Sri Vijaya Puram, May 25: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has stepped up institutional capacity-building efforts across the islands through specialised workshops on child protection laws and sustainable solid waste management, bringing together government departments, technical institutions, Panchayati Raj representatives and field-level workers in a coordinated push to strengthen public service delivery systems.
In one of the major initiatives conducted this week, a two-day sensitisation programme on the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and its Amendment Act and Rules was organised under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme in Sri Vijaya Puram on May 21 and 22.
The workshop was conducted by the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development under the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the State Child Protection Society functioning under the Directorate of Social Welfare.
Officials said the programme aimed to strengthen the implementation of child protection laws while enhancing the capacities of stakeholders engaged in child welfare and rehabilitation services across the Union Territory.
Participants included officials and members from Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, District Child Protection Units, Special Juvenile Police Units, Child Helpline services and Child Care Institutions working under the Mission Vatsalya framework.
During the sessions, experts discussed legal provisions under the POCSO Act, child-friendly procedures, reporting mechanisms, victim support systems, investigation and trial processes and rehabilitation measures for children affected by sexual offences.
The workshop also focused on inter-departmental coordination and convergence among stakeholders to ensure timely intervention, care and rehabilitation support for children. Officials said emphasis was laid on protecting the rights, dignity and best interests of children while improving institutional response mechanisms.
Representatives from the legal and juvenile justice systems also participated in the programme. Sessions were conducted by officials from the national institute as well as experts associated with the child protection ecosystem in the islands.
Authorities said participants highlighted the importance of regular capacity-building programmes to strengthen the child protection framework and improve coordination among departments dealing with vulnerable children and families.
In another initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots-level civic infrastructure, ANET–Dakshin Foundation, in collaboration with the Directorate of RD, PRIs and ULBs and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, organised a two-day workshop on baling machine operation and maintenance at Beodnabad on May 20 and 21.
The workshop brought together sanitation workers, machine operators, sanitation supervisors and local technicians from various parts of South Andaman district, including Little Andaman, Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep.
Officials said the programme was organised in response to persistent operational and maintenance challenges faced by Gram Panchayats in running baling machines, which are considered critical to the islands’ waste management chain.
Baling machines are used to compress recyclable waste into compact blocks for transportation to the mainland for recycling. However, breakdowns, technical faults and lack of trained personnel have often affected uninterrupted waste management services in several Panchayats.
The training sessions focused on improving technical skills related to operation, routine maintenance and troubleshooting of the machines. Technical experts from Kshirsagar Enterprises, Pune, conducted the sessions while representatives from DBRAIT and Government ITI also participated.
The first day of the programme concentrated on basic operations and routine upkeep for sanitation workers and supervisors, while the second day focused on technical maintenance and repair aspects for machine operators and technicians.
Officials associated with the initiative said strengthening local technical capacities is essential for sustaining decentralised solid waste management systems in island regions where logistics and repair support often remain difficult due to geographical isolation.
The workshop was also linked to the broader “Zero Waste Islands” vision being pursued through improved segregation, recycling and waste transportation systems at the Panchayat level.
Authorities said significant improvements have already been made in solid waste collection and service coverage across Gram Panchayats, but long-term sustainability depends heavily on improving operational efficiency and local repair capabilities.
The back-to-back workshops reflect the Administration’s continuing focus on strengthening institutional mechanisms through training, technical collaboration and inter-departmental coordination across sectors ranging from child protection and social welfare to environmental management and sanitation infrastructure.
