Loyola College set to open child rights resource centre

An initiative by the Department of Social Work, the Centre aims to be a knowledge hub on Child Rights in Tamil Nadu. Andrew Sesuraj, Assistant professor of Department of Social Work, Loyola College, said, “We will focus on research, training and advocacy of child rights. 

The research will be both primary and secondary. We will design training modules for NGO’s, students and government officials”. 

The centre has plans to bring about policy advocacy by taking up government schemes which never took off along with engaging in research and bringing about convergence within various departments related to child welfare and protection.   

Speaking on how the idea took shape, Andrew said, “The idea evolved during a discussion with Child Protection Specialist Kumaresan. Our department has 160 students pursuing Master’s degree, M Phil and Phd. They can tie up with NGO’s and field practitioners to work on various aspects of child rights. Anyone seeking information or data related to this can approach the centre,” he said.  

Even as focus will be given to issues such as child abuse and child marriage, the centre has plans to put spot light on few other aspects that seldom get attention. “One of our priorities is to de-insitituationise the children living in various shelter homes. 

TN has the highest number of children’s homes. Last year, late chief minister J Jayalalithaa had set up a scheme to facilitate foster homes for the children living in these homes. The family which takes in a child was to be given Rs 2,000 a month. But funds have not been allocated for this. The centre will be taking this up,” said Andrew.