From scars to books: Zamung Kor to adopt one in, one out policy

PESHAWAR:

Street children will be enrolled at Zamung Kor on a phase-wise basis through an “in and out” policy, Mukhtiar Ahmad, project director for the initiative, told The Express Tribune.

Zamung Kor was inaugurated in November by PTI Chairperson Imran Khan and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. According to insiders, the project  will become operational in January 2016.

The Rs447 million project aims to accommodate 1,000 children at the home for street children.

The initiative could become a model that could be replicated across the country. However, this solely depends whether the institute will be able to assist the alarming number of street children in the province.

Sans stats

“There is no official data on the number of street children in the province,” Ahmad told The Express Tribune. “However, unofficial figures suggest there are 25,000 street children in Peshawar alone.”

According to Ahmad, Zamung Kor has a capacity to accommodate 1,000 children.

“That’s why we have decided to enrol students through an in and out policy,” he said. “Under this system, children who have been enrolled before will leave the home to make space for new children.”

Since the project is still in its nascent phases, the government is still trying to formulate a suitable means to implement this policy.

Selection criteria

The project director added the selection process has been streamlined.

“We plan to ensure street children are selected through a legal procedure,” he said. “As a result, 12 child protection units operating in various districts of the province will select the children and keep them at welfare homes.”

He added, “Child protection units will also try to contact their relatives. These children will be brought before a sessions court which will determine whether they are eligible to stay at Zamung Kor.”

According to Ahmad, the cases will be decided within three months. “The cases will not be like civil suits which go on for years,” he said. “They will be heard promptly.”

As per the official, child protection units have been directed to also select children who live with their parents on the streets and are forced to work throughout the day.

“The government has fixed a monthly Rs2,000 subsistence allowance to the parents of the children enrolled at the institute,” he said. “This would serve as an incentive for parents to not force their children to work.”

He added children will be taught a range of skills to help them gain admission at government schools.

“We would try to enhance their skill set within a limited period of time,” he said.

According to Ahmad, boys and girls will be kept in separate sections.

“There will be a male and female warden for each section,” he said. “Moreover, we won’t keep more than two children in one room.”

The government also plans to initiate projects to generate revenue to ensure Zamung Kor remains a self-sustained initiative.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2015.