(a) whether the Government implements any scheme/programme or provide scholarship to orphan/destitute children for higher education;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of children benefited there from during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(d) the other steps taken by the Government to help orphans to get education and employment?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)
(a) to (c) No, Madam.
(d) The Government has enacted Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, by repealing JJ Act 2000, for children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, which includes Orphan, Abandoned and Surrendered child. The primary responsibility of execution of the Act lies with the State/UTs. However, Central Government is running ICPS (now “Child Protection Services” under Integrated Child Development Scheme), since 2009-10, and providing financial assistance to the States/UTs on sharing pattern for, inter-alia, undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult circumstances, including Orphan, Abandoned and Surrendered children. Under the scheme Sponsorship support (financial support for education etc) is provided, if the child is living with family, or the child is placed in Children Homes, if there is no one to look after the child or child is in need of care and protection, to ensure that their education can continue in an undisturbed manner. The programmes and activities in Children Homes inter-alia include age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc. Further ICPS also provides for “After care” services after the age of 18 years to help sustain them during the transition from institutional to independent life. Apart from this, the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), an autonomous body under Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), has introduced scholarship, under the scheme “Unnati”, through the National Children’s Fund (NCF), children residing in a Child Care Institution (CCI), including orphan or destitute, studying in class 9-12 with a promising performance can get this scholarship. The child having minimum 75% attendance and securing minimum 55% marks in the final examination of the previous class, are considered for inclusion in the merit list of 100 students for each class 9-12. As per the scheme guidelines of “Unnati”, the child should not be receiving any assistance on regular basis from any other sources towards her/his education and should have an Aadhar linked savings bank account in a Nationalized Bank. Fifty percent of the total scholarship money is earmarked for girl students.
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