Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the children of working mothers
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a new Creche Scheme w.e.f. 1.1.2006 by merging the National Creche Fund with the Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Creche for Working and Ailing Women’s Children and also to revise the financial norms from Rs.18,480/- to Rs. 42,384/- per crèche per annum. The Scheme provides crèche services to the children of age group of 0 to 6 year, which includes supplementary nutrition, emergency medicines and contingency. The Scheme has been named as Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers. These crèches will be allocated to the Central Social Welfare Board, Indian Council for Child Welfare and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh in the ratio of 80:11:9. The priority will be given to uncovered districts/areas and tribal areas while extending the scheme to maintain balance regional coverage.
Eligibility criteria under the Revised Scheme has also been enhanced from Rs 1800/- to Rs.12,000/- per month per family. So far about 25605 creches have been sanctioned including 5137 creches sanctioned under erstwhile National Creche Scheme upto 20th Nov., 2006 Nutrition Component of Prime Minister Gramodya Yojana and Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls in 51 Districts being implemented with additional central assistance given by the Planning Commission, directly and indirectly contribute to promoting nutrition of children. A National Nutrition Mission has been set up under the chairpersonship of Hon’ble Prime Minister vide notification dated 31st July 2003 with a view to enable policy direction to concerned Departments of the Government for addressing the problem of malnutrition in a mission mode. An Integrated Programme for Street Children is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development specifically for those children who are on streets and homeless and include the ragpicking and vagabond children.
The Scheme aims at providing full and wholesome development of children without homes and family ties. The children without homes and family ties and children especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation such as children of sex workers and children of pavement dwellers are the target group for this Programme. Financial assistance is provided to the NGOs who are eligible and working for the welfare of the street children, for Formal & Non-formal Education, Shelter Home, Vocational Training to Children, Nutrition, health care, sanitation and hygiene, safe drinking water, education and recreational facilities and protection against abuse and exploitation. Integrated Programme for Juvenile Justice: The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with a view to providing care to children in difficult circumstances and children in conflict with the law through Government institutions and through NGOs. Some special features of the scheme areas:
- Establishment of a National Advisory Board on Juvenile Justice
- Creation of a Juvenile Justice Fund.
- Training, orientation and sensitization of Judicial, administrative police and NGOs responsible for implementation of JJ Act.
- Institutional care shall be used but only as a last measure by enlarging the range of suitable alternatives.
- Financial assistance to bring about a qualitative improvement in the existing infrastructure.
- Establishment of a National Advisory Board on Juvenile Justice
Childline India Foundation (CIF)
has been set up as a nodal organization, supported by Government of India, to monitor and ensure the qualitative development of the Childline service across the country. Childline is a toll free telephone service(1098) which anyone can call for assistance in the interest of children. It has prescribed minimum quality standards for the services to be provided by its partner organizations that are implementing Childline programmes in various cities of the country. It initiates preparatory activity that precedes the initiation of Childline service in any city. CIF is also involved in awareness and advocacy in order to strengthen the efforts relating to child welfare. The objective of the Shishu Greh Scheme is to promote adoptions within the country and to ensure minimum standards in the care of abandoned/orphaned/destitute children. Grant-in-Aid upto a ceiling of Rs.6 lakh has been provided per unit of 10 children in a Shishu Greh.
RECENT INITIATIVES
The Commissions for Protection of the Child Rights Act 2005 The Government has recently notified the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005 in the Gazette of India on 20th Jan., 2006 as Act No.4 of 2006. The Act envisages setting up a National Commission at the National level and the State Commissions at the State level. The proposed Commission would be set up for proper enforcement of children’s rights and effective implementation of laws and programmes relating to children. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights will be a statutory body to be set up under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act. The proposed Commission will have a Chairperson and six other Members, including two women members, a Member Secretary and other supporting staff. The Chairperson would be a person of eminence in the field of child development. The members would be the experts in the field of child health, education, child care and development, juvenile justice, children with disabilities, elimination of child labour, child psychology or sociology and laws relating to children. The officers and the staff of the Commission will be provided by the Central Government. The proposed Commission would be set up for proper enforcement of children’s rights and effective implementation of laws and programmes relating to children.
The Functions of the Commissions are:
- Examine and review the safeguards provided by Constitution or any law for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation.
- Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendation for their effective implementation in the best interest of children.
- Examine all factors that inhibit the enjoyment of rights of most vulnerable children and children in need of special care and protection.
- Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendation for their effective implementation in the best interest of children.
- Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights
- Spread child rights literacy among various sections of the society and promote awareness
- inspect any juvenile custodial home, or any other place of residence or institution meant for children for the purpose of treatment, reformation or protection and take up with these authorities for remedial action
- inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to,-
- deprivation of child’s rights;
- non-implementation of laws for protection and development of children;
- non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or and to provide relief to such children;
- or take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities; and
- Such other functions as it may consider necessary for the promotion of child rights
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