Observation Home Dimapur (OHD) has highest number of children

Staff Reporter

Among observation Homes in the state, Observation Home Dimapur (OHD) became the first to house the highest number of children.
This was disclosed by social welfare director, A Tosheli Zhimomi on Monday, during the inaugural programme of OHD at Vihoukie Hama road, Keso Shüya near Phom Baptist church, ward-11, Chümoukedima.
Tosheli also informed that the home had 96 children through Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).
Congratulating the OHD team, she encouraged them to create the home into a friendly environment and to make the place accepting of love and care for the children.
Unveiling the Home, Social Welfare, commissioner and secretary, Martha R Ritse in her speech said it was a significant day for the department and all who were working under child protection services as it was another milestone with the inauguration of the building.
Ritse said the project for construction of the newly inaugurated observation home Dimapur was carried out before the recognition of Chümoukedima as a district.
Informing that state child protection had been in existence for more than a decade, she said it has been catering to the rights and protection of children of different categories in such homes that were placed all over the states.
‘Help children find services they deserve’
Ritse impressed upon all stakeholders to cooperate and ensure that the children who were under this Home would find services that they deserved. The juvenile justice system assumes that a child offender is a product of an unfavorable environment and is entitled to a fresh chance to begin in life, she added.
In this regard, she caregivers in juvenile homes had a great responsibility their shoulders, a responsibility to help children to achieve full potential and contribute positively towards the betterment of the society.
Quoting Parshanth Savanur “it takes a hand to build a house but only a heart can build the home,” Ritse encouraged all the staff of the Home to be sincere in executing their duties and make the Home an exemplary model home for others to follow.
Delivering keynote address, Child protection services, society director Nokcharenla Longchar said under ICPS scheme, 11 observation Homes were set up in every district in the state excluding the newly recognised districts.
Informing that all the 11 homes started in a rented building, Nokcharenla expressed happiness as two observation Homes had already started operating in their own building and that construction of the eight Homes were underway.
The programme was chaired by observation home department, superintendent Juvily Kitho.
Juvily said the observation Home in Dimapur was functioning with 10 staff working for children, which started in March 9, 2017.
She briefed about the activities that they provided in the Home which included counselling and guidance through experts, life skill education, art and crafts, indoor and outdoor activities and morning and evening prayer meetings.
Earlier, the commissioner and secretary in the presence of social welfare director Tosheli Zhimomi carried out a cutting ceremony of a new vehicle provided to the children Home with special needs, Chümoukedima, which is the first and only government run home meant for children with special needs.
Earlier, invocation was said by Sümi Baptist Church Chümoukedima youth pastor Livi Kappo and benediction by Phom Baptist Church, Chümoukedima, pastor Pongang.