Lok Sabha Question No. 487 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Rehabilitation of Orphan/Street Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Ravindra Kushawaha, Adoor Prakash, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Ram Kripal Yadav, Sudheer Gupta, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Rajan Baburao  Vichare, Shrirang Appa Barne, Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.487

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2022

## REHABILITATION OF ORPHAN/STREET CHILDREN

## 487.    SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

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

- (a) the  total  number  of  children  who  lost  either  or  both  of  their  parents  during  the recent pandemic;
- (b) whether children who lost their parents are at an increased risk of being exploited and trafficked;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to provide safety and rehabilitate such children by ensuring their welfare and social security;
- (d) whether the Government has asked the States to roll out any standard operating procedure on street children and if so, the details thereof and the response of the states in this regard;
- (e) whether  resolving  the  issue  of  street  children  is  one  of  the  biggest  challenges before the Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  tackle  the  rising  malnutrition  among street  and orphaned children due to pandemic?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (c) :  The Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced PM CARES for Children scheme to support children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive  parents  due  to  COVID-19  pandemic.  The  scheme  is  accessible  through  an online portal i.e. pmcaresforchildren.in . The applications of such children are uploaded on  the  portal  by  the  respective  State/  UT  Governments.  As  on  03.02.2022,  6654 applications have been uploaded on the portal out of which, 3890 applications have been approved as per due process.

Further, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Adoption Regulations 2017  has  a  framework  for the rehabilitation of  orphaned, abandoned,  and  surrendered  children.  The  Child  Welfare  Committee  and  the  District Child Protection Unit are entrusted with rehabilitation of children.

The  Ministry is  implementing  a centrally  sponsored  scheme  namely  Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme - Mission Vatsalya under which support is provided to States and UT Governments for delivering services for children in need of care and in difficult  circumstances.  The  Child  Care  Institutions  (CCIs)  established  under  the  CPS scheme  support  inter-alia  age-appropriate  education,  access  to  vocational  training, recreation,  health  care,  counselling  etc.  As  per  the  scheme  guidelines,  quantum  of sponsorship  for  non-institutional  care  of  children  in  need  of  care  and  protection  is Rs.2000/-  per  child  per  month.  For  children  living  in  Child  Care  Institution,  there  is  a provision for maintenance grant of Rs. 2160/- per child per month.

(d) : As informed by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), it has developed  a  Standard  Operating  Procedure  2.0  for  care  and  protection  of  children  in street situations which had been circulated to all the concerned authorities of the State Governments,  State  Commissions  for  Protection  of  Child  Rights  (SCPCRs),  and  all Stakeholders for implementation.

(e)  &  (f)  :  The  Government  is  committed  to  ensure safety  and  security  of  children  in difficult  circumstances  through  the  network  of  statutory  and  service  delivery  structures across states/UTs. Besides, POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce malnutrition in a phased manner,  through  a  lifecycle  approach,  by  adopting  a  synergised  and  result  oriented approach. Moreover, during the pandemic,  States/ UTs were directed to distribute food items and nutrition support by Anganwadi Workers, once in 15 days, at the doorstep of beneficiaries, i.e., children, women and lactating mothers to ensure continuous nutritional support.

As per JJ Act, 2015, the children in distress condition including street and orphan children are produced before Child Welfare Committees to ascertain the immediate need of child and issue appropriate orders for rehabilitation of such children, either to restore the child with care giver or place her / him in institutional or non-institutional care.

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