Lok Sabha Question No. 276 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-03
Subject: Rights of Children
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *276

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/08/2017

## Rights of Children

## *276.  SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: DR HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any initiatives or unveiled/ proposes to unveil any policy to promote/ protect the rights of children at Gram Panchayat level and if so, the details and the objectives thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is facing challenges in implementation of these initiatives, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to overcome those difficulties;
- (c) whether there is any improvement in the indices relating to children after the implementation of the policy initiatives; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (d)   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a) to (d) OF REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 276 FOR 03.08.2017, REGARDING RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

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(a): Ministry  of  Women and Child  (MWCD) is operating  Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with laws, since 2009. Sub-Section 13 and 14 of Section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015  defines  'children  in  conflict  with  laws'  and  'children  in  need  of  care  and  protection' respectively. The Act and the Scheme does not differentiate between a child living in rural area or urban area. However, the scheme envisages formation of a village level child protection committee, to recommend and monitor the implementation of child protection services at the village level.  The committee  includes  two  child  representatives,  a  member  of  the  District  Child  Protection  Unit (DCPU),  Anganwadi  workers,  school  teachers,  auxiliary  nurse  midwives  as  well  as  respected village members and civil society representatives.

(b)     Various cross sectoral issues such as ensuring effective delivery of child related services like immunization, access to nutrition, protection of children from crimes and abuse, reintegration and rehabilitation  of  destitute  and  found  children,  ensuring  grievance  redressal  for  children  etc. constitutes  major  challenges.  To  address  the  problems,  and  for  ensuring  all-round  protection  and development  of  children,  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  (MWCD)  has  been implementing Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) which aims to improve the well-being of children in difficult circumstances and reduce their vulnerability to situations and actions that lead to  abuse,  neglect,  exploitation,  abandonment  etc.    The  scheme  aims  at  improved  access  and enhanced  quality  of  child  protection  services,  enhanced  capacities  and  skills  of  child  protection personnel,  increased  awareness  on  child  rights  and  protection,  creation  of  a  knowledge  and information  data  base,  clear  role  description  and  accountability  at  all  levels,  functional  delivery structures at all levels and evidence based monitoring and evaluation.

Besides the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the National Commission for Protection  of  Child  Rights  (NCPCR)  has  prepared  a  training  handbook  and  Module  on  Safe Childhood Programme, for the capacity building and training of Panchayat Elected Representatives and Functionaries on the subject. It will help the Panchayats to understand their role in protection and promotion of the rights of children at the local level and help address the issues of child rights at the level of Panchayats.

(c)  &  (d):  The  ICPS  has  significantly  contributed  to  the  realization  of  Government/  State responsibility  for  creating  a  system  to  efficiently  and  effectively  protect  children.  Based  on  the cardinal principal of 'protection of child rights' and 'best interest of child', ICPS targets to achieve its objectives to contribute to the improvement  in  the  well  being  of  children  in  difficult circumstances,  as  well  as  to  the  reduction  of  vulnerabilities  to  situations  and  actions  that  lead  to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from their families.

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