Centre to provide Rs 27 crore for ICPS scheme in J&K

The Centre has approved a proposal of granting over Rs 27 crore for the Integrated Child Protection Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.
"A proposal worth Rs 27.92 crore for funding Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) has been accepted by Project Approval Board (PAB) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India," an official spokesman said.
He said that the PAB has also agreed to release a non-recurring grant of Rs 3 crore for financial year 2015-16 for the scheme.
"At the request of the state government, the central government has also approved the establishment of homes for children with special needs in Srinagar and Jammu. It has also agreed to consider upgrading the existing Bal Ashrams and children homes managed by the state in different districts and bringing them at par with ICPS norms in terms of staff and infrastructure," the spokesman said.

Governor N N Vohra, through a personal letter, had requested Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, for release of the grant due in 2015-16 for implementation of ICPS and to also accord approval for establishing two new homes for children with special needs in the state.
The spokesman noted that the implementation of ICPS in the state will bring a transformative shift in addressing the unmet requirements of children who are in need of care and protection and also those in conflict with the law.
He said that consequent to the central government's sanction, the Governor has ordered that time-bound action be taken on all fronts, particularly for setting up homes for children with special needs, both in Srinagar and Jammu, and progress reports sent to him every month beginning March 15.