Kohima, July 22 (DIPR): Minister for Social Welfare & Parliamentary Affairs, Kiyanilie Peseyie released the Budget for Children (BFC) in Nagaland 2015-16 on July 22 during an interface held at the Secretariat conference hall, Nagaland. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the state government is trying to uplift the status of children in the state as a lot of issues are covered by the Social Welfare Department and its aligned branches such as Integrated Child Protection Society, State Resource Centre for Women and others. He said that the state government also plans to give priority to health, nutrition and education of children which could create as environment where children can grow up safe, healthy and secure. The Minister said that budgeting is very important to achieve the action plan and expressed that the handbook will help a lot for the children in fund allocation.
Programme officer, HAQ centre for Child Rights, New Delhi, Farhana Yasmin in her presentation on study of findings said that children below 18 years comprises 41.46 % of the State population. Nagaland is doing much better than the other states in Northeast in terms of budget for children where she said that the funds need to re-examine prioritizing, expenditure and implementation of fund for children.
Budget for children is not a separate budget, it is merely an attempt to disaggregate from the overall allocations made and to assess the policy and programmes meant for children is translated into action, she stated.
Dr. Melvil Pereira, Director, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahatispoke on Preliminary Observations while Introductory Remarks was delivered byEnakshiGangulyThukral, Co-Director, HAQ, Centre for Child Rights, New Delhi. Welcome address was delivered byBanoVinito, Chairperson, Nagaland State Social Welfare Board.MeilemlaPongener, Chairperson, Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rightsalso spoke on the occasion. The programme was chaired by P. Daisy Mezhur, Mission Director, State Resources centre for Women Nagaland.
Earlier the Minister also released the hand book on budget for children in Nagaland.
