The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing various laws and schemes viz Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO) Act and Child Protection Services (CPS) scheme under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) for the protection and welfare of Children from various abuses and ensuring their best interest.

The Child Protection services, under the Umbrella ICDS provide for the safety net of statutory support Services along with Institutional and Non-institutional facilities to ensure best interest of child. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016 framed under JJ Act, inter-alia specify standards for physical infrastructure, clothing, bedding, nutrition & diet, as well as rehabilitation measures such as education, vocational training and counselling.As per Section 2 (14) (ii), (viii), (ix) and (xii) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act), such children are considered children in need of care and protection (CNCP) deserving the security net of Institutional and non-Institutional care under the JJ Act.   The details of “Children in need of care and protection” who have been benefited under CPS during 2018-19 is at Annexure.

Ministry is implementing CPS (erstwhile Integrated Child Protection Scheme),and providing financial assistance, as Grant-in-Aid, to the States/UTs for, inter-alia, undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult circumstances, for setting up and maintenance of various types of CCIs. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016 framed under JJ Act, inter-alia specify standards for physical infrastructure, clothing, bedding, nutrition & diet, as well as rehabilitation measures such as education, vocational training and counselling.

The financial assistance to the child care institutions have undergone revision in the year 2017, and this is an ongoing process. Further CPS also provides for “After care” services after the age of 18 years to help sustain them during the transition from institutional to independent life. The implementation of Scheme is regularly reviewed through various MIS monitoring & inspection reports received from the Governments of States/UTs. If any shortcoming is noticed during the monitoring, the same is taken up with the concerned States/UTs for taking immediate corrective measures. Besides, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 mandates National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to monitor the implementation of JJ Act, 2015 in the country.

Annexure

This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MM/SB