Employees of District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) in Tamil Nadu have reached out to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, urging immediate action to enhance child protection services in the state. Under the Department of Children Welfare and Special Services (DCWSS), these workers highlighted the challenges faced in implementing child welfare measures as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
They emphasized the crucial role played by the department in safeguarding children from abuse, preventing child marriages, eradicating child labor, rescuing children involved in begging, and ensuring the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law. Many District Child Protection Offices, Juvenile Justice Boards, and Child Welfare Committees operate from inadequate infrastructure in rented or government premises, hindering timely interventions in emergencies involving children due to the lack of dedicated vehicles.
One of their key requests is the establishment of fully equipped temporary shelters for distressed children in every district. These facilities should offer access to counselors, doctors, special educators, and other essential support services to ensure comprehensive care and rehabilitation. Additionally, they called for the setup of special rehabilitation homes in each district for children under 18 who encounter legal issues, aiming to provide proper care, counseling, education, and opportunities for social reintegration.
The employees also urged the government to expand financial aid schemes for children under the department’s care, citing limitations in the current support that fails to reach all eligible beneficiaries. To bolster child protection mechanisms at the grassroots level, they proposed expanding the roles of child protection committees at various administrative levels and appointing more child protection officers at the block level.
Addressing their employment concerns, the employees highlighted their service on annual contract appointments since 2012 without job security, accident insurance, or retirement-related welfare benefits despite over 14 years of service. They appealed for the regularization of their services, provision of permanent appointments, and introduction of welfare benefits, stressing that improved working conditions for child protection personnel would enhance the efficiency of child welfare and protection systems in Tamil Nadu.
