Measures taken by the Government to improve the condition of Child Care Institutions
The Ministry is implementing the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments /UT Administrations for setting up and managing Child Care Institutions (CCIs) by themselves or in association with Voluntary Organisations. The primary responsibility of managing the CCIs is of the State Governments/UT Administrations concerned. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has reported that it has registered 13 complaints of running away of children from different CCIs during the last three years and the current year 2015-16.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been requesting the State Governments/UT Administrations from time to time to identify and register all CCIs under the provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 so as to ensure that minimum standards of care can be maintained. To improve the condition of CCIs,Government has enhanced financial norms under ICPS w.e.f 1st April, 2014. Some of the key features of the revised scheme are: Increased child maintenance grant from Rs. 750 to Rs. 2000 per child per month, increased financial norm for construction and maintenance of a new home for 50 children from Rs 77.61 lakh to Rs. 1.29 crore, increased financial support for a special unit of 10 children for children with special needs from Rs.4.22 lakh to Rs 10.48 lakh, flexibility in staffing pattern and enhanced cost of construction from Rs.600 per sq. ft to Rs.1000 per sq. ft or as per PWD norms, whichever is lower.
This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
