KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR CHILD WELFARE

           The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare was constituted in 1949 within 2 years of attaining independence and is affiliated to the Indian Council for Child Welfare. The ICCW was in fact the result of the realisation by the pioneers of Indian polity that the welfare of independent India rests on the well being of its children. During the last five decades, the Indian Council and its various affiliated State associations have progressed much towards ensuring the total Welfare and development of Indian children.

            While the President of India is the patron of the ICCW, the patron of the State Council for Child Welfare is the State Governor. The State Chief Minister is the President and the State Social Welfare Minister is the first Vice President of the KSCCW. The day today administration of the State Council is entrusted to a committee elected from among its life members. The working fund of the Council consists of grants from Central and State Governments, revenue generated by Council’s own activities, donations from organizations and individuals, the world over and from the sale of International Children’s Day Stamps in the State.

            The activities of the Council have been multifarious, touching all avenues of child development and care. This is the only recognized body in Kerala State for Welfare of children and hence our responsibilities are numerous and varied. The Council has all through its history set impressive targets for itself and strived to attain high standards in all its endeavours. As a result of the sincere hard work put in by our selfless predecessors the Council today boasts of very many unique progress and projects aimed for the betterment of child life.

H.E. the  Governor of Kerala	-	Patron
Chief Minister of Kerala	-	President
Minister for Social Welfare	-	1st President
Smt. Bindu Mohan Grace Cottage Minchin Road, Thycaud Thiruvananthpuram	-	2nd Vice President
Sri. Sunil C. Kurian      K.R.A.-D5, Attara Lane Kannanmoola Medical College (P.O) Thiruvananthpuram-695 011	-	General Secretary
Sri. V. Vinod                           Aduthila.P.O., Pazhayangadi Kannur.	-	Joint Secretary
Sri. T. Narayanan                   T.C. 28/890, Jyothis Kaithamukku Thiruvananthpuram	-	Treasurer
Sri. Rasheed Kanichery         Harsha, Kadamgod Karikkarappully Palakkad – 678 551	-	Executive Committee Member
Sri. V. Sundaran           Valathil House, Chathamangalam.P.O., Kozhikode.	-	Executive Committee Member
Smt. Presenna Earnest          Little Flower Villa Polayathode, Kollam	-	Executive Committee Member

DISTRICT COUNCILS

          The administration and Supervision of district Councils were under the control of nominated committees comprising of officials under the respective district Collectors. But from July 2000, the district councils were re organised and brought under the control of the State Council with committees elected from the life members of the district council. Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and four executive committee members elected, while the district collector still remains the President of the respective district councils and Assistant Development Commissioner as Vice-President (Ex-officio) the following are the present President and Secretary of the District Councils

Thiruvananthapuram District Council

President      -    District Collector Secretary      -    Sri. R. Somasekharan Nair Nilakkal Banglow, Koliakode via Venjaramoodu

Kollam District Council

President     -    District Collector Secretary     -   Smt. Prasanna Earnest Little Flower Villa, Polayathodu, Kollam

Pathanamthitta District Council

President     -     District Collector Secretary     -     Sri. M. Parameswaran Nair Muttathuveedu, Kumbazha, Pattanamthitta.

Idukki District Council

President    -    District Collector Secretary    -        Sri. K.R. Jhanardhanan Thonikkuzhiyil, Cheruthoni, Idukki colony. P.O., Idukki.

Kottayam District Council

President    -     District Collector Secretary    -    Sri. M.S. Soman Gowrisham, (Mangad),  Nilamperoor.P.O. Kuruchi, Kottyam

Alappuzha District Council

President     -     District Collector Secretary     -     Smt. T.P.Mangalamma Thattarasseri, Muhamma.P.O., Alappuzha.

Ernakulam District Council

President    -    District Collector Secretary    -    Assistant Development Commissioner (General)

Thrissur District Council

President   -    District Collector Secretary   -    Sri. P.V. Sridharan Palliyil Veedu, Harishree Vidhya Nagar, Poonkunnam, Thrissur.

