The SOP should adopt a child-centred, rights-based approach, keeping the best interests, safety, dignity and development of every child as the priority. It should establish a system for early identification and confidential registration of children of incarcerated parents, followed by assessment of their care, protection, health, education and financial needs. Safe family-based care should be prioritised, with alternative care arranged where necessary. Children should receive uninterrupted education, healthcare, nutrition, counselling and access to eligible government welfare schemes. The SOP should provide child-friendly arrangements for maintaining safe contact with incarcerated parents through visits, calls or video communication, wherever appropriate. Clear procedures should address risks of neglect, abuse, child labour, trafficking and exploitation. Responsibilities of prison authorities, Child Welfare Committees, DCPUs, schools, health departments, police, legal services and NGOs

राष्ट्रगीत ‘वन्दे मातरम्’ के 150वें वर्ष के उपलक्ष्य में विद्या भारती अखिल भारतीय शिक्षा संस्थान के आह्वान पर आयोजित राष्ट्रव्यापी ‘नमामि भारतम्’ कार्यक्रम में आज देशभर में राष्ट्रभाव, एकता और देशभक्ति का व्यापक स्वर दिखाई दिया। निर्धारित समय प्रातः 11 बजे, देशभर के 25,000 से अधिक स्थानों पर विद्यार्थियों, पूर्व विद्यार्थियों, आचार्यों, अभिभावकों तथा जनसमुदाय ने एक साथ सम्पूर्ण वन्दे मातरम् का सामूहिक गान किया। विद्या भारती के अनुसार, इस राष्ट्रव्यापी आयोजन में 75 लाख से अधिक लोगों ने सहभागिता की। देश के महानगरों से लेकर छोटे नगरों, ग्रामों और विद्यालयों तक एक ही समय में गूंजे वन्दे मातरम् के स्वर ने राष्ट्रीय एकता और सामूहिक सहभागिता की भावना को अभिव्यक्त किया। कार्यक्रम का प्रमुख उद्देश्य राष्ट्रगीत ‘वन्दे मातरम्’ के 150वें वर्ष को स्मरण करना तथा इसके माध्यम से नई पीढ़ी और समाज के विभिन्न वर्गों में राष्ट्रभाव को सामूहिक रूप से अभिव्यक्त करना था। एक ही निर्धारित समय पर देश के हजारों स्थानों पर सम्पूर्ण वन्दे मातरम् का गायन इस आयोजन की प्रमुख विशेषता रही। एक समय, एक स्वर

1). Mandatory identification at the time of arrest Police should record whether the arrested person has children or dependants. The child's age, current caregiver, residence, schooling, health needs and immediate safety concerns should be recorded. 2). Immediate child-safety assessment A child should not automatically be placed in institutional care merely because a parent has been arrested. Authorities should first assess whether the child can safely remain with the other parent, relatives, or another suitable caregiver. Separation from family should be treated as a measure of last resort and guided by the best interests of the child. 3). Children living with incarcerated mothers Children residing with their mothers in prison should receive regular assessment of nutrition, health and education.

The SOP seeks to ensure that the rights, safety, dignity, and best interests of such children are duly protected through a coordinated, child-sensitive, and holistic approach.

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A child should not become invisible because a parent is behind bars. As a Member of the Child Welfare Committee, I believe that identifying a child affected by parental incarceration is only the beginning. The real challenge is what happens after identification — assessment, protection, education, family support, safe parent-child contact, follow-up and rehabilitation. I have submitted my field-based suggestions on the Draft SOP for Care and Protection of Children of Incarcerated Parents to strengthen the role of CWC and DCPU and create a clearer, accountable continuum of care. My primary view is simple: every identified child needs more than a referral — they need a pathway of care, follow-up and support. 📄 I have attached my detailed suggestions for those interested in understanding the proposed CWC-focused improvements. Because parental incarceration should never become a child's invisible childhood.

Care and Protection of Children of Incarcerated Parents/Guardians 1. Background and Rationale Parental incarceration exposes children to a distinct set of vulnerabilities — emotional trauma, social stigma, disrupted schooling, loss of caregiving, and risk of institutionalisation. Many such children remain invisible in child protection data because their vulnerability arises indirectly, through a parent's arrest rather than any harm to the child directly. A dedicated SOP is needed to ensure early identification and consistent, child-centred response across police, prisons, and child protection systems. 2. Objectives Ensure every child affected by a parent's/guardian's arrest or incarceration is identified at the earliest possible stage. Provide a uniform, rights-based procedure for the care of children living inside prisons with an incarcerated parent, and those living outside with relatives, guardians,

Subject: AURORA – Technology-Based Women Safety Solution I am a student developer from Gujarat and have developed AURORA, a women safety mobile application focused on providing quick assistance during emergencies. The application includes SOS alerts, shake-to-alert, emergency calling, trusted contacts, live location sharing, emergency history and other safety-oriented features. The objective of AURORA is to provide women and girls with a simple technology-based safety tool that can help them alert trusted contacts and share their location during an emergency. I would like to present this student-developed solution to the concerned authorities and seek guidance, technical evaluation and possible opportunities for pilot testing or integration with existing women-safety initiatives. I believe collaboration with relevant government stakeholders could help evaluate how such a solution may complement existing emergency-response mechanisms.

A child-sensitive mechanism should be established to identify and regularly assess children affected by the incarceration of their parents or guardians. Each child should receive access to education, healthcare, counselling, nutrition, legal support and a safe living environment. A designated nodal officer should coordinate with prisons, Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units, schools and other relevant authorities. The SOP should ensure regular monitoring of the child's safety and development, maintain confidentiality and dignity, and prevent stigma or discrimination. Where appropriate and safe, family contact and rehabilitation support should be facilitated, keeping the child's best interests at the centre of every decision.

Children affected by parental incarceration should be provided with structured access to sports, physical education, self-defence and life-skills training as part of their rehabilitation and development. Such programmes should be conducted through trained and verified instructors in coordination with the concerned Child Welfare Committee, District Child Protection Unit, schools and approved organisations. Regular self-defence and physical activity can help children develop confidence, discipline, physical fitness, emotional resilience and a positive sense of identity. The programme should be completely child-centric, voluntary and age-appropriate, with special attention to the safety and dignity of girls. I also suggest that every identified child should have an individual development plan covering education, health, nutrition, counselling, sports/self-defence, skill development and career guidance, with periodic follow-up by a designated authority.