He has dedicated himself to safeguard child rights

For the past 15 years, he has been spearheading campaign to ensure juvenile justice and child protection in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir, quite an uphill task given that children have been in the forefront of recent unrest in the state.

Providing poor children opportunities to lead a better life has been his passion since his college days.  

Hilal Bhat, a child protection expert, joined a leading international organisation after completing his master's in social work. He had received the offer while appearing for the fourth semester examination. He lapped up the offer as it would pave way for what he wanted to achieve in life.

In 2004, Bhat joined Save the Children UK, an international organisation, as its coordinator in Kashmir with the focal point on child protection theme. That time awareness on child rights in the militancy-infested region was a rarity. Within short time, Bhat was made thematic lead of child protection in J&K and he represented the state in National Child Protection working group.  

In 2012, he got an opportunity to work with United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) in Lucknow. Two years later, he returned to home state as senior consultant for Unicef in Jammu and Kashmir. With greater understanding and professionalism, he set up the child protection and juvenile justice system.

According to state social welfare minister Sajad Gani Lone: "J&K is the only state where the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), a vehicle for implementation of juvenile justice and child protection is missing whereas it is the only state where it was much needed."

Last year the J&K government approached Bhat to head its flagship ICPS which has been a failure since 2014. It was a tough decision for Bhat to leave a lucrative assignment. But his passion for child rights prevailed and he agreed to work for less than half the salary he was drawing at Unicef.

J&K is the only state that has so far failed to implement the ICPS despite getting 90% funds from the Centre. Other states get 65% funds.

"What is disheartening about Kashmir is children and young people are on a spree of self-harming practices which are driven by various forces and irrespective of political aspirations. Directly or indirectly if the children are part of hostilities, which is what we see on ground, it does not speak good of us as a society," Bhat told DH.  

He identifies improper parenting, absence of child rights services, politically fragile environment, lack of life skills of children and adults ignoring the presumption of innocence as some of the major concerns that have to be given primacy when dealing or engaging with children.

"There is also a greater need to work on solid preventive strategies to help children not to fall in harmful practices like drugs which have become endemic and are consuming our children. Instead of using deference work we need preventive work which can be only executed by professional social workers," Bhat said.

"My experience of working with international organisations opened my eyes to the importance of child rights, and a desire to ensure that every child regardless of his or her background has the right to protection from any harm."

Immediately after taking his assignment as Mission Director J&K ICPS, Bhat not only made recruitments for juvenile justice boards in all 22 districts, but also ensured that child welfare committees (CWCs) at district levels are functional. In a short period, he rolled out state facilities for abandoned babies  and they would be taken care of under ICPS.

To begin with, last month four orphaned Kashmiri Pandit (Hindu) children in southern Anantnag district, who were in need of care and protection, were provided cash assistance under the ICPS which will continue for three years. In December last, a Pandit woman Nancy Koul of Qazigund, Anantnag, died, exactly a year after her husband Mahraj Krishan Koul's death. The couple left behind their four children with nobody to look after.

"This is the first case we have done under the ICPS to prevent such children from getting in any harmful situation. We gave cash assistance to these orphaned children, so that they don't have to go to any orphanage. They will be taken care of at their own places," Bhat says.

Similar cash assistance was provided to Insha Mushtaq and her younger brother. Insha is a pellet victim from Shopian district who lost her eyesight and despite that pursuing her studies.  

"Children like Insha need support in a dignified and sustainable manner. Both siblings will now get Rs 4,000 per month which shall be directly credited to their bank accounts," Bhat said.

"In a state like J&K, where the peace is as elusive as protection of juveniles, the ICPS is a great opportunity to ensure investment in children who could see a promising future with the proper care that state has guaranteed through the constitution," he added.

"Children in J&K have been the worst sufferers of neglect and it's high time we secure their protection holistically and apolitically." Bhat added.

Zulfikar Majid in Srinagar