Question : DEVELOPMENT PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

(a) whether the Government has taken notice of the miserable condition of children who have been sufferers of malnutrition, child marriage, child labour, trafficking and dropouts at the elementary level of education in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has formulated / implemented schemes / programmes for their development, protection, and welfare;

(c) if so, the details of the schemes/programmes formulated/implemented for the purpose;

(d) the details of the funds allocated under the said schemes/programmes along with its utilisation during each of the last three years and the current year; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect the interests of such children and to improve their condition ?

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

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.407 FOR 21.02.2014 BY SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE REGARDING DEVELOPMENT/PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam, The Government has taken note of the prevalence of malnutrition, child marriage, child labour, trafficking and dropouts at the elementary level of education in the country as per the indicators below. Malnutrition : As per National Family Health Survey III the rate of malnutrition has declined from 42.7% in 1998-99 (NFHS-2) to 40.4% in 2005-06 (NFHS-3) for children below 3 years of age.
Child marriage : As per National Family Health Survey III (NFHS III : 2005-06) the percentage of women between the age of 18-29, who married before reaching age of 18, i.e. before reaching the legal age for marriage is 46 %.
Child Labour : The total number of working children in the country has declined from 1.26 crore as per the Census 2001 to 49.84 lakh in 2009-10 as per NSSO Survey.
Dropouts at the elementary level education in the country : As per District Information System for Education (DISE) data, the Annual Average Dropout Rate at Primary level has reduced from 6.5 % for 2011-12 to 5.62 for 2012-13. The Government has initiated various Schemes to address the problems. Some of the Schemes are outlined as follows :
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which provides a package of six services to children below 6 years and pregnant and lactating mothers which inter-alia includes supplementary nutrition.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) was introduced in 2009-10 with the aim to contribute to the improvement in the well being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as the reduction of vulnerabilities to situations that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from their families.
Scheme for Welfare of Working Children in Need of Care and Protection provides opportunities including non-formal education, vocational training, etc. to working children to facilitate their entry / re-entry into mainstream education.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)-SABLA aims at an all-round development of adolescent girls (AGs) of 11-18 years by making them self reliant by facilitating access to learning, health and nutrition through various interventions such as health, education, vocational training etc. Such empowerment also addresses the issue of Child Marriage.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) is a Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme for pregnant and lactating women which was introduced in October, 2010 for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers.
Trafficking : “Ujjawala” – is a Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-integration and Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation. Rehabilitation of Child Labour : National Child Labour Project (NCL P) is a Scheme with the objective to withdraw children working in hazardous occupations and processes, and mainstream them into formal education system. All children rescued/withdrawn in the age group of 9-14 years are enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system.

(d) The details of the funds released under the three major schemes viz., Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) and Ujjawala scheme administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development is as per table below :

(Rs. In crores)
Sl.No.	Name of	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	Scheme	Budget	Actual	Budget	Actual	Budget	Actual	Budget	Actuals	(RE)	Exp.	(RE)	Exp.	(RE)	Exp.	(RE)	Exp.	(17.2. 2014)
1	ICDS	9280	9763	14048	14267	15850	15704	16312	14483
2	ICPS	100	115	213	178	273	258	270	198
3	UJJAWA	7	9	10	10	7	7	13	12	LA	Total	9387	9887	14271	14455	16130	15969	16595	14693