TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) has observed that there was lack of coordination between authorities providing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities leading to poor services in terms of education.
The GSCPCR held a joint meeting of various stakeholders to review and put efforts to create a just and decisive care and support for children with disabilities.
The Commission observed that there was severe lack of coordination between authorities providing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities leading to poor services in terms of education.
The Directorate of Education and District Early Intervention Centres at District Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) were directed to establish a protocol for coordination and collaboration for ensuring smooth services.
It was further recommended that the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) services, which involves screening of children from birth to 18 years of age for four Ds - Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Development delays be strengthened at school level so that the load on DEIC is reduced for effective services.
Several children with disabilities are still not able to access Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS), Priority Household (PHH) cards (access to food security) including issuance of disability certificates, aids, and assistive devices. The Directorates of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Social Welfare, District Early Intervention Centres, Education and Provedoria were directed to ensure coordination and ensure 100 per cent access to social protection services.
GSCPCR Chairperson Peter F Borges stressed about the need to unlock synergies between agencies to ensure benefits and services to children and strengthening of early intervention services. He said that children with disabilities are treated as children in need of care and protection under Juvenile Justice Act.
