Question : National Policy for Children

(a) the salient features of National Policy for Children, 2013 implemented by the Government;
(b) the target set and achievements made since inception of the policy;
(c) whether the Government has also made any provision of funds under the said policy, if so, the details thereof indicating the funds allocated/released and utilized thereunder;
(d) the mechanism put in place by the Government to monitor the progress of implementation of said policy;
(e) whether the Government proposes to amend the said policy and sought suggestions from various quarters in this regard; and
(f) if so, the details and the present status thereof along with the time by which policy is likely to be amended?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) to (f): The Government has adopted a new National Policy for Children, 2013 on 26th April, 2013. The Policy recognises every person below the age of eighteen years as a child and covers all children within the territory and jurisdiction of the country. It recognizes that a multisectoral and multidimensional approach is necessary to secure the rights of children. The Policy has identified four key priority areas: survival, health and nutrition; education and development; protection and participation, for focused attention. As children’s needs are multi-sectoral, interconnected and require collective action, the Policy calls for purposeful convergence of existing programmes and schemes of different Ministries and hence there is no separate provision of fund under the policy .
Based on the new National Policy for Children, 2013, the Ministry has developed a Draft National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC). The purpose is to track and monitor the progress of what is already being done for children across Ministries and Departments The draft NPAC has provision of the National Coordination and Action Group (NCAG) for Children to monitor the Progress of the implementation of the Policy. At present there is no proposal to amend the policy.
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