A workshop on Wednesday called for mainstreaming the under privileged children to achieve the SDGs for child welfare and build a developed Bangladesh.
Speakers at the workshop observed that if the children are not made good citizens through proper education, the country will suffer in the future. Therefore, it is very important to involve underprivileged children in the mainstream of development activities, they added.
The workshop on “What to do for mainstreaming the underprivileged children in development activities” was organized jointly by the Bangladesh Social Welfare Department and Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum with support from Max Foundation. Chairperson of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikari Forum, Md. Mahbubul Haque presided over the workshop organized at the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation auditorium.
Secretary of Ministry of Social Welfare Md. Khairul Alam Sheikh was present as the chief guest. Director General of Social Welfare Department Dr. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal and Imam Mahmud Riyad, Country Director of Max Foundation were present as special guests.
Khairul Alam Sheikh said children engaged in hazardous work have various physical and mental problems. They are also deprived of all facilities including education, health, and recreation. The government has formulated the National Child Labor Elimination Policy 2010 to prevent children from child labor and has adopted the National Child Labor Elimination Action Plan (2021-2025) to implement it. Proper implementation of this plan is very important, he added.
Abu Saleh Mostofa Kamal said a section of underprivileged children live on the streets and get addicted to drugs due to lack of proper supervision or get involved in various criminal activities. “This is a kind of threat to the society. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to bring these children back to normal life for the welfare of the society,” he noted.
Imam Mahmood Riyad said it is very important to encourage all concerned in economic development, to withdraw children from hazardous child labor and create opportunities for education.
Md. Mahbubul Haque said it is necessary to involve vulnerable children in the mainstream of society to keep this trend of development going. Coordination at all levels should be done to speed up the government’s activities, he added.A
