Lok Sabha Question No. 4452 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Recruitment of Children by Naxal Groups
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4452

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD  MARCH, 2021/ CHAITRA 2, 1943 (SAKA)

RECRUITMENT OF CHILDREN BY NAXAL GROUPS

4452. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  reports  of  children  being  used/recruited  by  naxal  groups  have been brought to the notice of the Government during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  implemented  Schemes/Programmes  for rehabilitation of the said children;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  bring  the extremists/naxalites into the mainstream of the society?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (b)

(i) There have been some reports of CPI (Maoist) inducting children in  their  outfit  in  Jharkhand  and  Chhattisgarh,  using  them  for  cooking, carrying daily use materials and collecting information regarding movement of Security Forces.  They are also imparted military training.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4452 FOR 23.03.2021

- (ii) As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police  and  Public  Order  are  with  the  State  Governments.    Therefore, State  Governments  initiate  legal  action  on  case-by-case  basis  in  such matters.

(c) to (d):  Central  Government has enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) for children in distress situation including  Children  in  conflict  with  law  (CCL)  and  children  in  need  of  care and protection (CNCP).  As per provisions of JJ Act, a child who is victim of or  affected  by  any  armed  conflict,  civil  unrest  or  natural  calamity,  is included as a 'Child in need of care and protection', among others.  The Act mandated a safety net of service delivery structures including institutional and  non  institutional  care  mechanisms,  to  ensure  the  best  interest  of Children.

As  per  the  JJ  Act,  any  non-State,  self  styled  militant  group  or  outfit declared as such by the Central Government, if recruits or uses any child for any purpose, shall be liable for criminal prosecution.

Ministry of Women and Child Development is Implementing a centrally sponsored  Child  Protection  Services  (CPS)  scheme,  for  supporting  the States/ UTs in   providing  a  framework for care and protection of children in

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4452 FOR 23.03.2021

distress  conditions.    Under  the  scheme,  institutional  care  is  available  for CNCP  and  CCL,  including  provisions  for  boarding,  lodging  and  holistic development  of  children,  inter  alia.    The  scheme  also  provides  for  noninstitutional care wherein support is extended for adoption, foster care and sponsorship.    The  primary  responsibility  of  implementation  of  the  scheme rests with the State/ UTs.

(e): To encourage Left Wing Extremists to join the mainstream, States have their  own  surrender  cum  Rehabilitation  policies.    The  Central  Government also supports the States in this endeavour through 'Surrender-cumRehabilitation' Policy as part of Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. The rehabilitation package inter-alia, includes an immediate grant of Rs. 5 lakhs  for  higher  ranked  LWE  cadres  and  Rs.  2.5  lakhs  for  other  LWE surrendered  cadres.    In  addition,  incentives  for  surrender  of  weapons/ ammunition are also provided under the Scheme.  The GOI reimburses the expenditure  incurred  by  the  LWE  affected  States  on rehabilitation of surrenderees under the SRE Scheme.  In addition provision also exists for training in a trade/ vocation of their liking with monthly stipend of Rs. 6000/for three years.

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