Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada recorded the highest number of enrollments for the Prayojakathva Yojana implemented under the Mission Vatsalya framework by the District Child Protection Unit in Karnataka. District child protection officer Rashmi Nekraje, during an interaction with the media at the announcement of the National Adoption Awareness Month, at the press club on Thursday, said that the district had around 503 beneficiaries for the scheme this year.The scheme gives Rs 4,000 per month to vulnerable children so they can grow up safely with their biological or extended families instead of being sent to orphanages or institutional care. She said the Prayojakathva Yojana had around 1,035 beneficiaries last year and 176 in 2024. The district’s target has been lower this year, although it has continued to record the highest enrollment in the state for three consecutive years.Nekraje said National Adoption Awareness Month is being observed from Nov 1 to 30 under the theme ‘Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption’. She stressed that adoption must be completed through the legally prescribed process.Dakshina Kannada has two adoption institutions, the govt Specialised Adoption Agency at Bondel and Vatsalyadhama adoption centre at Nelikatte, Puttur. Vatsalyadhama has facilitated the adoption of 192 children since 2010, including 187 domestic and five inter-country adoptions. Of the latter, one child was adopted by a family in Spain, two in Italy, one in the United States and one in Canada. The adoption agency at Bondel, which began functioning in 2024, has facilitated the adoption of 11 children so far, all within the country.Rashmi also briefed about other initiatives including Poshakathva Yojane where foster care scheme is given to children who are not adopted, with 15 children enrolled from the district, in the PM CARES for Children Scheme and CM Cares around 11 children are enrolled which supports children who lost both parents, a surviving parent, or legal/adoptive parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic; Visesha Palana Yojane provides monthly financial assistance for children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, and the district currently has 336 beneficiaries under this programme.
Do you support the Prayojakathva Yojana initiative that provides financial assistance to vulnerable children?
3k+ users shared opinion today
5k+ users already voted today
3k+ users shared opinion today
Another initiative, the Upakari Yojana, supports young adults leaving child care institutions after completing 18 years; there are currently 29 beneficiaries under the scheme.No delay in Pocso case involving priestResponding to questions on the alleged delay in the Pocso case involving a church priest, Rashmi said her office received a letter from the head office on Aug 30 and forwarded it to police on Sept 2, seeking an inquiry and report. She said the department could provide counselling and protection if survivors were identified, but could not conduct the inquiry itself. “There is no delay from our side,” she said.Responding to alleged complaints about police personnel not following prescribed procedures, she said, “If such complaints come to light, we report them to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and resolve the issues.”
