Family and Child Welfare

Family and Child Welfare 3 (3+0)

Lesson 5 : Existing Child Protection Programmes

Types of Child Protection Programmes

The existing programmes for child protection in India primarily flow from the provisions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and National Plan of Action for Children 2005. These comprise several programmes and schemes implemented by different ministries and departments addressing child protection issues among which are:

1. A Programme for Juvenile Justice for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. The Government of India provides financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations for establishment and maintenance of various homes, salary of staff, food, clothing, etc. for children in need of care and protection and juveniles in conflict with law. Financial assistance is based on proposals submitted by States on a 50-50 cost sharing basis.


2. An Integrated Programme for Street Children without homes and family ties. Under the scheme NGOs are supported to run 24 hours drop in shelters and provide food, clothing, shelter, non-formal education, recreation, counseling, guidance and referral services to them. The other components of the scheme include enrollment in schools, vocational training, occupational placement, mobilizing preventive health services and reducing the incidence of drug and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS etc


3. CHILDLINE Service for children in distress, especially children in need of care and protection so as to provide them medical services, shelter, rescue from abuse, counseling and repatriation.


4. Shishu Greh Scheme for care and protection of orphans/abandoned/destitute infants or children up to 6 years and promote in-country adoption for rehabilitating them.


5. Scheme for Working Children in Need of Care and Protection for children working as domestic help, at roadside dhabas, mechanic shops, etc. The scheme provides for bridge education and vocational training, medicine, food, recreation/sports equipments, etc.


6. Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers in the age group of 0-6 years. The scheme provides for comprehensive day-care services including facilities like food, shelter, medical, recreation, etc.


7. Pilot Project to Combat the Trafficking of women and Children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation in source and destination areas for providing care and protection to trafficked and sexually abused women and children. Components of the scheme include networking with law enforcement agencies, rescue operation, temporary shelter for the victims, repatriation to hometown and legal services, etc.


8. Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) is an Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to help both Indian and foreign agencies involved in inter country adoption of Indian children to function within a prescribed framework so that such children are adopted legally through recognized agencies and no exploitation takes place.


9. National Child Labour Project (NCLP) for the rehabilitation of child labour. Under the scheme, Project Societies at the district level are fully funded for opening up of special school/Rehabilitation Centres for the rehabilitation of child labour. These special schools/rehabilitation centers provide nonformal education, vocational training, supplementary nutrition, stipend etc. to children withdrawn from employment.