Question : MISSING CHILDREN

(a) whether the Government proposes to make registration of FIR compulsory after a child is reported to be missing;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to set up an online portal to ensure proper co-ordination and exchange of information amongst the States in regard to missing children;

(d) whether the Government has conducted any survey to ascertain the various factors responsible for missing of children;

(e) if so, the details and outcome thereof along with the number of such survey conducted during the last one year and the current year; and

(f) whether the Government has initiated any action plan for rehabilitation of such children and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHI CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b): While adjudicating W.P. (Civil) no. 75 of 2012, Bachpan Bachao Andolan vs. UoI, the Hon’ble Supreme Court had directed for mandatory filling of FIR in case of missing children. In pursuance to the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order, the Ministry of Home Affairs has circulated an advisory to all the States/UTs to file mandatory FIR in case of missing children dated 25th June, 2013.

(c): The Ministry of Women and Child Development in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated a web portal named ‘Track Child’ in the country which is aimed at maintaining real time data of all missing children containing extensive identification details to facilitate matching of missing and recovered children.

(d) & (e): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had constituted a Committee on 12th February 2007 to examine the issue of missing children in depth from the point of view of evolving practical guidelines that would facilitate tracing and restoring missing children back to their families or to agencies/support systems where they could be taken care of and protected.

(f): The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), under which financial assistance is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations for, inter-alia, after care services for children, to help sustain them during the transition from institutional to independent life. The services include housing facilities, vocational training, help to gain employment, counseling and stipend etc.