Question : RAG PICKERS

(a) whether the Government has taken note that thousands of children belonging to weakest of weaker section in the age group of 6 to 15 years in urban areas survive on rag picking;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the fact that due to continuous exposure to the common garbage and the hospital waste they are prone to various diseases, exploited by various sections and have to without food most of the days;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to conduct any survey on the life of a child rag pickers and formulate a scheme for their welfare and rehabilitation; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) & (d): Government has formulated a scheme namely Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) under which various care and rehabilitation services are provided for children in need of care and protection including rag pickers. Within this scheme, Open Shelters in urban and semi-urban areas provide services for children living on streets including rag pickers to wean them away from a life on the street.

(e) & (f): Under ICPS, financial assistance is provided to the State Governments /UT Administrations for, inter-alia, undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult circumstances at district level, which would include an assessment of the needs of child rag pickers.