Question : Schemes for Orphans and Widows- Destitute Women

(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to identify the number of widows/destitute/old women and orphans in the country, if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State/UT-wise and if not, the time by which such survey is likely to be conducted;
(b) the number of orphanages and shelter homes for such women functioning in the country at present along with the number of inmates therein, State/UT-wise;
(c) the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government for their welfare and rehabilitation along with the funds provided thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme and State/UT-wise;
(d) whether cases of child abuse in such orphanages have been reported during the said period, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the action taken thereon;
(e) the regulatory mechanism put in place on the functioning of the orphanages including private orphanages in the country; and
(f) whether the Government proposes a new scheme or an exclusive financial institution to provide financial assistance to such widows and encourage them for re-marriage and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) The Registrar General of India conducts decennial Population Census wherein data are collected on all persons living in the country at the time of Census taking. The number of widows and female aged 60 years and above as per census 2011, as provided by Registrar General of India, is annexed as Annexure-I. Data on orphans are not separately collected/compiled in Census. The Ministry of Women and Child Development does not maintain data about the number of orphan and destitute children in the country. However, a rapid assessment survey of street involved children carried out by Don Bosco National Forum in the year 2013 for the Young at Risk (YaR), New Delhi and Don Bosco Research Centre, Mumbai in the following 16 cities of India has come to the notice of the Government of India. As per the aforesaid survey, the number of street involved children in these 16 cities of the country, including metropolitan cities is at Annexure-II.



(b) & (c) The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of unfortunate circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Ministry is also implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) through State Governments/UT Administrations with the objective to create a safe and secure environment for overall development of children in need of care and protection, including orphan/destitute/neglected/street children which provides fund for setting up of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including homes of various types viz. Children Homes, Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs). The number of Swadhar Grehs functioning in the country and number of inmates alongwith details of the total funds allocated during the last three years and current year, States/UT-wise under Swadhar/Swadhar Greh Scheme is at Annexure-III. The State/UT wise details of Children Homes & SSAs are at Annexure-IV. The details of funds provided to States/UTs under ICPS during each of the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-V.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) since 1992 with the objective of improving the quality of life of senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical case and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing. At present 19 Multi Facility Care Centres (MFCCs) are being assisted under the Scheme The details of funds released during the last three years and current year to the programme of Multi Facility Care Centres is as under:
(Rupees in Lakhs)
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 upto 29.03.2017
72.07 33.81 158.82 154.60

(d) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has registered 4 complaints of child abuse in the Orphanages during the last three years and the current year 2016-17 (till 28th March, 2017). The State/year-wise details are given in Annexure-VI.
(e) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, has been enacted to ensure proper care, protection, development, treatment and social re-integration of children in difficult circumstance. As per Section 41 of this Act, registration of all the Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including orphanages in the country has been made compulsory. The Children Homes are required to maintain basic standards as per the Model Juvenile Justice Rules, 2016. Further, as per Section 54 of the JJ Act, 2015, the States shall appoint Inspection Committees for the State and District to mandatorily conduct visits to all facilities housing children and submit reports once in three months. As per Section 106 of the Act, the States will constitute State Child Protection Society and District Child Protection Unit to ensure the implementation of the JJ Act, 2015. Section 109 of the Act, empowers NCPCR and the State CPCRs to monitor the implementation of the JJ Act.
(f) No, Madam.
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