POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES FOR

CHILDREN

Dr.G.Jyothi
Assistant Director
NIPCCD, RCB
Policies, are covenants we collectively choose to
live by, as articulated in legislation and regulation.
They inform our socially accepted mores and ethics

Programs are short-term interventions that create

temporary improvements in the wake of challenges.
 
Scheme: It is a large scale systematic plan or
arrangement for achieving some particular defined
goal or object .
 More young
people in
2015 in the
age group of
10 – 24 as
compared to
1950

About nine
out of ten
of these
young
people live
in less
developed
countries Source: http://www.unfpa.org/WPD2016; 13/7/16; 2.20 pm
 "India is trying to project itself as a
Country looking forward to a place in
the league of developed nations”
 But where do we stand: ?



 Why is Child Protection important?

An effective protective environment for children

increases a child’s chances to

-grow up physically and mentally healthy,

- confident and self-respecting,
-and less likely to abuse or exploit others, including
his or her own children.
On the contrary, the neglect of child protection issues undermines national
development. It has costs and negative effects that continue beyond
childhood into the individual’s adult life. Indeed it does not only violate the
rights of children but also it increases their
vulnerability to neglect, abuse and exploitation. Children subjected to
neglect, violence, exploitation, abuse are at risk of:

- Shortened lives,
- Poor physical and mental health,
- Homelessness, vagrancy and displacement,
- Educational problems (including dropping out of school,)
- Poor parenting skills later in life.
Failure to protect children from such issues as child labour, child
abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, child marriage or
discrimination, among others, means failure in fulfilling both the
international and national commitments towards children and in
meeting development aspirations such as the Millennium
Development Goals.
Threats against Child life and survival:
1. An estimated 150 million children are malnourished worldwide.
2. 11 million children under five die every year in developing countries, 28,000
children a day.
3. Every year, more than 6 million children die totally preventable diseases
such as pneumonia, diarrhea, Measles, tetanus and whooping cough.
4. In 2005, around 380,000 children died of AIDS and 540,000 children got
newly infected.
5. 2.3 million children are living with HIV worldwide.
6. 270 million children lack health care amenities.
7. 400 million children have no access to safe drinking water.
8. Around 50 million children are unregistered to birth every year in developing
countries and are consequently deprived of any identity, nationality and
social life.
 Threats against Child development:
• 140 million children have remained out of school or out of a basic education, More
than 73 million girls do not attend school., 640 million children lack adequate shelter,
An estimated 30 million children in the world suffer from brain damage due to iodine
deficiency.
 Threats against Child protection:
• 40 million children below the age of 15 suffer from violence and neglect.
• An estimate 1.2 million children are trafficked every year.
• 2 million children are believed to be exploited through prostitution and pornography
worldwide. Research suggests that 20% of women and 5% to 10% of men suffering
sexual abuse as children.
• Globally, 1 in 6 children work
• An estimated 218 million children aged 5-17 are engaged in child labour, excluding
child domestic labour.
• 126 million of these children work in hazardous conditions.
• In developing countries, around 65 million women aged 20-24 were married/in union
before the age of 18.
• Approximately 143 million children are without Parental Care (orphaned by one or
both parents.)
• More than 1 million children worldwide are detained by law enforcement officials.
• Over 300,000 child soldiers are exploited in armed conflicts in over 30 countries
around the world.
• India has the world’s largest number of sexually abused children: 6, 00,000 to
7, and 00,000 children are sexually abused every year.
• A child below 16 is raped every 155th minute, a child below 10 every 13th hour,
and at least one in every 10 children sexually is abused at any point in time.
• 65% of girls in India are married by the age of 18 and become mothers soon
after.
• 21 per cent of boys get married before age 21 years and 28 per cent of girls
get married below age 18 years.
• India is home to the highest number of child laborers in the world: more than 13
million.
• In 2005, 44,476 children were reported missing in India, out of which 11 008
children continued to remain untraced.
• About four million children are in Government run homes established under the
provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children), Act 2000.

