Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 26 July 2025
A significant District-Level Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on ‘Safeguarding the Girl Child towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India – 2025’ was recently held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, South Andaman. The meeting was conducted under the guidance of the Hon’ble Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court Calcurtta, following directives from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The event witnessed active participation from key stakeholders representing various departments and institutions, including the Social Welfare Department, Police, Education, Health, Child Protection Units, NGOs, and Child Care Institutions (CCIs). The primary objective was to strengthen collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring the safety, rights, and holistic development of the girl child in the region.
Discussions focused on coordinated actions, effective policy implementation, and community-level interventions to build a secure and supportive environment for every girl child. The consultation opened with a detailed dialogue on the critical issue of sexual harassment against girls, emphasizing prevention, early identification, counseling support, and comprehensive rehabilitation and after-care plans for girls transitioning out of CCIs.
Judicial representatives including Mr. Sudhir Kumar, Hon’ble District and Sessions Judge; Mr. Jayanta Mukherjee, Hon’ble Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board; Mr. Neyaz Alam, Hon’ble Additional District and Sessions Judge; and Mr. Samrat Roy, Hon’ble Chief Judicial Magistrate, stressed the urgent need to sensitize the judiciary, police, and institutional staff to adopt child-friendly procedures in handling cases under the POCSO Act. They underscored the importance of capacity building among frontline functionaries and ensuring timely coordination among all stakeholders engaged in child protection.
Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman District, lauded the collaborative spirit displayed by all departments. He remarked that this initiative represents a major step forward in strengthening district-level mechanisms, promoting accountability, and raising awareness among stakeholders.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Manoj Kumar Meena, IPS, highlighted the need to enhance security and safety measures in Child Care Institutions. He recommended the installation of CCTV cameras, maintenance of visitor registers, and mandatory police verification for all staff members, including support and contractual personnel.
This consultation marks a vital milestone in the district’s commitment to creating a safer and more enabling environment for the girl child in South Andaman.
