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| Sunday, 29 September 2002 |
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Children's Day on Oct. 1 : Foster Parents Scheme to be revived by Shanika Sriyananda Liyanage Sri Lankan children and the kids from the rest of the world will celebrate Children's Day, on October 1 as declared by the United Nations which guarantees them their rights to enjoy their childhood in a safer world. The 'National Children's Festival', the main celebration of the day will be held under the patronage of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Schoolchildren representing all the provinces will deliver speeches under the theme 'A world without torture', which is jointly organised by the NCPA and the UNICEF. Organised by the Sarvodaya, over 1,250 children from very remote areas will gather at the BMICH on this day to hand over the 'Children's Declaration on the responsibility of Scientists', prepared by them to the President and the Prime Minister. While the country has taken measures to reduce sexual and physical abuse on children, still the number of such cases keeps on alarming. Here is such a case: Tortured and beaten for several years, a 10-year-old kid was burned severely. One would wonder how he suffered such harassment. But in a lonely world, where there was no parental love and care, he was in the custody of cruel hands. His cries would not have reached the world outside for years. The neighbours who could not bare to hear his cries any more, complained to the Grandpass Police and his own aunt was taken into custody. His father had died when he was only two and the mother had gone abroad in search of greener pastures, leaving him behind with his aunt, who turned cruel. While the Grandpass police is investigating into the complaint, the little boy has been handed over to the Salvation Army. This incident took place on September 25, just five days before the Universal Children's Day. According to National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) sources, they have forwarded over 1200 child abuse complaints to the Attorney General's Department, this year. Meanwhile, a special police campaign, which trains police officers, will be launched to combat child abuse with the assistance of the NCPA. The main hub to train the police officers will be set up at the NCPA premises on October 1. The brainchild of this campaign, Interior Minister John Ameratunge will be the chief guest and separate units will be set up in each police station. Coinciding with the Universal Children's Day, the Department of probation and Childcare will also re-introduce the 'Sevana Sarana Foster Parents Scheme', which was introduced for the benefit of needy schoolchildren on a concept by the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1988. Twenty five children below 14 years of age will receive the Sevana Sarana savings pass books from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees. Each child will receive a monthly grant of Rs. 200 for a period of five years and the money will be deposited in a pass book of the National Savings Bank. According to Ashoka Peiris, Commissioner of the Department, over 17,000 schoolchildren from very poor families, excluding the North and East, have been benefited by the scheme and the foster parents now exceed 8500. "We want to expand the program to poor children in the North and East as well", he added that the scheme, which was shelved during the past few years and parents of poor families and the donors who could assist the poor children are still unaware of this scheme. "The main advantage of the scheme is the child will receive the monthly grant while he or she is in the custody of his or her family. The donors could visit the child only with the permission of the Probation and Child Care officers. The foster parent cannot take the child for adoption but if they want they would continue with the grant even the child reaches 14 years", he added. Peiris said that the locals resident in abroad already shown keen interest in joining the scheme and also foreigners as well as NGOs and foreign missions work towards the welfare of the children can assisting the scheme by fostering a child or a group of children. The selection will be done following a letter sent by the parents of the child, on recommendation of the Principal or the teacher of the school which he or she attends and on stories of needy children published in newspapers. Parallel to the main celebration at the Temple Trees, an islandwide flag day will also be held to raise funds to launch a welfare fund to provide financial assistance to destitutes, orphans and deserted children for their education. The first flag will be pinned on to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This fund also be utilized to improve living conditions of children living in the government and voluntary children's homes. The awards will be given to the best Children's Home in a bid to encourage the authorities of the children's homes to provide better care and facilities to children. According to the Commissioner there are over 178 children's homes islandwide and over 9,000 children shelter in these. To encourage the Probation Officers, awards will also be given to the best probation officers. Meanwhile, an international conference organised by the Save the Children will be held in Colombo to highlight the chronic impact of on-going conflicts on children by bringing together the experiences of international and national organisations, practitioners, academics and professionals who are working in Sri Lanka. A TV program 'Future of children after the dawn of peace' will be telecast on Channel Eye from Jaffna with the participation of 50 children. The 'Muthuhara IT children's village', with the participation of over 30,000 children will be held at the Independent Square from 8.30 am on October 1. |
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