More than Rs 400 cr released till date in the current financial year under Child Protection Services

As per Section 2 (14) (vi) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act), a child who does not have parents and no one is willing to take care of, or whose parents have abandoned or surrendered him is included as a child in need of care and protection. And as per Section 2 (57), of JJ Act, a Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) means an institution established by the State Government or by a voluntary or non-governmental organisation and recognized under section 65, for housing orphans, abandoned and surrendered children, placed there by order of the Committee, for the purpose of adoption. Further as per Regulation 58 of Adoption Regulation, 2017, all Child Care Institutions (CCIs) which are not recognized as SAAs shall have linkages with CCI in the district. The primary responsibility in execution of the JJ Act lies with the State Governments. However Central Govt is executing a scheme namely Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) (now Child protection Services) 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, which includes orphan/abandoned/surrendered children.

Under Child protection Services, 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/Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The Ministry releases grants under ICPS to State Governments/UT Administrations which further release it to concerned NGOs.

As per Section 54 of JJ Act the State Government appoints inspection Committee consisting of not less than three members who mandatorily visit all institutions at least once in three months and appropriate action on the report of Committee is taken by the State Government. The State Govt/UT has not reported misuse of the funds.

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