Workshop for children's rights

Chandigarh, May 31 (UNI) Ms Jean Rodrigues, wife of Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues, today urged the principals of various schools to evolve a responsive support system for protecting the rights of the children in the city.

Ms Rodrigues made this appeal while inaugurating the 'National Initiative for Child Protection (NICP) Workshop for School Principals' at Advanced Pediatrics Centre of PGIMER here today.

Ms Rodrigues said children were often the most neglected members of the family and they were usually given the least importance.

''Often the problems being faced by the children are ignored either due to ignorance or due to distrust in children. More often than not, the children are not aware of the remedies available to help them in such times,'' she added.

She stressed the need for creating awareness among the children about their rights and the ways through which they could tackle their problems.

Applauding the initiative taken by the Child Line in organising the workshop, Mrs Rodrigues said such initiatives were much needed at a time when the cases of child abuse were increasing.

Child Line is a national, 24-hour, free, emergency telephone helpline and outreach service for the children in need of care and protection. The Child-Line number 1098 is a toll-free number that is common in all cities of the country.

As many as 50 government school principals and six private school principals participated in the workshop.

UNI