Palakkad District Council

President   -    District Collector Secretary   -    Sri. Vazhoor Vasudevan Ragam, A.K.G. Nagar, Karingarapully.P.O., Palakkad

Kozhikode District Council

President   -   District Collector Secretary   -   Sri. V. Sundharan Valathil House, Chathamangalam.P.O., Kozhikode.

Malappuram District Council

President  -   District Collector Secretary    -  Sri. M. Sankaran Nomboodiri Mullappallimana., Vettam P.O., Thirur, Malappuram.

Wyanad District Council

President     -     District Collector Secretary     -     Sri. T.B. Suresh Thakidiyil, Valavayal.P.O. Paplassery, Wyanad.

Kannur District Council

President    -     District Collector Secretary   -      Sri. V. Vinod Aduthila.P.O., Pazhayangadi, Kannur.

Kasargod District Council

President   -   District Collector Secretary   -   Smt. P. Prabhavathy C.P.C.R.A. Compound, Kudlu, Chowki, Megralputhoor, Kasargod.

adoption

          Adoption is a socio-legal process by which abandoned and destitute children are rehabilitated, which can be best done only through institutional support. The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare has brought hope and love into the lives of several hundred children and families over many years through adoption. Our institution has received nationwide attention and acclaim in the field of adoption.

          The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare started the adoption programme in 1979 in its head office at Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1999 the Council started an adoption centre at Malappuram also.

Process and procedure of Adoption

          Adoption is a life long process. It begins right when the idea of adoption moots in the minds of a couple. The Prospective adoptive parents  or their friends and relatives can get from the centre the procedures and general information about adoption. The Social Worker in the centre will clear and clarify any doubts or apprehensions they may have and she will enquire into the basic requirements of the adoptive family. If interested, the adoptive parents can register during their first visit. The council charges a nominal registration fee of Rs. 100/-

The couple are required to submit the necessary documents along with the filled in application form (appended) within one month of registration.

The documents required are:

a)      Documentary proof on the age of the applicants.

b)    Income/salary certificate.

c)     Document proving land & building assets of the couple.

d)    Tax receipts of buildings & land.

e)     Marriage certificate.

f)       Infertility Certificate from a gynaecologist.

g)     Medical fitness Certificate.

h)    Reference letters.

i)       Joint photograph of the couple.

        The above listed documents are forwarded to the Standing Committee and based on the Committee’s decision, the application will be approved for home study.

Home Study
        Preparation of the home study report of the prospective adoptive parents is done by a qualified Social Worker. Prior to home study, intake interview and counselling session are conducted by the Social Worker. She will interview the spouses separately as well as jointly and the interviews will be conducted in the office. The home study report takes into account all the attributes of the prospective adoptive parents that would contribute to an effective parenthood.

Proposal of Child
        After the family’s home study has been approved, the family is shown the child most suitable to the couple in the age group and sex they desire. Placement is done purely on seniority of registration. The parents are discouraged from “shopping around” for babies ie, seeing and rejecting endless babies without valid reason.

Acceptance of Child
        Once a family decides to adopt a particular child they must sign the declaration of selection of that particular child with the proposed name of the child. After selecting the child the prospective adoptive parents can take the child to the paediatrician of their choice and can conduct all medical investigations which they desire to do.

Legal Procedures

          A child to be placed in adoption needs to be declared legally free for adoption by birth parent/s in the case of direct relinquishment and by the concerned Juvenile Welfare Board in the case of a child found abandoned.

          A person, who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments, including a Virashaiva, a lingayat or a follower of the Bramho, Prathana or Arya Samaj, Buddihst, Jaina or Sikh by religion can adopt a child under the Hindu adoption and maintenance Act, 1956. A Non-Hindu can adopt a child under the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890.

