1800 Cr released in the past 4 years for Child Protection Services

Rs.1827.2 crores were released for Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) (now “Child protection Services”) from the Financial year 2014-15 to 2017-18(as on date).

Central Govt. has re-enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015   (JJ Act) for children in conflict with law (CCL) and children in need of care and protection (CNCP). The CNCP category includes orphan/destitute/neglected and children in difficult circumstances. The primary responsibility of execution of the JJ Act lies with the State Governments. However Central Government is executing Child protection Services scheme for providing financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations, on sharing pattern, for execution of the Act and with the objective to create a safe and secure environment for overall development of children in need of care and protection, including orphan/destitute/neglected children.  These include placement in Children Homes if there is no family to look after the said child, or sponsorship support if the child is living with family (financial support for education etc) to ensure that their education can continue in an undisturbed manner.

Under ICPS, financial assistance is provided to State Governments/UT Administrations, on sharing pattern for different children including children above 18 years of age and upto 21 years as ‘After care services’ to help them during the transition from institutional to independent life. The services include housing facilities, vocational training, help to gain employment, counseling and stipend etc. The financial norms under ICPS (now “Child Protection Services”) was later revised with effect from 1st April, 2014. The key features of the revised Scheme included increased maintenance grant for children in homes, from Rs. 750 to Rs. 2000 per child per month. This has been further enhanced to Rs. 2160 per child per month with effect from 16.11.2017.

As per Section 54 of the JJ Act, all State Govt./UTs appoint Inspection Committee for the State and district. Further, as per Section 54 (2) such inspection committees shall mandatorily conduct visits to all facilities housing children in the area allocated, at least once in three months in a team of not less than three members, of whom at least one shall be a woman and one shall be a medical officer, and submit reports of the findings of such visits within a week of their visit, to the District Child Protection Units or State Government, as the case may be, for further action. And as per Section 54 (3), on the submission of the report by the inspection committee, appropriate action shall be taken within a month by the District Child Protection Unit or the State Government and a compliance report shall be submitted to the State Government.The funds released to the States Govt./UTs under ICPS (now “Child Protection Services”) during each of the last three years and the current year is :

The details of funds released to States/UTsunder ICPS during the Financial years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 and current year as on date(in lakhs).