Women’s Commission Chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari became teary-eyed after meeting five destitute children who had lost their mother to jaundice and were deserted by their father. The eldest girl had taken on the responsibility of rearing her four sisters.

Following media reports of the plight of the children, a sponsor from Prakasam district had come forward to look after the welfare of the five children until they completed their Intermediate education. Rajakumari gifted the children new clothes and food.

She urged district Collector Ch Vijay Mohan and Superintendent of Police (SP) Ake Ravi Krishna to strive to bring down the incidence of children being abandoned and thanked the media for highlighting such incidents which enabled a proper response from authorities.

She asked the SP to beef up the security measures at child welfare homes and initiate stringent action against those harassing women. Vijay Mohan said the district administration has introduced ‘Puttinillu’, a welfare programme for children that includes taking care of their health.

He added that doctors have been deputed at the child welfare homes at Peddapadu and Allagadda in Kurnool, to find out about the eating habits of children and their health.

Deserting female children had become a common practice in the district and steps have been initiated to curb such heinous acts, said Ake Ravi Krishna.

He said that people abandoning their children would be arrested and opined that conducting awareness programmes on the issue for women and children would yield positive benefits.

ICDS Regional Joint Director Sharada, Project Director Aruna, District Juvenile Monitoring Officer Rama Subba Reddy and other officers were also present.