Himalayan News Service

Nepalgunj, January 3

The government will launch a 10-year work plan in 30 districts of the country, including 18 such affected by Maoists, for development of health, education and child rights of helpless children, Deepak Raj Sapkota, member-secretary of the preparation committee of the program told the media today.

The committee also organized its regional meetings as preparations of the program in Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Chitwan and, Dhangadhi earlier. Suggestions from those meetings have been incorporated, Sapkota said. The committee is preparing to conduct its first phase of the work plan in Jumla, Dolpa, Humla, Mugu, Kalikot, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Salyan, Pyuthan, Baglung, Parbat, Syangja, Dolakha, Sindhuli, Gorkha, Kavrepalanchowk, Tanahun, Argakhanchi, Myagdi, Rukum Bajura, Aacham, Doti, Palpa, Bajhang, Rolpa and Gulmi districts. A nine-member district Child Welfare sub-committee, headed by a Women Development Officer, has been formed.

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) is directly supporting children through District Child Organization and Sahara Group. Every month, Rs. 1000 is given for 161 helpless, violence-affected and orphan children by CWC through Sahara Group of Nepalgunj and Child Organizations of Dhangadhi and Kapilvastu. Sapkota added that violence-affected children would be directly supported in their own district. Upendra Keshari Neupane, preparation committee member, added it was the duty of the media to highlight the plight of such children.