For all these issues, systematic data and information are hardly available. The lack
of available services, as well as the gaps persisting in law enforcement, in
rehabilitation schemes, in budgetary allocation for children make necessary to
work in India firstly to collect update and accurate data about all these issues
affecting children in India.
Defining a Protective environment for Children
Providing a safe, open and honest environment
The protection of children can be achieved by providing a safe, open and honest environment
that protects children as well as the people working with children. This includes:
 Creating an aware culture where child protection is a common concern and discussed
openly.
 National and international advocacy and initiating dialogue at all levels, from
government down to communities, families and children themselves
 Adopting child protection policies and practices that minimize the risk of child abuse
 Promptly responding to any complaint, allegation or indication of child abuse.
 Identifying strategies to reduce child vulnerability.
 Addressing and mitigating the impact of economic and social poverty.
 Programmes/Schemes for
Children

ICPS
ICDS
Creche Programme
Scheme for Adolescent Girls
Childline service
BBBP
Others
INTEGRATED CHILD PROTECTION SCHEME
(ICPS)
ICPS : Integrated Child Protection Scheme
General Objective
•Improve the wellbeing of children in difficult circumstances
•Reduce the vulnerabilities to situations and actions that lead to
abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of
children.
Specific Objectives
 To institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures
 To enhance capacities at all levels
 To create database and knowledge base for child protection
services
 To strengthen child protection at family and community level
 To ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels
 To raise public awareness
 TARGET GROUP
 Children in need of care and protection as defined under JJ
Act
 Child in conflict with law– alleged to have committed an
offence
 Child in contact with law – who has come into contact with
the law as a victim, witness or any other circumstance
 Any other vulnerable Child (including but not limited to) – e.g.
 Children of migrant families
 Children living on the streets
 SCs /STs
 Child beggars, exploited/trafficked/ drug-affected children,
 Children of prisoners , sex workers etc.
 Children affected/infected with HIV/AIDS
 Approaches
Prevention
Promotion of Family-based Care
Financing
Integrated service provision - range of services
Continuum of services- a feasible care plan for each
child
Community based service delivery
Decentralization and flexibility to focus on local
needs
Partnership Building and Community Empowerment
Quality care, standards for care and protection
Building Capacities
Monitoring and Evaluation
 Programmes and Schemes BROUGHT UNDER ICPS

 Implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and

Protection) Act, 2000 and Amendment Act 2006.

 An Integrated Programme for Street Children

 Scheme of Assistance to Homes for Children

(Shishu Greh) to Promote In-country Adoption

 Childline Services

 Scheme for Working Children in need of Care &

Protection

 CARA
 SERVICE DELIVERY STRUCTURES

I. CENTRAL LEVEL:
a) Central Project Society (CPS)
b) Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
c) Childline India Foundation- Headquarters

21
 SERVICE DELIVERY STRUCTURES

III. STATE:
a) State Project Support Unit (SPSU)
b) State Child Protection Society (SCPS)
c) State Adoption Resource Authority (SARA)

IV. DISTRICT: District Child Protection Society

(DCPS) in every district
- DCPU: DCPO, Protection officer (Inst.care and
Non-Inst care), Social workers, counselors,
LPO

22
 PROGRAMME COMPONENTS
A. CARE, SUPPORT AND REHABILITATION
SERVICES:
I. Open shelters for children in need in urban and semi
- urban areas (one per district)
II. Family based non-institutional care
III. Adoption
a) Sponsorship and Foster care
b) Cradle baby centres
c) After-care
III. Institutional services; Children home, Shelter Home,
Observation Home, Special Home
IV. Expansion of Childline Services to more than 300
districts
V. General grant-in-aid for need based/ innovative
interventions
PROGRAMME COMPONENTS ..cont’d

B. STATUTORY SUPPORT SERVICES

I. Child Welfare Committees (CWCs)

II. Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs)

C. OTHER ACTIVITIES

III. Human resource development for strengthening

counseling services
IV. Training and capacity building
V. Strengthening the knowledge-base through research and
documentation; and Child Tracking System
VI. Advocacy, public education and communication
VII. Monitoring and evaluation at district, state and central level

24
 What is CHILDLINE
• CHILDLINE is a national, 24- hour, free emergency phone
outreach service for children in need of care and
protection.
• Apart from crisis intervention, CHILDLINE also links
children to long term services.
• Any child / concerned adult can call 1098 free of cost and
avail of the service at any time of the day or night.
• CHILDLINE aims to create a child protection network to
reach out to every child.
• It’s a Project of the Ministry of Women and Child
Development and works in partnership with NGO’s, Govt.
and Corporate Sector etc.
STRUCTURE OF CHILDLINE
Ministry of women & child development

CHILDLINE India Foundation

CITY ADVISORY BOARD (CAB)

Nodal Organization

Collaborative Organization

Support Organization

Resource Organization
28
29
 CARA (Central Adoption Resource
Agency)
CARA

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry

of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is
mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country
adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on
Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003. 

CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered

children through its associated /recognised adoption agencies.
ory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to
monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance
with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003.  
CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its associated /recognised adoption agencies.
Pocso E box
She-Box- online complaint mechanism
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

33
 BACKGROUND
 Women in our society have been subjected to discrimination and
prejudices since a long time.
 The major paradox of our society is that the girl child is denied the
right to be born and survive.
 The problem of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) is not an isolated
phenomenon since it indicates the low status of women and the girl
child.
 Census 2011, reveals the extensive and significant decline in CSR
recording an all-time low of 918 girls for every 1000 boys. 13 out of
35 states and UTs have CSR lower than the national average.
 Skewed CSR reflects:
 Both pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender biased

sex selective elimination

 Post birth discrimination against girls- in form of inadequate

health care, nutrition & education opportunities

 DEFINING THE PROBLEM 35

 Child Sex Ratio (CSR) is measured as number

of girls in age group of (0-6 years) per
thousand boys
 A powerful indicator of Social Response & Attitude
towards Girl Child
 Constantly declining since 1991 (945); From 927 in
2001 to 918 in 2011 (Census ,2011)
 BBBP OBJECTIVES
 OVERALL GOAL: To celebrate the girl child & enable her
education
 The objectives of this initiative are:
 Prevention of gender biased sex selective

elimination by raising awareness and provide

insight into the current situation
 Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child

 Ensuring education and participation of the girl

child
 TARGET AUDIENCE
• Young and newly married
couples, Pregnant and
COMPONENTS
Lactating mothers, Parent in
Primary Laws 100 critical districts selected:
Convergent action in
collaboration with Ministries of
Health and HRD
• Youth, Adolescents (Girls and
Boys),Medical
National Media Campaign:
Doctors/Practitioners, Private
Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Create awareness and change
Secondary mindsets and societal attitudes
Diagnostic Centres
towards daughters

• Officials, PRIs, Frontline Workers,

Women, SHGs/Collectives,
Religious Leaders, Voluntary
Organizations, Media, Medical
Tertiary Associations, Industry
Associations
ONE STOP
CENTRE
Women and Girls are often in
great danger where they should
be safest
‘Home’ where they face terror
and violence at the hand of
somebody close to them
 Objectives
Facilitate immediate access to
(emergency and non-
emergency access) services:
Medical, legal, psychological
and counselling support to
fight against any form of
violence
Provide Integrated
support and assistance to
women affected by
violence in private and
public spaces
(Under one roof)
 Target Group

Support women including girls below 18 years of age

affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class,
religion, region, sexual orientation or marital status

For girls below 18 years of age, Institutions and

authorities established under Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act 2000 and Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 will be linked
with the OSC.
 Location

Ministry of Women and Child Development

(MWCD) will provide support to the State
Government / UT Administration for the
establishment of OSC

In the first phase, one OSC was to be established

in every State/UT.
 Establishment of OSC

At a suitable and adequate accommodation with

carpet area of at least 132 sq.m. , preferably within
a hospital / medical facility

Or

within an existing Government / Semi Government

institution located within 2 km radius of the
hospital/medical facility in the district headquarter
with adequate accommodation will be used for the
purpose.
 Establishment of OSC
If it is not possible, to locate the OSC in the existing
Government/Semi Government accommodation, the
OSC could be constructed (after assessing the non-
availability of existing accommodation) on an
adequate land either within hospital / medical
facility or within 2 km radius of the
hospital/medical facility

 
 One Stop Centre Work Flow
WOMAN AFFECTED BY
VIOLENCE
Self/Anganwadi Helpline

Worker/Community/Outreach/Volunteer Management Committee

(DC,
IT Staff to generate UID SP,CMO,DLSA,DBC,DWO/
SMS to Supervisor,CDPO/SHO/DM, One Stop Center during registration DPO/PO/Panchayat Officer/
SP, DyS Administrator

Ambulance
Medical
Hospital
Police Officer

Police Station
Filing FIR
Lawyer/DLSA

One Stop Centre

Counselor
Counselling Victim’s Residence

One Stop Centre (Temporary)

Shelter
Shelter Homes

Legal Aid & Counselling Empaneled One Stop Centre/Concerned

lawyers/SALSA/DALSA
Court
Empanelled Lawyers, SLSA/DLSA
Video Conferencing IT Staff
Facility Courts, Police Station
 Services
The OSC will facilitate access to :

1. Emergency Response and Rescue Services

For providing rescue and referral services to the women affected
by violence. Linkages will be developed with existing mechanisms
like:

