The Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) held a district-level review meeting on child protection and welfare initiatives at the Villupuram Collectorate on Thursday.

The session, chaired by Chairperson Pudukottai Vijaya, was attended by member Casimir Raj and officials of various line departments. The meeting reviewed the status of welfare schemes and protection mechanisms implemented across departments, including school education, Social Welfare, Health, Labour, Police, and Integrated Child Protection Services.

Officials from the District Child Protection Unit, Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board, and Childline 1098 briefed the panel on measures being taken to safeguard children’s rights and respond to cases of child labour, abuse, and neglect.

Ms. Vijaya emphasised the importance of inter-departmental coordination to ensure child safety and timely rehabilitation. She urged the officials to strengthen outreach and awareness programmes in schools and rural areas to prevent exploitation of children. All schools and child-care institutions must have a clear child protection policy and child-friendly procedures in place, and the staff should be trained regularly, she said.