(a) whether the incidents of exploitation/sexual harassment of children in
Juvenile Homes and Orphanages have increased in the country during each of the
last three years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) & (b): As per the information provided by National Commission for Protection
of Child Rights (NCPCR), 44 cases related to exploitation/sexual harassment of
children in Juvenile Homes and Orphanages have been registered in NCPCR during
the last three years and the current year. State/UT-wise details of such cases
are Annexed.
(c): The Ministry of Women and Child Development is persistently urging the
State Governments/UT Administrations to identify and register all Child Care
Institutions (CCIs) under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Act, 2000 (JJ Act) in order to ensure that children in all the Homes receive the
best of care, and are not subject to abuse and neglect.
Section 34 (3) of the JJ Act provides for mandatory registration of all CCI
housing children in need of care and protection with the intent of enforcing
minimum standards of care for the services provided for children in these Homes.
The JJ Act also provides for mechanism for stringent monitoring of quality of
services through Child Welfare Committees and inspection committees set up by
the State Government at State, district and city levels. Further, the Rules
provide for setting up of Children’s Committees in every institution which is,
inter-alia, also encouraged to report the incidents of abuse and exploitation,
if any. Besides Rule 60 of the Model Rules framed under the JJ Act also prescribes
comprehensive measures to respond in case any kind of abuse, including sexual
abuse, neglect and maltreatment is noticed in the CCI.
Further, ‘The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012’, which has
come into force with effect from 14th November, 2012 alongwith the Rules framed
thereunder, provides for stringent punishment for persons who, being on the
management or staff of a Home, commit sexual assault on a child in such Home.