Integrated Child Protection Scheme

To encourage quicker establishment of structures and procedures under the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act [JJ Act], the Ministry of Women & Child Development introduced, in 2009-10, a comprehensive scheme, namely, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) under which financial and technical support is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations. ICPS brings several existing child protection programmes, under one umbrella, with improved norms. These include, (i) A Programme for Juvenile Justice; (ii) An Integrated Programme for Street Children; and (iii) Scheme for Assistance to Homes [Shishu Greh] to promote In-country Adoption. A number of new initiatives have also been incorporated, such as dedicated service delivery structures at State and district levels, child tracking system, sponsorship, fostercare etc.

Objectives

The objectives of the scheme are to contribute to the improvement in the well being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as the reduction of vulnerabilities to situations and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from their families. These are achieved by (i) improved access to and quality of child protection services; (ii) increased public awareness about the reality of child rights, situation and protection in India; (iii) clearly articulated responsibilities and enforced accountability of these responsibilities for child protection (iv) established and functioning structures at all government levels for delivery of statutory and support services to children in difficult circumstances; (v) evidence based monitoring and evaluation system.

Target Group

ICPS focuses its activities on

• Children in Need of Care and Protection as listed in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection Act) 2000
• Children in conflict with law; who have or are alleged to have committed an offence
• Children in contact with law; who have come into contact with the law as a victim, witness or under any other circumstance
• Any other vulnerable child (including but not limited to) – children of migrant families, children living on the streets, child beggars, exploited/trafficked/drug-affected children, children of prisoners, children of women in prostitution and children affected/infected with HIV/AIDS

Major Components

• The services that are strengthened/introduced and provided finances for, under ICPS are:
• Institutional Services: Shelter Homes; Children’s Homes; Observation Homes; Special Homes; and Specialized services for children with special needs
• Service delivery structures for the above services at Central, State and District levels
• Emergency outreach services for children in difficult circumstances through Childline Open shelters for children in need in urban and semi-urban areas
• Family based non-institutional care through: Sponsorship; Foster Care; Adoption; and After Care Programme
• Child Tracking System including a website for missing children
• Advocacy, public education and communication
• Training and capacity building
• General grant-in-aid for need based/innovative interventions