HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Delhi government began the Desh Ke Mentor Program in October 2021
- The programme establishes mentorship relationships between students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
- To assist young students in deciding which job path to pursue is the goal of the program.
What is in the News?
The Delhi government began the Desh Ke Mentor Program in October 2021. The programme establishes mentorship relationships between students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
What happened?
The National Commission for the Protection of Children’s Rights has recommended that the Desh Ke Mentor Program be suspended by the Delhi government. The Delhi government responded by adding more features. Concerns were expressed about the children’s safety and security while participating in the programme. As a result, the requested improvements were implemented.
Concerns raised by the Commission
The children are brought together with folks they don’t know. This puts the children’s safety and security at risk. There is no police verification to back up the mentor’s authenticity. There is a possibility of child-related crimes. A psychometric exam alone is insufficient to evaluate a person’s character.
Legality of the concerns
The concerns were reported under the Commission for the Protection of Child Rights Act’s Sections 13 and 15.
Newly added features
The mentoring will be verified by the police officers. The mentors’ and children’s conversations are recorded. Mentors and children are not permitted to meet in person. Only virtual meetings are permitted. The mentors’ and children’s contact information will be kept private. Both parties will be unaware of each other’s whereabouts.
Concerning the programme
Mentors must be between the ages of 18 and 35 years old and willing to participate in the programme. They enroll in the programme via a smartphone application. The Delhi Technological University developed this app. Mentors and students are matched based on a shared interest. Regular calls for two months are included in the mentorship, which can be extended to four months.
The program’s goal
To assist young students in deciding which job path to pursue is the goal of the program . It also aids students in their preparation for higher education and entrance examinations. Since the program’s inception, 44,000 people have signed up and are assisting 1.76 million youngsters.
