Street Children Activists Network (SCAN) Bangladesh has demanded that the Department of Children allocate special funds for the rehabilitation of street children and start the activities of the Department of Children as soon as possible.
Scan thanked the government for increasing the allocation to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in the national budget and called for ensuring proper implementation of the budget.
The demand was made at the “Meet the Press” event held virtually on Wednesday. SCAS Chairman Jahangir Nakir presided over the function and SCAN General Secretary Moniruzzaman Mukul delivered the keynote address.
In the program conducted by journalist Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Matilda Tina Vaidya of KNH Germani, Jasmine Prema of Social Welfare and Development Organization (SCAS), Aftabuzzaman of Apon Foundation, Nazneen Shabnam of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, also delivered a speech.
Taking short-term and long-term measures to protect street children in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), conducting a survey to gather all necessary information about street children, coordinating public and private street child protection activities and setting up cooperation booths,
It is recommended to form one stop crisis response unit for children, formulate a policy for smooth conduct of street child activities at government and private level and form a cross sector body with all including government agencies, non-governmental organizations and street children.
Referring to the proposed budget for the next financial year, the speakers said that the food crisis of the street children and other sufferings have increased in this corona period. They are now living inhumane lives.
Considering all these aspects, besides allocating budget, it is necessary to make a definite action plan to ensure a bright future for the street children. It is important to start the activities of a separate department especially for children. And special allocation has to be given in favor of the department. At the same time registration of street children should be ensured. Effective steps should be taken to stop the sources of street children.
