Lok Sabha Question No. 95 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-29
Subject: Juvenile Homes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *95 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.04.2016

## JUVENILE HOMES

- 95*. Dr. A. SAMPATH

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be please to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  working  of  Juvenile  Homes,  if  so,  the details thereof; (b) the deficiencies noticed therein; (c) whether the Juvenile Homes lack the required reform facilities that help delinquent children revert to normal life; (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  indicating  the  number  of  such  Homes  across  the  country including Delhi that are equipped with the required reform facilities in the matter; and (e) the action taken/being taken by the Government to further improve such facilities in

- such Homes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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## Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *95 for answer on 29.04.2016 raised by Dr. A. Sampath  regarding 'Juvenile Homes'

(a) & (b): The primary responsibility of effective functioning of the Child Care Institutions including homes for children in conflict with law vests with the State Governments/ UT Administrations concerned. The review of the Homes is undertaken during the Project Approval Board meetings with the State  Governments  and UT  Administrations concerned. Some of the issues highlighted in such meetings include: insufficient staff in homes, inadequate facilities and quality of care and rehabilitation measures for children, lack of counseling and mental health interventions, etc.

(c) & (d): The Ministry is implementing the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments /UT Administrations for  setting  up  and  managing  Child  Care  Institutions  (CCIs)  by  themselves  or  in association  with  Voluntary  Organisations  including  homes  for  children  in  conflict  with law.  The facilities  provided  to  children  in  CCIs  include:  education,  vocational  training, counseling,  mental  health  interventions,  etc.  There  are  356  Homes  being  supported under ICPS across the country for children in conflict with law.

According  to  Department  of Women  and  Child  Development,  Government  of  NCT  of Delhi, there are seven homes for children in conflict with law and that these homes are equipped with the reform facilities such as vocational training, counselling, non- formal education,  computer  education,  health  facilities,  referral  to  drug-de  addiction  centre, legal aid services, sports facilities, referral facilities etc.

(e):  In  order  to  improve  and  strengthen  the  condition  of  homes,  the  Government enacted the  Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015,  which  has replaced the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The new Act has come into effect from 15.01.2016. Under the JJ Act, 2015 several provisions have been included to improve the condition of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including those housing  children  in  conflict  with  law  by  providing  for  inspections  of  these  CCIs  by

Juvenile  Justice  Board;  prescribing  various  rehabilitation  and  reintegration  services including  skill  development,  recreational  facilities,  mental  health  interventions,  etc. Under Section 41 of the new Act, registration of institutions including Homes for children in conflict with law has been made mandatory with penalty in case of non-compliance. Under Section 54, the State Governments are required to appoint inspection Committees for the State and district for mandatory inspection of all facilities housing children, at least once in three months.

The financial norms under ICPS were revised with effect from 1st April, 2014. Some of the key features of the revised Scheme are increased maintenance grant for children in homes,  from  existing  Rs.  750  to  Rs.  2000  per  child  per  month;  enhanced  cost  of construction from existing provision of Rs. 600 per sq. feet to Rs. 1000 per sq. feet and flexibility in the staffing pattern in service delivery structures, depending on the size and need of the State/UT.

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