Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) on Friday suggested preventive measures as child abuse is on a rise. Commission Chairperson Peter Borges said drug abusers among children do exist.
“Keeping in view the issue of drugs and substance abuse among children strategic actions, interventions, responsible authorities and timeline have been identified and are being projected for convergent action by the enforcement agencies, monitoring bodies and the service providers,” he said in the meeting held at Porvorim on the eve of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Some of the key prevention strategies included banning liquor shops within prescribed distance of educational institutions and registration of FIR under Section 77 of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 against those who violates the law; no shop selling Biddies/ Cigarettes, Gutkha and other tobacco products within 100 meters radius of the Schools/Institutions by as per Section (6) of the COTPA 2003; among others.
Borges also emphasized that more works regarding public awareness and provision of expertise and facilities for rehabilitation need to be done. He reiterated the role of research and generating evidence to ensure that need based interventions are implemented for drug demand reduction in the State.
There were suggestion from the Child Welfare Committee for the drug addicted children.
Railway Police Force suggested awareness programmes at Railway station as most of the children found on railways had ran away from home and get involved in drug abuse.
Personnel from Health Department suggested there should be preventive measures for drug abuse.
