One-day annual Consultation of Stakeholders in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh themed, “Protection of Children with Disabilities, 2024”, held at SKICC, Srinagar on August 3.

The day was organised by Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of J&K and Ladakh in collaboration with Department of Social Welfare, UT J&K and Department of Social & Tribal Welfare, UT Ladakh, UNICEF and AIVC.

UT Ladakh stakeholders, from both the districts, virtually participated in the consultation headed by Commissioner/ Secretary, Social & Tribal Welfare Ladakh, Padma Angmo in the presence of officers/officials and representatives from the other concerned departments, civil societies, and NGOs.

The day-long deliberation had 4 technical sessions on important topics with resource persons and experts from different departments and fields. The first technical session focused on an Overview of the Schemes and Services and Provisions for Children with Disability across various departments, Challenges, Gaps and Recommendations for strengthened support to Children with Disabilities.

The second technical session highlighted the need of synchronization of Juvenile Justice and Children with Disabilities with focus on identification semantics hard and soft skills and infrastructure. The third session deliberated on the Way forward with challenges and opportunities on Children with Disabilities and Child Protection with special stress on children in conflict with law and Children in need of Care and Protection and skilling.

The consultation thoroughly acknowledged the need of dedicated collaboration between different departments such as Education, Medical and Police to address the issues of Children with Disabilities and to provide them an environment of equal opportunity and to safeguard their rights and to redress their issues with a rights-based approach.

In this context, the fourth technical session focused on Police Perspective in implementation of schemes and rehabilitation services.

Commissioner Secretary, S&TW, Padma Angmo presented a detailed presentation on the schemes, services and provisions for Children with Disabilities in the UT Ladakh region. Director, School Education, Tsering Palden also gave an overview of schemes and provisions for Children with Disabilities under the Education Department and the need to strive collectively to achieve and ensure a holistic and inclusive development of all.

After successful and open discussion on the different themed sessions among the stakeholders, the one-day consultation ended with the valedictory session entailing a summary of the action points and outline for action plan 2024-25, felicitation of the resource persons and a vote of thanks.

Director, Social & Tribal Welfare Ladakh/ State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Tashi Dolma; Principal Magistrate, JJB Leh, Wangail Tsering;  District Social Welfare Officer, Leh and Kargil; Chief Education Officer, Leh/Kargil; Deputy Chief, Legal Aid Defence Counsel, District Court Leh; officers and officials from Ladakh Legal Services Authority, Education, Medical and Police Department; officials of Social Welfare Department, District Child Protection Unit and other concerned stakeholders.