Lok Sabha Question No. 1558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Steps for Protection of Children in Jammu and Kashmir
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Hasnain Masoodi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2023

## STEPS FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN J&K

## 1558.  SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI:

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

- (a) the total number of Child Welfare Committees constituted for the protection of children in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K);
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government for the implementation of child protection in J&K; and
- (c) the number of residential homes for mentally challenged orphans in J&K, districtwise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) : 20 Child Welfare Committees have been constituted in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and supported under Mission Vatsalya Scheme for the protection of children.

(b) : The Ministry of Women and Child Development is administering the Juvenile Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  (JJ  Act,  2015)  (as  amended  in 2021), which is the primary legislation for ensuring safety, security, dignity and wellbeing  of  children  in  all  States/UTs  including  J&K.  It  defines  standards  of  care  and protection to secure the best interest of child.

Under the JJ Act, 2015 (sections 27-30), the Child Welfare Committees  have been empowered to take decisions with regard to the children in need of care and protection, keeping their best interest in mind. They are also mandated to monitor the function of the Child Care Institutions (CCIs). Similarly, the Juvenile Justice Boards are empowered  to  take  decisions  regarding  the  welfare  of  children  in  conflict  with  law (sections 04-09). At the national and state level, the JJ Act provides the National/State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights to monitor the implementation of the Act (section 109).

Further, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing Mission Vatsalya Scheme in all States/UTs including J&K, for care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration  of  children  in  difficult  circumstances  on  predefined  cost  sharing  basis between the Central and the State Governments. Under Mission Vatsalya Scheme, support  is  provided  for  setting  up  and  maintenance  of  various  types  of  Child  Care Institutions (CCIs) and funds for Non-Institutional Care. Such children have access to both institutional and non-institutional care and rehabilitation under Mission Vatsalya Scheme.

Ministry of  Women  and  Child Development organised a workshop on strengthening child protection in Jammu & Kashmir in November, 2022 in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of J&K with the participation of the United Nations.

Further, the Ministry regularly follows up with the State and UT Governments and various advisories have been issued, so as to ensure the effective implementation of Mission Vatsalya Scheme.

(C)  :  District-wise  number  of  Children  Homes  and  Specialised  Adoption  Agencies (SAAs)  for  Children  in  Need  of  Care  and  Protection  (CNCP)  including  mentally challenged orphans in J&K is at Annexure-I .

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ANNEXURE-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (C) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1558 FOR ANSWER ON 28.07.2023 BY SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI REGARDING STEPS FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN J&K

- A.  NUMBER  OF  CHILDREN  HOMES  FOR  CNCP  CHILDREN  INCLUDING MENTALLY CHALLENGED ORPHANS
- B.       NUMBER  OF  SPECIALIZED  ADOPTION  AGENCIES FOR  CNCP CHILDREN INCLUDING MENTALLY CHALLENGED ORPHANS

|   Sl. No. | Districts   |   No. of Children Homes |
|-----------|-------------|-------------------------|
|         1 | Anantnag    |                       2 |
|         2 | Bandipora   |                       2 |
|         3 | Baramulla   |                       2 |
|         4 | Budgam      |                       2 |
|         5 | Doda        |                       2 |
|         6 | Ganderbal   |                       2 |
|         7 | Jammu       |                       5 |
|         8 | Kathua      |                       2 |
|         9 | Kishtwar    |                       2 |
|        10 | Kulgam      |                       2 |
|        11 | Kupwara     |                       2 |
|        12 | Poonch      |                       2 |
|        13 | Pulwama     |                       2 |
|        14 | Rajouri     |                       6 |
|        15 | Ramban      |                       2 |
|        16 | Reasi       |                       2 |
|        17 | Samba       |                       2 |
|        18 | Shopian     |                       2 |
|        19 | Srinagar    |                       2 |
|        20 | Udhampur    |                       2 |

|   Sl. No. | Districts           |   Specialized Adoption Agency |
|-----------|---------------------|-------------------------------|
|         1 | Jammu               |                             1 |
|         2 | Srinagar            |                             1 |
|         3 | Bandipora           |                             1 |
|         4 | Rajouri             |                             1 |
|         5 | Kupwara & Baramulla |                             1 |
|         6 | Shopian & Kulgam    |                             1 |
|         7 | Anantnag & Pulwama  |                             1 |
|         8 | Kathua & Samba      |                             1 |
|         9 | Reasi & Udhampur    |                             1 |
|        10 | Ramban & Doda       |                             1 |
|        11 | Kishtwar            |                             1 |
|        12 | Budgam              |                             1 |

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