         Hindu adoptive parents may file a petition in the District Court praying to be appointed initially as guardians and subsequently as adoptive parents of the child. Non Hindu parents have to file a petition requesting for guardianship only. Once the filing of petitions is completed, the selected child is handed over by our institution to the adoptive parents through the District Court.

Follow-up
          Once the legal procedures are completed for adoption/ guardianship, the follow-up of these children are done by the Social Worker. The adoptive parents should send health report of their child every 3 months, with photograph of their child every year. The adoptive parents have to produce the child in our Centre every year till they get final custody of the child. Post-adoption counselling is given to adoptive parents regarding disclosing the matter to the child. Follow-up visit is made not with the attitude of an inspection but with an attitude to facilitate the child’s integration into the family for ensuring the welfare of the adopted child. It also provides an opportunity for the adoptive family to seek guidance and support from the agency.

CRECHE PROGRAMME

          The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare took on the task of setting up crèches for children of working and ailing mothers from the lower socio economic strata of society in 1975. The programme caters to children between the age group of 0-3 yerars. There are 70 creches in the 11 District under the control of the Council, financed by Indian council for Child Welfare. All these crèches will be brought under direct control of the Council from April, 2002.

          These crèches serve the purpose of providing a safe, secure and healthy environment to babies, allowing older children to attend school instead of dropping out, for taking care of sibling and helping mothers to work as they are assured of the safety of their children. The services provided in these crèches include health care, supplementary nutrition, immunisation recreation as well as non formal education.

          A maximum of 25 children are taken care in each crèche by a trained crèche worker and a helper.

LIBRARY

          A Women & Children’s Library  is functioning in the Head Quarters under the auspices of Kerala State Council for Child Welfare. The library consists of nearly 10,000 books out of which 5,000 are Children’s books and periodicals, kept in order for use. The membership of the Library run up to 1,500 which include school children and women. The library is exclusively used by school students, women undergoing training in various field and staff. Nearly 200 children including women use the services of the library per day.

          The KSCCW Children’s Library contains books on different subject pertaining to child development and allied disciplines and also books on Health & Nutrition, History, Science etc. The library also receives a number of periodicals and Newsletters from foreign countries like Austria, China Germany, Isarel. In addition to this it contains reports, press clippings and pamphlets on a wide range of subjects. Besides these, the Council has brought out a bi-monthly News Bulletin from February 2002 onwards. Literature & books concerning health, family welfare, pre-natal & post-natal care, child psychology adolescent problems, popular fiction and children’s books are added to the existing stock regularly.

CHACHA NEHRU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

          The Museum is an offshoot of the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare established in commemoration of its Silver Jubilee year. The Council commenced its organisaiton in 1975 and opend for the public in 1981 by Shri. Vasantha Sathi, the then Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting. Now, it is the only Museum of its kind in South Inidia. The Major aim of this Museum is to impart education to children through entertainment.

          The Chacha Nehru Children’s Museum is the Summoning up of various galleries namely, Dolls and Toys, Paintings, Photos, Philately, Masks, Health and  Nutrition, Science and Technology, Mini Aquarium etc.

          Educational and cultural activities such as securing of childern’s Films, Various Competitions, Temporary Extribitions, Workshops, Vacation Classes, Festivals etc are regularly conducted for children on school holidys and special occasions. Museum children’s club, Museum Friends Club,  Children’s Library, Mini Auditorium and play park etc are other facilities available for children and adults.

          The art objects displayed in the Museum aim at the emotional growth of children and ultimately give them better perception of the world around them.

          The expansion of the Museum has been receiving great attention of the Council and steps are being taken to organise it on the lines of new concepts of a Children’s Museum.

CHILD CARE WORKERS TRAINING PROGRAMME

          Initiated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare and with the assistance of the department of Social Welfare and Central Social Welfare board, the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare started the Balasevika training programme in 1962 in Thiruvanathapuram and later in Thrissur & Kozhikode during 1974. The programme is renamed as Child Care Workers Training Programme since 2001. Till 1999 this Programme was run with the financial assistance obtained from Central Government. Since 1999 the Central Government stopped funding and the programme is now run by the Council as a self financing course with the permission of the Central Government who issues the course certificates for these trainees.

