COVER HINDI - Ministry of Women and Child Development

3.63 The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act, 2000 has been enforced in the entire country
except the State of Jammu & Kashmir w.e.f. 1 st April, 2001.
The Act lays down the setting up of Juvenile Justice Boards
consisting of a Metropolitan Magistrate/Judicial magistrate
and two social workers one of which shall be female social
worker in every district. The State Governments are also
required to set up for every district one or more Child
Welfare Committees for discharging all functions regarding
children in need of care and protection as laid down in the
Act.
3.64 A Bill seeking amendment to The Juvenile Justice
(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 was introduced
by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Lok
Sabha on 29 th August, 2005 and Hon’ble Speaker referred
it to the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare for
examination. The Standing Committee has examined the
Bill and submitted its report to both the Houses of
Parliament on 12.12.2005. After the subject matter was
transferred to this Ministry, consultations were held with
State Governments as well as experts in the field of Child
Welfare on the basis of which more comprehensive
amendments were proposed keeping in view the
recommendations of the Standing committee as well as
other suggestions received during consultations. An
amendment Act was passed by both houses of the
Parliament and it came into effect from 23.08.2006.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme
3.65 The Ministry of Women and Child Development has
also initiated steps to formulate a comprehensive scheme,
‘An Integrated Child Protection Scheme’ on the basis of
wide spread consultations with the voluntary organizations,
child welfare experts and State Governments. This scheme
includes setting up of child protection units in each State
and District with financial assistance from the Government
of India for ensuring the implementation of the Act and
coordination of other child protection related activities in
these States / District. The proposed scheme includes
components for providing institutional as well as noninstitutional
support for children in difficult circumstances.
A Programme for Juvenile Justice
3.66 The Ministry is implementing a Scheme called “A
Programme for Juvenile Justice”. The objectives of
Programme for Juvenile Justice are:
(i) To extend help to State Governments to bear the
cost of infrastructure and services development
under the Juvenile Justice Act.
(ii) To ensure minimum quality standards in the juvenile
justice services.
(iii) To provide adequate services for prevention of social
maladjustment and rehabilitation of socially
maladjusted juveniles.
3.67 Under the scheme, the Ministry provides 50 per cent
assistance to State Governments and UT Administrations
for establishment and maintenance of various levels of
institutions for juveniles in conflict with law and children
in need of care and protection. In the year 2004-05, grantin-aid
of Rs 19.71 Crores was released to 22 States/UTs
and during the year 2005-06, grant-in-aid of Rs.20.03
Crores released to 23 States/UTs. The details of the grant
released during the year 2006-07 (as on 31.12. 2006) are
given at Annexure XXVIII .
Scheme for Welfare of Working Children
in Need of Care and Protection
3.68 In pursuance of the provisions of the Act, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its order dated
29.03.2001, in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 465/86 filed by
Shri M.C. Mehta against State of Tamil Nadu and Others,
had directed the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment to prepare a scheme taking into
consideration all that would be required for the welfare
for child Labour and to submit the same before the Court
for consideration. The Ministry had formulated a scheme
titled “Scheme for Welfare of Working Children in Need
of Care and Protection” and submitted the same to the
Hon’ble Court on 22.3.2002.
3.69 The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its Judgment dated
12.1.05 gave directions to the Ministry of Social Justice
& Empowerment to implement the scheme. Accordingly,
the scheme implementation commenced in Jan 2005. The
objective of the scheme is to provide non formal education,
vocational training, to working children to facilitate their
entry/ re-entry into mainstream education in cases where
they have either not attended any learning system or where
for some seasons their education has been discontinued
with a view to prevent their continued exploitation in
future.
Programmes for Children 67