Jharkhand Launches 'Baal Suraksha' Program to Rescue and Rehabilitate Missing Children
In a significant move to address the plight of missing children, the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (Jhalsa) officially launched the 'Baal Suraksha' initiative on Saturday in Ranchi. This comprehensive program is specifically designed to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation of children who have gone missing across the state.
Officials revealed a startling statistic: a total of 350 children are currently reported as missing in Jharkhand, yet no First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged in these cases, highlighting a critical gap in the legal and administrative response.
High-Level Launch and Judicial Support
The program was inaugurated by Jhalsa Executive Chairman and Jharkhand High Court Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad. The launch ceremony was attended by several distinguished judicial figures, including Justice Ananda Sen, Justice AK Choudhary, and retired Justice Ambuj Nath, underscoring the high priority given to this child protection effort.
Justice Prasad emphasized the program's core objective, stating, "Permanent solution is rehabilitation of rescued survivors." This statement highlights the initiative's focus not just on recovery but on ensuring long-term safety and support for the children.
Strategic Role of Para-Legal Volunteers
Under the 'Baal Suraksha' project, para-legal volunteers (PLVs) will play a pivotal role. These volunteers are tasked with submitting monthly reports to Jhalsa regarding vulnerable children and those at risk in their respective areas. The goal is to take proactive measures to prevent child migration and exploitation before it occurs.
Identification of at-risk children will be based on multiple parameters, including:
- Poor health conditions
- Elderly parents unable to provide adequate care
- Parental unemployment
- Migration of parents for work
- Parents who are imprisoned
- Incidents of abuse within the family
Justice Sen addressed the importance of grassroots implementation, noting, "There is a gap between what we intend to do and what is being done at the grassroots level. This gap needs to be bridged. PLVs can play a strategic role in this."
Comprehensive Monitoring and National Coordination
Jhalsa will also actively monitor the investigation of missing children cases. Furthermore, the authority will share crucial information with state legal service authorities across India to facilitate a coordinated national effort for the recovery of missing minors.
In addition to recovery efforts, the program includes a robust rehabilitation component. Rescued children will be linked to various government welfare schemes to provide them with essential support and reduce the risk of them being trafficked again.
Mobile Awareness: The 'Nyay Rath' Initiative
As part of the launch, twenty-four vehicles, designated as 'Nyay Rath' (Justice Chariots), were flagged off. Each district legal services authority in Jharkhand has been provided with one of these mobile units.
The primary functions of the Nyay Rath include:
- Conducting mobile Lok Adalats (people's courts) to deliver justice at the doorstep.
- Spreading awareness on various legal and social issues, particularly those related to child safety and rights.
This initiative represents a holistic approach to child protection in Jharkhand, combining preventive measures, active recovery operations, national collaboration, and sustained rehabilitation efforts to safeguard the state's most vulnerable young citizens.
