Nowshera, Feb 24: Rajiv Kumar Khajuria, President of National Development Foundation Jammu, called for Strengthening the Three-Tier Child Protection Mechanism as envisioned in Mission Vatsalya to supplement the principles laid down in Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2015. He was speaking at an Awareness Camp organized by the Village Child Welfare and Protection Committee Handan in collaboration with the National Development Foundation Jammu/Rajouri, District Child Protection Unit Rajouri and Tehsil Social Welfare Office Nowshera. More than 100 women, youth and children participated in the camp. Prominent among others present and spoke on the occasion include Sh. Kabir Hussain, Tehsil Social Welfare Officer Nowshera, Sh. Suresh Choudhary, Member Child Welfare Committee Rajouri, Sh. Sukhdev Choudhary, Ex. Sarpanch Langar, Dr. Deep Choudhary, Sh. Sunny Kumar, Programme Manager NDF, Sh. Amit Kundal, Programme Officer NDF and representatives of Health, Education and Mission Poshan.

Elaborating, Rajiv Khajuria sensitized the Community Members on various provisions of Mission Vatsalya and called upon the communities to contribute to ensuring the children's best interest. He emphasized that the Juvenile Justice Act is about catering to the basic needs of Care, Protection, Development, Treatment and Social Integration of the Children in need of Care & Protection and Children in Conflict with Law in a Child-Friendly manner with an objective of their overall rehabilitation.

Complementing the role of District Magistrate Rajouri Sh. O.P. Bhagat, Rajiv Khajuria informed the audience that District Administration Rajouri is fully committed to the welfare and development of children and District Magistrate Rajouri, in a recently held meeting of the District Level Child Welfare and Protection Committee, has directed all the concerned Departments and stakeholders to ensure the best interest of the children in the district. Mr. Khajuria assured technical support and assistance from the National Development Foundation for strengthening the Child Protection Mechanism in the district.