Maneka launches Abhayam to rehabilitate street children

16 August, Chennai

Union Minister for Women and Child DevelopmentManeka Gandhi Tuesday participated in a couple of functions in the cityand also launched ‘Abhayam’ and held regional consultations with civilsociety organisation on the draft Anti Trafficking Bill-2016. Ms Maneka Gandhi first launched ‘Abhayam’, a project of the DayaFoundation founded by Latha Rajinikanth to rescue and rehabilitatestreet children and ensure child safety.

Speaking on the occasion, she said Abahyam was proposing to set up a Citizen Council for Child safety, which would the first of its kindinitiative to bring the citizens together. ”It is a very good initiative and I would like se it extended to othercities as well, she added. She also witenssed a programme performed by the children rescuedby the Daya Foundation.

In her address, Ms Maneka also highlighted various initiatves of theWomen and Child Development Ministry and said a new initiative forproviding birth certificates and Aadhar Cards for street children would be launched.

Later, at the regional consultative meeting with civil society organisations,Ms Maneka gandhi said an important point suggested was that timelinesfor repatriation of trafficked victims should be included in the Act.

Another key issues was since beegary was a big area where traffickingwas rampant, it should also be given an important consideration in theAct, she said. Apart from officials of Tamil Nadu gtovernment, a total of 21 NGOs participated in the meeting. Ms Maneka Gandhi winded up her visit to the city by flagging off a motorbike rally to mark the occasion of “AZADI 70”.