Women and Child Development Ministers' conference begins

New Delhi, Jan 28 : A two-day Conference of State Woman and Children Development Ministers will begin here today to review programmes related to women and children.

Union Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhary will chair the Conference.

The Government has decided to expand Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) to ensure 14 lakh Anganwadis in operation by the end of 2008.

States have been asked to identify SC and ST hamlets for opening of new Anganwadis on priority basis and to put on all the data related with ICDS on their website which should include number of beneficiaries, fund utilized and related matters.

Anganwadi workers and helpers now stand cover under insurance. The Conference will also review implementation of these steps.

Setting up of Child Right Commission at the State level for proper enforcement of children's right and effective implementation of laws and programmes relating to children and to designate a district level court as children's court will also be taken up in the Conference.

Guidelines regarding adoption of children, measures to check illegal adoptions, setting up of child welfare committees and constitute juvenile justice boards in each district by this year-end will be discussed in the meeting.

Besides reviewing implementation of the protection of women from Domestic Violence Act, comment of the States will be sought about proposed Act for Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at workplace.

Rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked victims, appointment of Child Marriage Probationary Officer to ensure strict implementation of prohibition of child marriage, vocational training of the women in emerging sectors fashion designing, BPO, IT, airlines ticketing and travel for self employment are also on the agenda of the meeting.

The Ministry is revamping scheme for working women's hostel and cr¨che scheme. Proposed amendments in both the schemes will be discussed during the conference.

ANI