          At present there are 3 Child Care Workers Training Centres functioning under KSCCW at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur each batch contains 50 trainees. The 11 month training course compasses components such as pre-school education, health, nutrition, community participation, organisation and management. In addition to theory inputs, practical as well as field and community work, visits to institutional |units and surveys form part of the training. Fieldwork comprises of 40 days and 1 month has been set apart for block work. During block work the trainees are sent to different blocks in small groups. They stay in the block area and take part in all the activities run in that particular blocks like conducting mother’s meeting, house visits, visiting Balawadis and Balasangams and also visiting Panchayat offices, hospitals and Municipalities.

ANGANWADI WORKERS TRAINING CENTRE

          Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) implemented by Central Government during 1975. This programme aims at an integrated delivery of a package of Health and Nutrition and education to children under 6 yrs of age and to pregnant and nursing mothers in the village and wards. The role of Anganwadi Workers is to implement this programme. For this purpose, they are given training at one of the training centres for Anganwadi Workers which have been established all over the country.

          Kerala State Council for Child Welfare in 1978 took up the major responsibility of providing training to Anganwadi Workers. For conducting the training, the financial aid was given from Ministry of Human Resource and Development through Indian Council for Child Welfare. ICCW issues the grant to the state Councils.

          The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers for the training programme are selected by the Social Welfare department and sent to various Anganwadi Training Centres. There are 6 such Anganwadi Training Centres functioning under Kerala State Council for Child Welfare in the district Thiruvananthapuram, Parasala, Kottayam, Cochin, Thrissur and Palakkad.

          World Bank Assisted ICDS training Programme project Udhisha implemented on 1.4.99 for a period of 5 yrs inorder to improve the quality of ICDS Scheme.

RAKSHA

      RAKSHA- the Gender  Support Implementation project for Adolescents boys and girls taken up by the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare in 2001-2002 with financial assistance from the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund Association) and MOHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare). The main objectives of the programme are to generate awareness among adolesent boys and girls on gender related issues, to develop consciousness of gender equality among them by developing enabling attitudes to this objective through training and to reduce misconceptions about gender roles, which are created through social communication and media influences among adolescent boys and girls.

          The project covers 5 Panchayaths each in six selected districts (Kannur, Waynad, Malappuram, Palaghat, Idukki and Kollam). The selection of Panchayats and participant trainees was based on social and economic backwardness and lesser exposure heretofore to GSI Programmes and performance is given to ST, SC and other backward communities including fisher folk. Selection of the panchayats for the training programme and of trainees was done on the above basis with the help of the Panchayat organisations at District and village levels. 900 adolescent boys and girls are covered by the programme.

          The programme covers a total of 10 day training within 5 months duration in each panchayat. There would be a constant and continued interaction between the trainees at the lowest level and the monitoring committee of RAKSHA. Follow up action would have to be undertaken by the first generation trainees in locations from   where they come. The programme is expected to be sustained in its process, content and impact by the KSCCW, the organizers of RAKSHA with the aid and help from other voluntary agencies, three-tier Panchayats and the State Government.

SHARMAJI MEMORIAL ALL KERALA PAINTING COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN

          Kerala State Council for Child Welfare conducts annually state level painting competition for children upto the age of 16 yrs and 18 years in the case of physically and mentally handicapped children. On the basis of age the children are divided into five sub-groups. These competitions are held in the name of the late Shri. S. Sharma, the famous activist of the international peace movement. In addition to certificate to all participating children (running into thousands) and attractive prizes and trophies to the best creative works in each group, rolling trophy is also awarded to the school, which sends maximum number of contestants to the competition. The paintings selected as the best ones are sent as entries in the National Painting competition conducted by the Indian Council for Child Welfare annually.

