Lok Sabha Question No. 3224 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-04
Subject: Adoption of Observation/Special Homes by Corporate Houses
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KUNWAR SARVESH  KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3224

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2017

## ADOPTION OF OBSERVATION/SPECIAL HOMES BY CORPORATE HOUSES

## †3224.   KUNWAR SARVESH KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the most of the Observation and Special homes for children in conflict with law are neglected by the local administration in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  such  cases  including  those  of  Uttar  Pradesh  brought  into  the  notice  of  the  Government during the last three years and the current year along with the action taken by the Government thereon;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to invite the corporate houses to adopt these homes under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR);
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the private sector thereto; and
- (e) the details of homes adopted by the corporate houses till date in the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) &(b): The Central Government is executing Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) to implement the provisions  of  the  Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  (JJ  Act),  in  which  State Governments/UT  Administrations  have  major  role  to  play.  The  Ministry  has  been  requesting  the  State Governments/UT  Administrations  from  time  to  time  to  identify  and  register  all  CCIs  under  relevant provisions of JJ Act and set up functional inspection and other Committees to ensure that children in all the CCIs receive the best of care, and are not subject to any kind of abuse and neglect. As and when any such information is received, the State Governments/UT Administrations is requested to conduct inquiry under intimation to the Ministry and take corrective measures.

As reported by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the Commission had suo-moto taken cognizance of a news published in the 'Times Nations' dated 03.02.2015 and deputed the officials to visit Observation Home, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) for investigating the situation, including the possible causes and  factors  responsible  for  fleeing  of  the  inmates  from  the  Meerut  Home.  It  was  observed  that  poor infrastructure and lack of adequate staff would have been reasons of children fleeing.

Another  complaint  received  by  NCPCR  from  Punjab  was  regarding  escaping  of  four  Children  from Observation  Home,  Shimlapuri  (Ludhiana),  Punjab,  on  03.05.2015.  A  report  was  sought  from  Deputy Collector,  Ludhiana.  The  report  stated  that  due  to  repair  and  renovation  work  of  toilet  in  the  building,  the children  could  have  escaped  by  scaling  the  roof  along  with  lapses  on  the  part  of  security  guards.   After departmental inquiry, two security guards were suspended.

Hon'ble Minister of State of the Ministry of Women and Child Development had made a surprise visit to Rajkiya Baal Sudhar Grih, Shahjanhanpur, Uttar Pradesh on 14 th May, 2017, where she found irregularities and ill treatment including pathetic condition of children in the home. Also she was informed by the staff that one of child named 'Ashish' is missing /escaped. Accordingly, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh has been requested to enquire and to take disciplinary action against the responsible staff.

- (c) & (d): The Ministry of Women and Child Development has notified 'Adopt a Home' program on 27 th April, 2016 whereby under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) the corporate sector & business houses along with individual philanthropist are invited to support the children staying in the Children Homes run by the State Governments/UT Administrations and their NGO partners under the JJ Act, 2015.
- (e): As per the information available with the Ministry, one children Home of Government of NCT of Delhi has been  adopted  by  a  corporate  house  for  up-gradation.  And  as  per  information  provided  by  Department  of Women and Child, Uttar Pradesh no such Home has been adopted by corporate house till date.