UT Administration to set up institutions for children in need

Chandigarh, Jan 8 (UNI) The Social Welfare Department of Chandigarh Administration has decided to set up a preparatory school for children with special needs, a vocational training centre for street children and a Child Help Line in the current financial year.

The preparatory school will be run in the premises of Prayaas, Sector 38. An outlay of about Rs 14 lakh has been proposed for purchase of equipments and other contingent expenditure to run the school.

The vocational training centre for street children in Maloya would have a capacity of providing training for 900 street children.

Around 300 children would be imparted training in the first phase of the Centre that would start functioning in July 2008.

The main objective of the institution would be to provide support, health, and hygienic place to stay, medical care, balanced and healthy nutrition, education, vocational, and employment training, placement, recreation, counseling service etc. for the overall development and healthy growth of the street children.

The institute would also provide training in courses like computers, electrical, electronics, repairs or assembling services, beauty culture, cutting, tailoring and embroidery, motor mechanic, carpentry, food processing and dress designing to the children for making them self reliant.

A Child Help Line would also be run in the premises of Old Age Home Building , Sector 15, through the Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation.

The main objective of the helpline would be to reach out to every child in need of care and protection by responding to emergencies on 1098.

UNI PS MMS1640