Launch of the Centrally Sponsored ‘Integrated Child Protection Scheme’ (ICPS)

The Government of India has approved the launch of a comprehensive Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at providing safe and secure environment for the children of the country. This Scheme is to be implemented in the country through the State/UT Governments over the remaining period of the XI Plan on a cost sharing basis between the Centre, States and Non-Governmental Organisations.

The objectives of this scheme are to contribute to the improvement in the well being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as to the reduction of vulnerability to situations and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children. These will be achieved by: (i) improved access to and quality of child protection services; (ii) raised public awareness about child rights and child protection in India; (iii) clearly articulated responsibilities and enforced accountability for child protection; (iv) established and functioning structures at all Government levels for delivery of statutory and support services to children in difficult circumstances; (v) introduction of operational evidence based monitoring and evaluation.

The ICPS will provide preventive, statutory, care and rehabilitation services to all children in need of care and protection or in conflict with law as defined under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 amended in 2006 and any other vulnerable child including but not limited to : children of potentially vulnerable families and families at risk, children of socially excluded groups like migrant families, families living in extreme poverty, lower caste families, families subjected to or affected by discrimination, minorities, children infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS, orphans, child drug abusers, children of substance abusers, child beggars, trafficked or sexually exploited children, children of prisoners and street and working children.

The services that are proposed to be financed under ICPS for strengthening/introduction are : (i) Emergency outreach service through ‘CHILDLINE’; (ii) transitional shelters for children in need in urban and semi-urban areas; (iii) family based non-institutional care through Sponsorship, Foster-care, Adoption and After-care; (iv) institutional services – Shelter homes, Children homes, Observation homes, Special homes, Specialised services for children with special needs; (v) General grant-in-aid for need-based/innovative interventions; (vi) child Tracking System including a website for missing children; (vii) Cradle baby Reception Centre; (viii) Advocacy, public education and communication; (ix) training and capacity building; (x) service delivery structures for the above services at Centre, State and District levels.

The Central Government has provided an outlay of Rs.1073 crores during the XI Plan period towards implementation of this scheme.

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AKT/SH/LV