 National Health Mission (NHM)

 108 service,
 Police Van (PCR Van) to rescue WAV from the location and
refer to the nearest medical facility (Public/Private) or shelter
home.
2. Medical Assistance

WAV will be referred to the nearest hospital

for medical aid/examination which would be
undertaken as per the guidelines and
protocols developed by the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.
3. Assistance to Women in lodging FIR/NCR/DIR
The OSC will facilitate the lodging of FIR/NCR/DIR
4. Psycho-Social Support/ Counselling
A skilled counsellor providing psycho-social counselling
services will be available. This will give women confidence
and support to address violence or to seek justice for the
violence perpetuated. Counsellors shall follow a prescribed
code of ethics, guidelines and protocols in providing
counselling services.
5. Legal aid and Counselling
To facilitate access to justice for women affected by
violence, legal aid and counselling would be provided at OSC
through empanelled Lawyers or State /District Legal
Service Authority.
 6. Shelter
•Temporary shelter facility to the aggrieved women.

• For long term shelter requirements, arrangements will be made

with Swadhar Greh/Short Stay Homes. (managed/affiliated with
Government/NGO)

• Women affected by violence along with their children (girls of all

ages and boys up to 8 years of age) can avail temporary shelter at the
OSC for a maximum period of 5 days
 7.Video Conferencing Facility

•To facilitate speedy and hassle free police and

court proceedings. Facility will be provided
through Skype, Google Conferencing etc.

•Torecord her statement for police/courts from

OSC itself using audio-video electronic means
as prescribed under sections 161(3), 164(1)
and 275(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure
and section 231(1) in line with Order XVIII Rule
4 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
 Roles and Responsibilities

Centre Administrator
The Centre Administrator will be a woman, who will be a
residential staff attached to OSC. She will be responsible
for supervision of each case, taking it to a logical
conclusion and later following up with the aggrieved
woman. She will also ensure registration of the case in the
online/web-based case management system to generate
a Unique Identity Number (UID).
Case Worker
Case Workers will work in shifts to provide 24 hours
service at OSC. They will provide assistance to the Centre
Administrator in facilitating services to women accessing
OSC.
 - Roles and Responsibilities
Police Facilitation Officer (PFO)
 The PFO will help the women initiate
appropriate police proceedings against the
perpetrators.

 The PFO would help expedite the process of

lodging of FIR/Complaint or any other
assistance at the police station and in special
cases flag the issue to the Superintendent of
Police and other relevant authorities.
• Para Legal Personnel/Lawyer:
She/he will inform and orient the woman about her
legal rights and help/guide the woman to initiate
legal proceedings against the abuse /violence
suffered, if she is willing to do so.

• ParaMedical Personnel:
She will provide first aid and immediate life-saving
medical assistance to the aggrieved woman until
she reaches the hospital.
Counsellor:
She will provide psychological counselling and
guidance to the woman affected by violence
and support in referral services that may be
deemed appropriate for the women affected
by violence based on her needs.

IT Staff:
The IT Staff would generate the Unique ID of
the women affected by violence through a
web based date management system.
•Multi-Purpose Helper:
She/he would be responsible for
maintaining hygiene and sanitation at OSC.

•Security Guard/Night Guard:

The Security Guard/ Night Guard would be
responsible for the overall security of OSC.
ACCESSING ONE STOP CENTRE
 ACCESSING ONE STOP CENTRE- THE PROCESS

•After complaint is registered a text message (SMS/Internet) would be

sent to the DPO/PO/CDPO/ SHO/ DM/ SP/ DYSP/CMO/PO of the
district/area .

•When an aggrieved woman approaches the OSC for help or if anybody

approaches on her behalf, the case details will be fed in to a system as
per the prescribed format and a Unique ID Number will be generated.

•A web based software for OSC integrated with Women Helpline (181) has
been developed by Aman Satya Kachroo Trust which is operational in
Chhattisgarh.

•This may be adopted by the States/UTs, customized as per the OSC

implementation guidelines and contextualized as per their local
requirements (regional language version of the software).
 PROVISION OF SHELTER UNDER OSC

• The temporary shelter at OSC Women affected by

violence along with their children (girls of all ages and
boys up till 8 years of age) can avail temporary shelter at
OSC for a maximum period of 5 days.

•The admissibility of any woman to the temporary shelter

would be at the discretion of Centre Administrator.

•The women accessing temporary shelter at OSC would

be provided with basic facilities i.e. food, medicine,
clothes etc.