National Awards for Bravery for Children

          INTRODUCTION: The Scheme of National Awards to Children for bravery was started in the year 1957. It was in this year that two children – a boy and a girl – were first rewarded for their exemplary presence of mind and courage. Since then, ICCW decided to confer National Awards to Children, every year.

          OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the scheme is to give due recognition to the children who perform acts of bravery with a view to inspire other children to follow their example. The deed should be “an act of selfless service in the face of danger to life or threat of physical injury.”

          PROCESS OF INVITING APPLICATIONS: Wide publicity is given through the leading newspapers of the country, All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendras. Nominations are invited through State/U.T. Councils of ICCW, various departments of the State Governments including Director Generals and Commissioners of Police of all States and Union Territories.

          PROCESS OF APPLYING: Nominations are received in the prescribed application form (approved) which can be obtained from ICCW headquarters office. The form is to be accompanied by the First Information Report (FIR) or Police Diary filed with the Police Station, Newspaper/Magazine clippings and a Certificate of the Date of Birth. The form, the account of the incident as well as the supporting documents should be recommended by three of the listed Competent Authorities. (See Note 6)

AGE-LIMIT: The child should not be below 8 years and above 18 of age on the date of the incident.

RECOMMENDING/COMPETENT AUTHORITIES:

The application must be recommended by any of the following.

1)      General Secretary/President of the State Council.

2)      Principal/Headmaster of school in which the applicant is studying.

3)      Chief Secretary of the State Govt./Director (or above) of Social Welfare/ Women & Child Development/ Education/ Public Instruction/ Home Affairs/Railways/ Defence of the State or Central Govt.

4)      Head of the Police Dept. of the State Govt.

5)      SDM/DM/District Collector.

6)      Head of Panchayat/Zila Parishad.

          SELECTION : The selection is made by a high powered Committee constituted by ICCW comprising representatives from Secretariats of the President of India, Vice-President of India, Ministries of Human Resource Development (Department of Women & Child Development, Department of Education, Department of Youth Affairs), Social Justice & Empowerment, Health & Family Welfare, Railways, Defence, Home Affairs, AIR, Doordarshan, Police, some NGOs, Office-Bearers and Members of Council.

          AWARD : The recipient of the coveted ‘BHARAT AWARD’ (instituted in 1987 for the most extraordinary act of bravery) receives a Gold Medal, a Citation and a Cash Award. The other awardees receive a Silver Medal, a Certificate and a Cash award. Gifts are given by philanthropic organizations.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

1.          Eligible awardees are granted assistance until they complete their schooling under the Sponsorship Programme of the Council.

2.          ICCW provides financial assistance under its Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme to those undertaking professional courses such as engineering and medicine.

3.          For the others this assistance is provided till they complete their graduation.

 CATEGORIES OF AWARD

· BHARAT AWARD

· GEETA CHOPRA AWARD

· SANJAY CHOPRA AWARD

· BAPU GAYADHANI AWARDS (THREE)

· GENERAL AWARDS

STATE AWARDS FOR BRAVERY BY KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR CHILD WELFARE AND ASIANET

          In addition to National Bravery Award We, The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare and Asianet are jointly implementing a Bravery Award Scheme to the children on State Level. It was started in the year 2000. Ten children are rewarded for their exemplary presence of mind and courage. The first three from among the ten winners are directed to participate in the National level Bravery Award. The first three winners are awarded
Rs. 25,000/- each and the remaining 7 children are awarded
Rs. 7,000/- each along with the Certificates.

JOURNALISM, PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO AWARDS
BY KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR CHILD WELFARE

        In the year 2000, Kerala State Council for Child Welfare instituted annual awards for the best press feature report and the best press photograph on children and child issues. In 2001, one more award for the best video-report on children and child issues was added to these two. The best award for press feature report is in the name of the late Shri. N. Narendran, the best press photograph awards in memory of the late Shri. Victor George and the award for the best video report on children is in the name of the late Shri. K. Jayachandran. Each of these annual awards include Rs. 10,000/- in cash and a memento.