SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said for many decades "conflict profiteers" brainwashed children and handed over stones in their hands.

Lt Governor said this during the inauguration of a two day workshop for sensitization, training programmes for representatives of PRI’s ULB’s Police and other stakeholders to strengthen the Child Protection System and Mechanism in Jammu and Kashmir.

“For many decades, our children did not get the childhood they deserve. Conflict profiteers brainwashed them and handed over stones in their hands”, he said and added “We have decimated that ecosystem and our children now carry laptops, tabs and contribute to nation building”.

“I believe childhood blossoms in a vibrant environment of home, hence institutional care should be the last option,” Lt Governor said.

He highlighted the need to provide homes to the children living in institutional care and in street situation.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor asked the officials of the central government to consider the establishment of Vatsalya Sadan one each in Jammu and Srinagar.

He said the government has taken several rehabilitation and child care initiatives, and adoption through joint effort of Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) has started to promote family-based non-institutional care of children.

Lt Governor also called upon public representatives, NGOs, community elders, religious leaders and youth clubs to join the fight against the drug menace.

Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern. We have adopted a zero tolerance policy against drugs and it is our collective responsibility to raise awareness and strengthen action to realize the vision of drug-free J&K, he said.

This is the first such campaign organised by the Women and Child Development Ministry, Government of India in the country.

Lt Governor expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Women and Child Development and lauded the Social Welfare Department for its innovative initiative which aims to organise a training programme for 15,000 persons in 2023-24.

He said the training programme is the testimony to the commitment of the Administration to secure a blissful childhood and to ensure a supportive ecosystem for children which enables them to realize their true potential. (UNI)