•At any given time, OSC will provide shelter facility to

maximum number of 5 women.
Steps to be taken by State Governments/ UT Administration

Formulation of proposal for OSC:

At the State/UT level the Department of

Women and Child Development will
formulate a proposal for the establishment
of OSC and submit the same to the MWCD
for approval.

The proposal should contain specific

timelines for the establishment,
construction (if required) and functioning of
OSC.
 ICDS

To achieve

Government is implementing several schemes and

programs as direct targeted interventions to address
the problem of malnutrition in the country. All these
schemes address one or other aspects related to
nutrition and have the potential to improve
nutritional outcomes in the country.
 UMBRELLA ICDS
 Currently, the following ongoing schemes have been rationalized by the
Government in financial year 2016-17 and have been brought under
Umbrella ICDS.

 The programme through targeted interventions will strive to reduce the

level of malnutrition, anaemia and low birth weight babies, ensure
empowerment of adolescent girls, provide protection to the children.

 The sub-schemes need to be continued for delivering the child related

services to the intended beneficiaries as its sub-schemes which are given
below
1. Anganwadi Services Scheme
2. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
3. National Creche Scheme
4. Scheme for Adolescent Girls
5. Child Protection Scheme
6. POSHAN Abhiyaan
 Objectives

To improve the nutritional & health status of children (0-6

years).
To lay the foundation for proper physical, psychological and
emotional development of the child.
To reduce incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and
school drop-out.
To achieve effective coordination of policy and implementation
among various departments to promote child development.
To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal
health and nutritional needs of the child, through proper health
and nutrition education.
Energy and protein content of the supplementary food
supplied to different target beneficiary groups is as follows:
 Package of Services under restructured
ICDS

Early Childhood care

Care and Nutrition Community Mobilization,
Education and Health Services
Counseling Awareness, Advocacy & IEC
Development

Early Childhood Care Infant & Young Child

Immunization&
and Education/ Pre Feeding (IYCF) IEC, Campaigns and
Micronutrient
School Non-formal Promotion & Drives etc.
Supplementation
Education Counseling

Supplementary Maternal Care &

Health Check-up
Nutrition Counseling

Care, Nutrition,
Health and Hygiene Referral Services
Education

Community Based Care and

Management of Under
67
Weight Children
NATIONAL CRECHE SCHEME

What is Creche?

 It is a place where the children Are taken care of when there Is

no other care provider at Home
 Place where facilities for Overall development of

Child takes place and

 Safe and Stimulated environ

-ment is provided through Caregiver.

OBJECTIVES
■ To provide day-care facilities for childlren (6 months to 6 years) of
working mothers in the community.
■ To improve nutrition and health status of children.
■ To promote physical, congnitive, social and emotional development
of children.
■ To educate and empower parents/caregivers for better child.
SERVICES
■ The scheme will provide an integrated package of the following
services.
■ Daycare facilities including Sleeping Facilities.
■ Early stimuation for children below 3 years and Pre-School
Education for 3 to 6 years old children.
■ Supplimentary nutrition to be locally sourced.
■ Growth Monitoring.
■ Health Check-up and immunization.
Crèche for whom: The use of crèche facility is
proposed to be extended to children of age
group of 6 months to 6 years of all employees
including temporary, daily wage, consultant
and contractual personnel.
Crèche Location: The centre should be near/at
the work place site or in the beneficiaries’
neighborhood, within 500 metres.
Creche components

Safe

Health stimulation

Creche
components
Love and
Cleanliness
Affection

Nutrition
SCHEME FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS

 Adolescence is a crucial phase in the life of woman. This

stage is intermediary between childhood and womanhood
and it is the most eventful for mental, emotional and
psychological well being.
 The life-cycle approach for holistic child development
remains unaddressed if adolescent girls are excluded from
the developmental programmes aimed at human resource
development.

