MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 298 for answer on 12.12.2014 raised by Shri K. Parasuraman and Shri VikramUsendi, regarding “Shelter Homes”
(a): There are 1,672 Child Care Institutions (Children’s Homes, Specialised Adoption Agencies, Observation Homes, Special Homes and Shelter Homes) run by State Government as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which are being funded under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). State/ UT-wise details are given in Annexure-I. There are 311 Swadhar Shelter Homes for women operational in the country, State/UT-wise details are given in Annexure-II.
(b): The details of funds allocated/released/utilised under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise are given Annexure-III. The details of these funds in Annexure 3 includes funds for child care institutions also. The details of funds released to Swadhar Shelter Homes for women during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise are given in Annexure-IV.
(c): As per National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), 58 complaints of sexual abuse/sexual exploitation and other irregularities were received by them in Child Care Institutions during the said period. A total of 7 complaints were reported during the same period in Swadhar Shelter Homes for Women. State/UT-wise details of complaints received in Child Care Institutions and Swadhar Shelter Homes for Women are given in Annexure-V.
(d) & (e): The monitoring mechanisms and other remedial steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the conditions/functioning of Child Care Institutions and Swadhar Shelter Homes for Women are given below.
Child Care Institutions
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 provides for mandatory registration of all institutions within six months from the date of commencement of the Act. There is also provision of Inspection Committees to be set up by the State Government at State, district and city levels for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation of Homes to prevent any abuse or exploitation of children. The Central Model Rules, 2007 under the Act provide for setting up of Management Committees and Children’s Committees, in every institution for monitoring the functioning of institutions. The Rules also prescribe comprehensive measures for response to any kind of neglect and maltreatment, when it occurs in the institution. Extensive Standards of care for institutions are also provided under chapter six of the Central Model Rules, 2007 under the JJ Act. These standards are to be maintained by all institutions registered under the Act and relate to physical infrastructure, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and diet scale, medical care, education, vocational training, recreation facilities, etc.
The Ministry is implementing the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) since 2009 for effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. Under the Scheme, Child Care Institutions (CCIs) are also supported. The Government has recently enhanced financial norms under the Scheme including norms for CCIs. Some of the key features of the revised Scheme are: increased child maintenance grant from Rs 750 to Rs 2000 per month per child, increased financial norms for construction and maintenance of a new home for 50 children from Rs. 77.61 lakh to Rs 129.85 lakh, increased financial support for a special unit of 10 children for children with special needs from Rs. 4.22 lakh to Rs 10.48 lakh, flexibility in staffing pattern and enhanced cost of construction from Rs. 600 per sq. feet to Rs 1000 per sq. feet or as per PWD norms, whichever is lower.
The Government has also introduced the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014 in the Lok Sabha which provides for several provisions including provisions to improve the condition of homes such as mandatory registration with punishment for non-compliance, at least one mandatory inspection visits every month by the Juvenile Justice Board, list of services to be provided in homes such as education, nutrition, counselling, appointment of inspection committees by the State Government and independent evaluation of functioning of structures under the Act.
Swadhar Shelter Homes for Women
The Swadhar Scheme addresses the specific vulnerabilities of women in difficult circumstances through a home based holistic and integrated approach.The beneficiaries include widows deserted by their families and relatives and left uncared near religious places where they are victims of exploitation; women prisoners released from jails; women survivors of natural disasters; women victims of terrorist/extremist violence and similarly placed women in difficult circumstances.
The functioning of the Swadhar Homes is monitored by a District Level Committee headed by District Magistrate as Chairperson. The Committee meets at least twice a year to monitor and review the functioning of the Centre. At the State Level, the Secretary in-charge of Social Welfare/Women & Child Development Department in the State Government is the Chairperson of the State Level Monitoring Committee. The officers from the Ministry of Women and Child Development also inspect Homes wherever necessary.
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