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Officials of SARA, ICPS, CWC, DCPO and others during the consultation meet in Kohima.[/caption]
Dimapur, August 24 (EMN): The State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), Social Welfare Department organised a one day consultation meet on ‘Foster Care Guidelines 2016’ at Red Cross Building Kohima. The purpose of the meeting was to deliberate and adapt or adopt the Foster Care Guidelines 2016 to suit the economic and geographic needs of the state and to come up with State rules on foster care.
The secretary of Social Welfare Department, OT Chingmak Chang, in his keynote address said the fundamental principle of foster care is to provide a family or a family like environment which is the most conducive for a child. He also said it is based on the concept of rehabilitation and reintegration of children who are in need of care and protection to ensure their right to grow up in a family. It is also conditional assistance to enable children who are at risk from being removed from school and sent for work, to continue their education, he added. He also encouraged the participants that they are competent and at a right stage to help the society.
Madam Keweu Kenye, Additional Director of Social Welfare and former Society Director of ICPS gave a brief account as to how the ICPS came into being in Nagaland. She mentioned the struggles and problems faced in the initial years of setting up of ICPS in the State. She expressed confident to see faces of the competent staff who are working together for the protection of children. She also expressed her happiness that many could be employed and also could work for the uplift of the society.
Programme Manager of SARA, Renchumi Imti, said foster care is the arrangement where a child is placed for the purpose of alternate care in pupose of care and protection. The main purpose of Foster care is to ensure best interests of the child, child’s safety and security respect view of the child in accordance with his age, to reunite the child with his biological family by strengthening families. She also highlighted on the rights of the child under foster care, rights of foster family and the rights of the fit facility, the responsibilities of the caregivers of the fit facility.
Programme Officer of SARA, Kekuolhuno Nakhro, gave a brief overview on monitoring and review of tools required in foster care. She also briefed the form and annexure of the model guidelines 2016.
Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Kohima, Khriehuzo Lohe, said CWC is the bench who protects the rights of children which they have been doing till now. Role of foster care has to be taken very seriously, inspite of orders the best interest of the child has to be kept in mind, he said. He suggested that a research or compilation of reports on various tribal practices be brought out as to ensure the success of the Foster Care rule in Nagaland.
DCPO Kiphire, Sevehu Chuzho, spoke on role of the District Child Protection Units, DCPOs and PO (NIC). He mentioned three types of foster care namely short, long and group foster care.
