Chandigarh: Punjab’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur, today said that as part of the Punjab Government’s continued efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann to ensure the safety, care and best interests of children, five Bangladeshi children have been safely repatriated to their home country, where they will be reunited with their families. She said that this initiative reflects the Punjab Government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a caring family environment.
Sharing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the children were found in a border area in 2023 and were subsequently placed in Child Care Institutions in Punjab under the directions of the Child Welfare Committees. During their stay, all necessary measures were taken to ensure their education, healthcare, counselling and overall development so that they could live in a safe, secure and dignified environment.
The Cabinet Minister stated that, with the cooperation of the Bangladesh High Commission, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and other concerned agencies, all necessary legal and administrative procedures were successfully completed after establishing the children’s identities and verifying details of their families. Thereafter, the five children were safely repatriated to Bangladesh, where they will be reunited with their loved ones.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that every child has the right to the love, care, protection and sense of belonging that a family provides. She added that reunification with one’s family is among the most joyful and memorable moments in a child’s life. The Punjab Government remains committed to safeguarding the best interests of every child with utmost sensitivity and responsibility.
She further said that when a child is reunited with his or her family, it is not only a moment of happiness for the family concerned but also a triumph of humanity, compassion and social responsibility. Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that the Punjab Government will continue to accord the highest priority to the welfare and protection of children and will persist with such efforts in the future as well.