 The Adolescent Girls (AG) Scheme, implemented by the

Ministry of Women and Child Development under Integrated
Child Development Services (ICDS), primarily aims at
breaking the inter-generational life-cycle of nutritional and
gender disadvantage and providing a supportive
environment for self-development.
OBJECTIVES

The broad objectives of the Scheme are to improve

the nutritional, health and development status of
adolescent girls, promote awareness of health,
hygiene, nutrition and family care, link them to
opportunities for learning life skills, going back to
school, help them gain a better understanding of their
social environment and take initiatives to become
productive members of the society.
SCHEME COMPONENTS
 There are two major components under the Scheme ‐ Nutrition
Component and Non Nutrition Component.
Nutrition Component
 Take Home Ration or Hot Cooked Meal for 11 ‐ 14 years Out of
school girls - Nutrition Provision Rs. 9.50 per day (600 calories; 18‐
20 gram of protein and recommended daily intake of micronutrients
per day).
Non Nutrition Component
 For Out of school Adolescent Girls: (2 – 3 times a week)  of 11 ‐ 14
years
• IFA supplementation

• Health check‐up and Referral services

• Nutrition & Health Education (NHE)

• Counseling / Guidance on family welfare, ARSH, child care practices

• Life Skill Education and accessing public services

TARGET GROUP

 The target group for the scheme covers out of school

adolescent girls (AGs) in the age group of 11 to 14 years.

 Scheme for Adolescent Girls was sanctioned in the year

2010 and is implemented in 205 districts across the
country. Government has approved expansion and
universalisation of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls in a
phased manner i.e. in additional 303 districts in 2017-18
and the remaining districts in 2018-19 with the
simultaneous phasing out of Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY).
Benefits

Under this scheme, The following services are provided:

1.Nutrition provision: Healthy nutrition is supplied to AGs
2.Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation
3.Health check-up and Referral services
4.Nutrition & Health Education (NHE)
5.Counseling/Guidance on family welfare, ARSH, child care
practices and home management
6.Life Skill Education and accessing public services
7.Vocational training for girls aged 16 and above under National
Skill Development Program (NSDP)
OTHER MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENT
PROGRAMMES
 Mid Day Meal Scheme
 With a view to enhancing enrollment, retention
and attendance and simultaneously improving
nutritional levels among children
 Centrally Sponsored Scheme

77
78
 INDRADANUSH
 To achieve full immunization coverage for all children in the
country by 2020.
 Diseases to be covered

 The plan aims at providing immunization for seven diseases which

can be prevented by vaccination:
 Whooping cough, Tetanus,Hepatitis B Tuberculosis, Diphtheria,
Polio & Measles

79
MISSION
 Indradhanush covers seven diseases like
Indradhanush or Rainbow has seven colours. The
programme will provide vaccination to children who
are either not vaccinated at all or partially vaccinated
against these seven diseases. These diseases are
dangerous and affect the lives of many children but
can be prevented by vaccination.

80
Overview of
POSHAN Abhiyaan is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child
Development (MWCD), Government of India, which ensures convergence with
various programmes –
Anganwadi Services Scheme (ASS)
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) of MWCD
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
National Health Mission (NHM)
Swachh Bharat Mission
Public Distribution System (Department Food & Public Distribution)
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation
POSHAN Abhiyaan focuses to lay emphasis on the first 1000 days of
the child, which includes -
The nine months of pregnancy + six months of exclusive breastfeeding
+ period from 6 months to 2 years to ensure focused interventions on
addressing undernutrition.
Besides increasing the birth weight, it will help reduce both Infant
Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
Additional one year of sustained intervention (till the age of 3 years)
would ensure that the gains of the first 1000 days are consolidated.
Attention is also given on children in the age group of 3-6 years for
their overall development through the platform of the Anganwadi
Services.
POSHAN Abhiyaan envisages establishing a system
wherein –
programme functionaries will become more effective
by learning to plan and execute each task correctly
and consistently through methodical, ongoing capacity
building, called ‘Incremental Learning Approach (ILA)’.
Such a system will use opportunities in the form of
existing supervisory interactions at different levels,
through which practical and guided learning may be
accomplished.
 Components
Convergence (CAP)

Grievance Redressal
ICDS- CAS
(Call Centre)

Training & Capacity Building Behavioural Change

CBE, IEC Advocacy, Jan
(ILA)
Andolan

Innovations Incentives
National Nutrition Mission
 Converge to
Transform
NITI Aayog

