Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) held a convergence meeting of stakeholders under the Integrated Child Protection System at the Secretariat, Porvorim, focusing on strengthening coordination among agencies dealing with child protection.
The meeting, chaired by GSCPCR Chairperson Shashikant K. Punaji, brought together representatives from the North Goa, South Goa and Kushavati district administrations, police, judiciary, health services, District Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Police Units, Child Helpline, the Victim Assistance Unit/SCAN and ARZ.
The meeting was facilitated by GSCPCR Member Adv. Sofia S. De Souza and attended by Commission Members Snehal Salgaokar, Sanjiwani Dessai, Ketaki Gadekar, Shalaka Dessai and Esther Roe Torres.
Discussions focused on coordination between stakeholders, timely referral and response mechanisms, information sharing, rehabilitation and support services, and implementation of child protection provisions under the Juvenile Justice, POCSO and Goa Children’s Acts.
Chairperson Punaji stressed that child protection is a shared responsibility and called for institutional gaps to be addressed through better coordination and clearly defined responsibilities.
The meeting also discussed strengthening coordination at the district and taluka levels, appointing designated nodal officers, establishing common data-sharing mechanisms, and conducting regular training, sensitisation and review exercises.
Representatives of SCAN-Goa/Victim Assistance Unit and ARZ shared field-level perspectives on challenges in supporting children and highlighted the need for stronger coordination between agencies.
The Commission will take forward the issues identified during the meeting and review the progress at its next stakeholder meeting scheduled for January 6, 2027.
