Lucknow, Nov 25, 2024: Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has highlighted the importance of child protection and development, urging collective efforts to create a world where underprivileged children can freely dream.
Shukla was speaking at the SAMAGAM 2024 Summit, organised on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day and was inaugurated by him via virtual mode at Hotel Taj in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar on November 20.
State Sports Minister Girish Chandra Yadav also addressed the summit virtually, emphasizing the need for greater participation of underprivileged children in sports. He called for initiatives under the PPP model to develop sports infrastructure, assuring all possible government support. He remarked that more playgrounds would create numerous opportunities for children.
State Minister for Rural Development Vijay Laxmi Gautam and former Union Minister Kaushal Kishore attended the summit in person. They shared insights into the efforts by state and central governments for the betterment of children. Former MLA Suresh Chandra Tiwari and Child Rights Protection Commission Chairman Devendra Sharma actively participated, stressing the need for a robust action plan.
During the summit, participants, including representatives from government departments, NGOs, and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) sector, deliberated on integrating child rights protection and holistic development of children and youth into village development plans.
While lauding the summit, Governor Shukla appreciated the organizer, Safe Society, and all the participants. He remarked in the inaugural session that children are the cornerstone of the nation’s progress, and it is our collective responsibility to provide every child with opportunities to grow, learn, and live equally. He stressed that integrating child rights protection into village development plans would foster a transformative approach to children’s safety at the grassroots level. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for sports, Shukla emphasized the special care needed for underprivileged children and the importance of breaking barriers like caste and gender to create opportunities for their growth.
Former Union Minister Kaushal Kishore underlined the need to connect children to sports to protect them from crime and substance abuse. He advocated for special campaigns in slums to address these issues. He noted that the central government remains committed to these efforts.
State Minister Vijay Laxmi Gautam highlighted the revolutionary changes brought about in education under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. She expressed optimism about creating a better environment for children with collective efforts.
Devendra Sharma, Chairman of the Child Rights Protection Commission, said the commission is continuously striving for the protection and development of children’s rights. He added that the conclusions from SAMAGAM would further strengthen these efforts. Former MLA Suresh Chandra Tiwari praised the program, asserting that such initiatives undoubtedly ensure a brighter future for children.
Pooja Kandula, Child Protection Manager of the British Asian Trust, spoke about the required efforts for children’s welfare and highlighted the importance of community collaboration.
Vaibhav Sharma, Director of the organizing institution Safe Society, stated that SAMAGAM 2024 focused on “Rural India” and “The World of Sports” to safeguard child rights. He shared that the summit aimed to devise a future roadmap, building on the consistent efforts of the Yogi Adityanath government for child rights protection. This summit was part of a collective responsibility and collaborative approach to ensure these efforts’ success.
On this occasion, children from the Basic Utthan and Seva Sansthan performed a play on the evils of child marriage. Several dignitaries, including Arjuna and Laxman Award-winning athlete Gulab Chandra Patel, UN SDG Award recipient and NDTV Indian of the Year para-athlete Suvarna Raj, and international kickboxer Rinka Singh, were honoured. Presentations on the state’s sports landscape were made by Deputy Director of Sports S S Mishra and Regional Youth Welfare Officer Akhilesh Singh.
The event was attended by Women’s Commission member Dr Priyanka Maurya, NAGC-EVAC Chairman Sanjay Gupta, Ruchika Kumar from The CSR Universe, Dr Vivek Mishra from Shwet, and several representatives from Safe Society, including Brijesh Mani Mishra, Brijesh Chaturvedi, Abhishek Pathak, Sonika Kharwar, and Shailendra Chaturvedi. The program was anchored by Isha Rai and Dr Mustafa Khan.