Converge at Consumer
Health &
Affair, Food
National Family
& Public
Welfare
Distribution Dept. of
State Panchayati
Women & School
Child Education &
Raj
District Development Literacy ,
HRD
Rural
Block Development
Tribal
Affairs
Village Drinking Information
Urban &
Water &
Development Broadcasting
Sanitation
 POLICIES FOR CHILDREN
1. National Policy on Education in 1968/1992
An emphasis on quality improvement and a
planned, more equitable expansion of
educational facilities and the need to focus on
the education of girls was stressed.
Child Protection Policy
The current policy draws upon the safeguards provided under the
Constitutions of India, various child-centric legislation, international
treaties as well as other existing policies for the protection and
wellbeing of children. It aims at providing a safe and conducive
environment for all children through the prevention and response to
child abuse, exploitation and neglect. It provides a framework for all
institution, and organization (including corporate and media houses),
government or private sector to understand their responsibilities in
relation to safeguarding/ protecting children and promoting the
welfare of children; individually and collectively.
Vision: All children in India stay safe and feel secure in all settings
and circumstances
Guidelines for Organization, Institutions and
Establishments (including Media)
The child Protection Policy is applicable to
Institutions/Organizations.
All institutions and organizations should develop a child
protection policy and code of conduct for employees in line with
the national guidelines and various legislations for protection
and welfare of children and display it appropriately
All employees/ contractual workers must sign the declaration
for child protection and agree to abide by it (draft declaration at
Annexure 1). o It should be based on the premise of Zero
tolerance of child abuse and exploitation.
The code of conduct for employees/contractual workers must
lay down thatthey should always treat children with empathy
and respect, regardless of race, color, gender, sexuality,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or
social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
o Always listen to children and respect their views.
o The code of conduct must lay down that staff members must
never:
o Use language or behavior towards children that is
inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative,
demeaning or culturally inappropriate.
o Develop or induce or support in any way physical/sexual
relationships with children.
o Develop any form of relationship or arrangement with
children which could in any way be deemed to be exploitative
or abusive
Place a child at risk of abuse or exploitation, or be aware of these and not
report it or not do anything about it.
o All organization and institution should designate responsibility to a
specific member/members of staff for ensuring that procedures and
arrangements are in place within the organisation to protect children and
report any abuse, exploitation or neglect; in line with the guidelines and
existing laws.
o The CHILDLINE 1098 and contact details of designated officer for child
protection must be displayed
Organize orientation programmes on child protection and various
legislations related to it and make it mandatory for all employees at all
levels (including contractual workers). o
Ensure any individual in the organization/institution who abuses or
exploits children or violates any section of this policy should be
appropriately punished as per law (Refer to Annexure 2) appropriately
Any individual who suspects physical, sexual or emotional abuse including online
abuse of children, circulation of child sexual abuse materials, child marriage, child
labour, child trafficking, maltreatment of children, discrimination against child on the
account of gender, caste, religion, language, disability or any other; abandonment or
neglect of a child; must report the incidence to CHILDLINE 1098, police or Child
Welfare Committee. Identity of the informant is protected will not be made public.
o In cases of emergency, where a child appears to be at immediate and serious risk;
provide accurate information about child’s location, details of the circumstances and
other information to help in the process of rescue. In case the child requires
immediate medical attention before appropriate authorities arrive, help the child in the
best possible but update CHILDLINE 1098 and police regarding the situation and
whereabouts of the child.
Always wait for the appropriate authority (CHILDLINE 1098 , police or Child Welfare
Committee members) for taking action or act on their advice and guidance.
o Professionals who provide services to children (teachers, counsellors, doctors/
other health workers and others) must follow child protection policy for reporting and
taking action if they become concerned about a child’s safety and welfare.
oBe aware of the care and support services for children like
CHILDLINE 1098, Special Juvenile Police Unit, Child Welfare
Committees, child care institutions, one-stop centres, drug
rehabilitation cenres, hospital, mental health care providers
and other such services for children.
o Corporate houses and industries must establish and
strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that
industry/subsidiaries are not using child labour in any form.
o Institutions and organizations working directly with children
must ensure stringent background check (including police
verification) of all employees - regular or contractual;
volunteers and others who may come in contact with children.
Institutions and organizations working directly with children must train all
employees on child rights, provisions of POCSO Act, 2012; JJ Act 2015 and
other legislations for children and ensure that corporal punishment, bullying
and any other form of abuse is prevented. All employees should be familiar
with signs and behaviours that may be indicative of child abuse/exploitation
or neglect.
o Medical establishments (hospital and clinics),doctors and health workers
cannot refuse treatment or discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual
orientation, disability, caste, religion, tribe, language, marital status,
occupation, political belief, or other status.
Refusal of medical care to survivors/victims of sexual violence and acid
attack amounts to an offence under Section 166B of the Indian Penal Code
read with Section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
o Institutions and organizations working directly with children must develop
age-appropriate modules and materials for orientating children on child
abuse, online safety and services available for them
Organizations who undertake research and collect data on children,
directly from children or indirectly from parents/community must ensure
that children are not harmed or traumatized in any way during the
process. All research staff must be trained on ethical practices and child
friendly procedures.
o Crèches/ mobile crèches for employee’s children including those on
daily wages/contractual basis if the number of employees is fifty or above;
otherwise appropriate space and facility for baby care to be provided for
mothers with infants.
o Child friendly zones must be developed in all places for public dealing.
o Safe spaces for mothers to keep their infants.
2. National Child Labour Policy,1987
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has been implementing the
national policy through the establishment of National Child Labour
Projects (NCLPs) for the rehabilitation of child workers since 1988.
Initially, these projects were industry specific and aimed at
rehabilitating children working in traditional child labour endemic
industries. A renewed commitment to fulfil the constitutional mandate
resulted in enlarging the ambit of the NCLPs in 1994 to rehabilitate
children working in hazardous occupations in child labour endemic
districts.
The strategy for the NCLPs includes the establishment of special
schools to provide non-formal education and pre-vocational skills
training; promoting additional income and employment generation
opportunities; raising public awareness, and conducting surveys and
evaluations of child labour.
3. National Nutrition Policy, 1993
It advocated a multi-sectoral strategy for eradicating
malnutrition and achieving optimum nutrition for all.
The policy advocates the monitoring the nutrition
levels across the country and sensitising government
machinery on the need for good nutrition and
prevention of malnutrition. The National Nutrition
Policy also includes the Food and Nutrition Board,
which develops posters, audio jingles and video spots
for disseminating correct facts about breastfeeding
and complementary feeding.
4. National Health Policy, 2002
Eradicate Polio , eliminate Leprosy, achieve zero
level growth of HIV/AIDS, reduce mortality on
account of TB, malaria and water-borne diseases
by 50 per cent, reduce prevalence of blindness to
0.5 per cent, reduce IMR to 30/1000 and MMR to
100/100,000 live births, increase utilisation of
public health facilities from the current level of <20
per cent to >75 per cent
5. The National Policy for Children, 2013
the National Policy for Children to help in the implementation of
programmes and schemes for children all over the country. The
policy gives utmost priority to right to life, health and nutrition
and also gives importance to development, education,
protection and participation.
The Constitution of India guarantees Fundamental Rights to all
children in the country and empowers the State to make
special provisions for children. To affirm the Government’s
commitment to the rights based approach in addressing the
continuing and emerging challenges in the situation of children,
the Government of India has hereby adopted this Resolution on
the National Policy for Children, 2013.
Through this policy the State is committed to take
affirmative measures – legislative, policy or
otherwise – to promote and safeguard the right of all
children to live and grow with equity, dignity, security
and freedom, to ensure that all children have equal
opportunities; and that no custom, tradition, cultural
or religious practice is allowed to violate or restrict or
prevent children from enjoying their rights.
 Key priorities in the Policy

