Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government will soon begin a review of the Child Care Homes in the State as it is set to integrate the Directorate of Women and Child Department (WCD) with Health Services. The decision was taken after a meeting with Union Minister for WCD Smriti Irani on Friday.
State WCD Minister Vishwajit Rane told reporters that the Union minister has emphasised on areas where Goa can improve its grading as well as deficiencies that the State needs to overcome.
“The auditing of child care homes needs to be done and no child particularly girls should continue to stay there after 18 years of age,” he said adding that Irani has also asked to ensure that doctors are regularly sent to these institutes and check for any abuse cases, registration of offence, etc.
The meeting on status of women and child was held in the backdrop of Poshan Abhiyaan wherein Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, officials of health and NITI Ayog also attended.
Rane conceded that Irani did point out certain deficiencies stating, “It is an eye opener.”
The State is also mooting digitisation of schemes as well as reducing committees under the department, which currently numbers 32.
The minister has also given directions to streamline functioning such as official correspondence which are presently responded to at the Secretary or Department level. “At times correspondence does not come to the minister; it is replied to at the Secretary or Department level. It will be stopped now,” he said.
