Lok Sabha Question No. 105 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: Use of Children by Naxal Groups
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *105

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  JULY, 2021/ SRAVANA 5, 1943 (SAKA)

USE OF CHILDREN BY NAXAL GROUPS

†*105. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the incidence of use/recruitment of children by naxal groups has come 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  any  schemes/programmes for rehabilitation of such children;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the various other steps taken by the Government to bring extremists/naxalites to mainstream of the society?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NUMBER *105 FOR 27.07.2021

(a) to (b): 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.

As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and  Public  Order  are  with  the  State  Governments.  Therefore,  State Governments take legal action in such matters.

(c) to (d): Central  Govt.  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 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 the endeavour through 'Surrendercum-Rehabilitation'  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  cadre  surrenderees.  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 imparting training in trade/ vocation of their liking with monthly stipend of Rs. 6000/- for three years

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