Question : JUVENILE HOMES

(a) the number of Juvenile Homes in existence in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government proposes to set up Juvenile Homes through out the country, especially in those States and Union Territories where these have not been set up, till date;

(c) whether the Government have on their own carried out or deputed any independent body to carry out any survey to find out the conditions of these juvenile homes during the last three years and the current year;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the finding thereof; and

(e) if not, the reason therefor?

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

(a)& (b): The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 [JJ Act] provides for the State Governments to establish and maintain, either by themselves, or in association with voluntary organisations, Homes for children, in every district or group of districts, based on requirement. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) from the year 2009-10 under which financial assistance is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations for setting up and maintenance of various kinds of Homes for juveniles in conflict with law as well children in need of care and protection under JJ Act. The State-wise number of various types of Homes assisted under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) so far is annexed.

(c)to (e): The Ministry of Women and Child Development has not carried out or deputed any agency to carry out any survey to find out the conditions of these juvenile homes during the last three years and the current year. The JJ Act lays the primary responsibility of monitoring and maintaining the minimum standards of care in the Homes, as prescribed in the Rules under the JJ Act, with the State Governments/UT Administrations. To ensure that these standards met, the State Governments/UT Administrations are urged from time to time to monitor and improve the functioning of such Homes through Inspection Committees and Management Committees set up under the Act and Rules.