JAZIB MUNIR

LAHORE:

Adil Nadeem, 14, who hails from Purana Kahna student of 9th class has been living in Child Protection Welfare Bureau. He was rescued in a daily basis rescue operations in 2008.

He has lived his childhood in orphanage that led him in a complete alienation. In order to survive and counter he found Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) not less than a blessing.

“A night lives in as shelter is a sign of relief because I have seen plenty of nightmares in my life as homeless and orphan child,” Adil said.

“I am very happy here as we get all the facilities of good living and education. I have no parents,” he said.

Government of the Punjab decided to extend CPWB in other districts of province to help and provide care, rehabilitation, education and training to strapped and neglected children of society.

The story of Muhammad Danish, 9, who hails from Nayi Abadi Daroghawala is bit different from other children.  

Danish has been here at the CPWB since 2013 and studying in 3rd grade at Child Protection School, “I used to beg before coming here but now I live here and now spending a happy life,” Danish said.

There are more than 200 students studying in the Child Protection School.

Children have a playground for their recreational activities and in evening they used to gather and play for at least one hour.

The main objective of CPWB is to protect children from criminals and human traffickers. This institution helps children becoming a useful citizen by providing education and technical skills.

Chairperson of CPWB Saba Sadiq told The Nation, “We are working to expand CPWB to different districts as CPWB is working in major cities but we are working to expand it on district level so CPWB can reach small towns as well because these small towns and villages are the source of these beggars and child abuse as mostly people are not educated over there.”

“We are also planning to start a campaign to make people aware in those areas from where we got many of our cases. Through this campaign, people will get that how they can help those children in need,” she said.

The bureau claimed working closely with local police and NGOs when they found any child related to these cases. First they ask child about his address, if he is unable to answer, then the bureau deliver all the information to police and they help us find relatives of child.

Till then the child remains under custody of CPWB through proper custody taken through child protection court.

In cases like where child don’t want to go back home or fearful of his parents, the bureau talk with the parents and do inquiry about their behavior with child.

Bureau officials told the major reason is parents’ aggressive behavior towards children due to their lack of education which make child a rebellion at home. In this case CPWB provide psychiatric attention to child.Those children, who don’t show interest in education, are provided with the technical education by Vocational Training Center at the bureau.  

On the other hand, child rights activist Iftikhar Mubarak said that corporal punishments are the prime reason behind a runway child either in schools or at home and domestic violation which makes a child rebellion of home.

“I would like to add that building number of protection centre is not a solution. We should look for a long term and best solution to prevent these children coming on the roads and for this proper monitoring mechanism is required.

“When we talk about rescuing children, the first thing come up is prevention. To make children prevent from coming to roads all concerned stakeholders must work together from education department, our law enforcement agencies, prosecution department and health department,” Iftikhar said.

Published in Young Nation Magazine on May 05, 2018