INTEGRATED CHILD PROTECTION SCHEME

India is home to almost 19% of the world’s children. More than one third of the country’s population, around 440 million, is below 18 years. The future and strength of the nation lies in a healthy, protected, educated and well-developed child population that will grow up to be productive citizens of the country. It is alarming that, in 2011, the Crimes against children reported a 24% increase from the previous year with a total of 33,098 cases of crimes against Children reported in the country during 2011 as compared to 26,694 cases during 2010. The State of Uttar Pradesh accounted for 16.6% of total crimes against children at national level in 2011, followed by Madhya Pradesh (13.2%), Delhi (12.8%), Maharashtra (10.2%), Bihar (6.7%) and Andhra Pradesh (6.7%). Thus there is an urgent case for increasing expenditure on child protection. so that the rights of the children of India are protected. The neglect of child protection issues not only violates the rights of the children but also increases their vulnerability to abuse, neglect and exploitation. GOI has launched the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) aimed at building a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances, as well as other vulnerable children, through Government-Civil Society Partnership. Objectives of the scheme are: a) To create a safety net for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law by building a protective environment for them, keeping their best interests in mind; b)  To promote preventive measures to protect children from falling in the situations of vulnerability, risk and abuse; c) To promote preventive measure to address the vulnerabilities of families and build their ability and capacity protect their children; d) To supplement and strengthen the infrastructure established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000; e) To build capacities of families, communities, and NGOs to strengthen care, protection and response to children; f) To create State and District Child Protection Units as well as State Adoption Cells; g) To promote in-country adoption and regulate inter-country adoption as well as ensure minimum standards; h) To provide services to the more vulnerable categories of children through specialized programmes; i) To establish linkages for restoration of children to their biological families and placement with adoptive families or foster families, where necessary; j) To provide specialized institutional care to infants and children up to 6 years of age who are either abandoned or orphaned/destitute; k) To check and end female foeticide and infanticide in the country; l) To provide services to street and destitute children, including child beggars; m) To provide for care and support services for children affected by HIV/AIDS; n) To establish CHILDLINE in every district, for creating access in emergencies by providing counseling, restoration and rehabilitative services to children along with linkages to other available services under various schemes of the Government of India/State Governments; o) To train and sensitize local bodies, police, judiciary and other concerned departments of State Governments to undertake related responsibilities; p) To strengthen the knowledge base by undertaking research and documentation, resource mapping of services, the creation of a Management Information System (MIS) for tracking vulnerable children, and database management; q) To carry out advocacy and spread awareness about child and family-related issues for supporting the family; r) To network with the Allied Systems i.e. Government departments and Non-Government agencies; s) To initiate any other need-based specialized innovative services through families, community and panchayats/local bodies, including child guidance and counseling especially to combat drug abuse, sexual abuse, child marriage, and discrimination against the girl child.