ICWO–JRC Tamil Nadu Project Induction Training Programme held in Chennai

Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) conducted the ICWO–Just Rights for Children (JRC) Tamil Nadu Project Induction Training Programme on 21st August 2026 at the ICWO Head Office, Anna Nagar West, Chennai.

The Induction Training programme brought together the District teams from seven districts of Tamil Nadu — Chennai, Chengalpattu, Namakkal, Ranipet, Salem, Tiruvallur and Villupuram — to build a common understanding of the project objectives, child protection mechanisms, roles and responsibilities, performance expectations, financial procedures, documentation and reporting requirements.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Mr. A. J. Hariharan , Founder and Secretary, ICWO, who welcomed all the participants and highlighted the organisation's long-standing commitment towards the protection and welfare of vulnerable children and communities. Ms. Shekinah Sidkeenu, Programme Director , ICWO–JRC Project , also addressed the participants and provided an overview of the organisation and the importance of the new initiative.

Mr. H. Natharsha Malim , State Coordinator – Tamil Nadu, Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) , provided an introduction to the ICWO–JRC Tamil Nadu Project and subsequently led sessions on Overview of JRC, Child Protection and Law, as well as Project Targets, Performance and Expectations . He explained the key responsibilities of the project team and interacted with the participants, responding to their questions and clarifying their doubts during the interactive sessions.

The programme also included a valuable sharing of field experience from the Salem Project, presented by Mr. V. Murugan from the Salem team. Their experience provided practical insights into field-level implementation and child protection interventions.

An important session on the Role of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Child Protection was facilitated by Mr. A. Bakthavatchalam, Executive Director, ARM and Former CWC Member, Chennai . The session helped participants understand the role of the CWC and the importance of appropriate coordination and referrals within the child protection system.

The orientation programme provided an opportunity for the district teams to interact with the resource persons, clarify their responsibilities and develop a common understanding of the implementation approach of the ICWO–JRC Tamil Nadu Project.

The active participation of the teams from all seven districts marked an important beginning towards strengthening coordinated child protection efforts across Tamil Nadu.

The ICWO–JRC Project aims to strengthen child protection systems, promote prevention and early identification of risks, facilitate appropriate interventions and referrals, and ensure stronger coordination among stakeholders for the protection and rights of children.

The programme concluded with refreshments and a note of appreciation to all resource persons and participants for their valuable contributions and active participation.