Onus of protecting street kids on society: Paritala Sunitha

Vijayawada: Minister for Women and Child Welfare Paritala Sunitha here on Friday released a book and poster on the protection of street children and their rights. The Rights of Children and Save the Children organisations jointly conducted the prograamme.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that nearly 20,000 street children are there in the state. Society, including all the people, should have responsibility to take care of them by moulding them into best citizens, she said.

She said that the government started 1098 helpline for protecting street children. The Childline Organisation was maintaining the helpline and taking their responsibility as per the guidelines of government, she said.

She praised the programme organisers for publishing guidelines in book form in Telugu. She suggested them to conduct meetings district-wise for creating awareness among the people.

She said that her department would extend all possible support. She also assured them that she would make efforts to issue orders for treating the guidelines as an official code of conduct.

Women and Child Welfare special commissioner Arun Kumar, secretary Sunita, Ganta Hymavati, several officials and the representatives of Save the Children organisation were also present.