The District Child and Women Development Committee was held yesterday (05) under the chairmanship of Kegalle District Secretary Mr. Ranjan Jayasinghe at the District Secretariat premises.

Compared to last year, in the first quarter of this year, there has been no big change in child abuse, but it was revealed that there is an increase in child abuse in Yatiantota areas.

The Department of Child Protection has made arrangements to provide educational, nutritional and twin child support to children who are studying in poor families identified in the divisional secretariats of the district. Thus, it was informed that the provincial department would provide assistance to twins from low-income families who were not engaged in government service and that such families in the divisional secretariats should be identified and notified.

For low income families up to Rs.750/= per month for three years, to provide educational assistance to the children of those families and in addition to provide a special support allowance of Rs.5000/=, these payments are paid by the Provincial Probation Department and the relevant form should be filled at the Divisional Secretariat Division level

According to a survey conducted by the Child Rights Promotion Authority in 2023, a short-term and long-term safety plan should be presented for 1114 high-risk children, and such children should be identified first in the short term or at the divisional secretariat level.

Children and parents should be informed about the increase in the use of mobile phones by children and in school committee meetings and there are currently 78 cases of domestic violence, and many families have various issues, problems and unsafe conditions for children due to the mother moving abroad. It was discussed that 161 children at risk have been identified by the police and that a survey should be conducted. Identification of sensitivities in children's homes was also discussed.

It was emphasized that various institutions implement various programs to educate school children about the use of drugs and the principals should be properly informed in this regard and should be done on the recommendation of the Regional Education Director.

It was discussed that a skill development center for children with special needs should be started in each divisional secretariat and that children who are addicted to various activities away from school should be rehabilitated.

The council was informed that arrangements have been made by non-governmental organizations to provide scholarships for school children of families with parents who have lost their parents and disabled parents, and to provide meals for school children at the school level, and an amount of seventeen lakh rupees will be spent for that.

The "Peace and Mercy Organization" informed that those families who have three school-going children, fatherless or disabled children, children studying medicine and children who have passed the scholarship can receive this assistance by informing them through the village clerk through the divisional secretariat.

For the safety of children when parents go to work, the Ministry of Children and Women's Affairs has prepared a national policy on day care centers and it was emphasized that all day care development centers in the province should be registered.

Additional District Secretary K. G. S. Nishantha, District Planning Director A.A. Weerakoon, District Welfare Director T.A. T. Kusumsiri, Child Abuse, Child Abuse Police (Divisional Women's Bureau, Kegalle) and a group of officials from the Children's Division of the District Secretariat participated in this event.