Lok Sabha Question No. 2915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-03
Subject: Escape of Children from Juvenile Homes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JAGDAMBIKA PAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2915

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2018

## ESCAPE OF CHILDREN FROM JUVENILE HOMES

## 2915.   SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state;

- (a) whether  the  incidents  of  children  running  away  from  Observation  and  Special  Homes  for Juveniles in the country have come to the notice of the Government;
- (b) if so, the number of such incidents reported during each of the last three years and the current year along with the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any enquiry in this regard and if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the said homes maintain records of their visitors and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) to (d): The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has reported that it has registered 203 complaints based on information received from 11 States/UTs regarding children who have run away  from the observation/special homes during the last three years, i.e. 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18. The State/UT-wise details of incidents reported, inquiry conducted, records of visitors maintained, and corrective measures taken is Annexed.

(e):  In order to further improve and strengthen the condition of homes, the Government enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which has replaced the Juvenile Justice (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2000.  The  new  Act  has  come  into  effect  from  15.01.2016. Under the JJ Act, 2015 several provisions have been included to improve the condition of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including those housing children in conflict with law by providing for inspections of these CCIs by Juvenile Justice Board; prescribing various rehabilitation and reintegration services including skill development, recreational facilities, mental health interventions, etc. Under Section 41 of the new Act, registration of institutions including Homes for children in conflict with law has been made mandatory with penalty in case of non-compliance. Under Section 54, the State Governments are required to appoint inspection Committees for the State and district for mandatory inspection of all facilities housing children, at least once in three months. Further Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) was started by Central Govt. during 2009 to provide financial support to the States/UTs, on sharing pattern, in execution of the JJ Act. The primary responsibility in execution of the JJ Act lies with the State Governments.

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2915 for 3.08.2018 raised by Shri Jagdambika Pal regarding Escape of children from Juvenile Homes'. State/UT-wise/Year-wise details of incidents of runaway / escape of children from the                Observations / Special Homes  reported, inquiry conducted, records of visitors maintained and corrective measures taken during the last three years

| State                   |    | No. of incidents of children run away   | No. of incidents of children run away   | No. of incidents of children run away   | No. of incidents of children run away   | Reasons for running away                                                                                                                                            | Whether conducted inquiry   | Whether Homes maintain records of their visitors   | Corrective measures taken by Governments                                                                        |
|-------------------------|----|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                         |    | 2014- 15                                | 2015- 16                                | 2016- 17                                | 2017- 18                                |                                                                                                                                                                     |                             |                                                    |                                                                                                                 |
| Uttrakhand              |    |                                         |                                         | 1                                       | 3                                       | i. Less height of boundary wall. ii. inadequate of staff.                                                                                                           | Yes                         | Yes                                                | 1.. Height of boundary wall increased. 2. Staff increased.                                                      |
| Daman &Diu              |    | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | N/a                                                                                                                                                                 | N/a                         | No Home                                            | N/a                                                                                                             |
| Sikkim                  |    | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | N/a                                                                                                                                                                 | N/a                         | Yes                                                | N/a                                                                                                             |
| Mizoram                 |    |                                         |                                         | 64                                      |                                         | 1.Craving for substances. ii.Home sick iii.Boredom iv.Peer Pressure v.Difficulties in following rules vi.Scarcity of water vii.Inadequate security guards viii.Long | Yes                         | Yes                                                | i.Counselling ii.Review of Extension of period of stay iii.Advisory issued to staff by JJB iv.Group counselling |
| Dadra Nagar Haveli      | &  | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | N/a                                                                                                                                                                 | N/a                         | No home exist                                      | N/a                                                                                                             |
| West Bengal             |    | 12                                      | 7                                       | 3                                       | 2                                       | No known                                                                                                                                                            | Yes (by police)             | Yes                                                | Missing Diary lodged                                                                                            |
| Chhattishgarh           |    |                                         | 54                                      |                                         | 45                                      | 1. Drive to return to parental homes. ii. children are not accustomed to live in Homes.                                                                             | Yes                         | Yes                                                | i.Counselling ii.education iii.sports iv. Ethical and professional trg.                                         |
| Haryana                 |    | *                                       | *                                       | *                                       | *                                       | *                                                                                                                                                                   | *                           | *                                                  | * Details not provided                                                                                          |
| Andaman Nicobar Islands | &  | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | N/a                                                                                                                                                                 | *                           | *                                                  | -do-                                                                                                            |
| Punjab                  |    | 7                                       | 5                                       | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Fear of imprisonment under trial                                                                                                                                    | Yes                         | Yes                                                | i.CCTV cameras installed. ii.Increased fencing iii.Increased area of Home's building.                           |
| Himachal Pradesh        |    | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | Nil                                     | N/a                                                                                                                                                                 | N/a                         | Yes                                                | N/a                                                                                                             |