Survival, health and nutrition

Education and development
Protection
Participation
Advocacy and partnerships
Coordination, action and monitoring
Research, Documentation and Capacity Building
Resource Allocation
A comprehensive review of this Policy will be taken up once
in five years in consultation with all stakeholders, including
children. The Ministry of Women and Child Development will
lead the review process.
 6.National Charter for Children, 2003
National Charter for Children emphasizes Government of
India's commitment to children's rights to survival, health and
nutrition, standard of living, play and leisure, early childhood
care, education, protection of the girl child, empowering
adolescents, equality, life and liberty, name and nationality,
freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful
assembly, the right to a family and the right to be protected
from economic exploitation and all forms of abuse.
7.National Plan of Action for Children, 2005
National Plan of Action for Children includes
goals, objectives, strategies and activities for
improving the nutritional status of children,
reducing Infant Mortality Rate, increasing
enrolment ratio, reducing drop out rates,
universalisation of primary education and
increasing coverage for immunization.
8. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR) was set up as a statutory body under Ministry of
Women and Child Development in 2007 under the Commission
for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Act 2005 to protect,
promote and defend child rights in the country.
The prime objectives of the Commission is to review the
safeguards provided for protection of child rights and
recommends measures for effective implementation, spread
child literacy, enquire into violation of child rights, look into the
matters relating to distressed, marginalised and disadvantaged
children without family, children of prisoners, inspect juvenile
home and recommend appropriate measures.
The Commission undertakes periodic review of existing laws,
policies and programmes on child rights and makes
recommendations for their effective implementation in the best
interest of the children.
9. National Early Childhood Care & Education
(ECCE) Policy, 2013

10. National Mental Health Policy, 2014

National ECCE Strategies

National ECCE
Policy
Medium of duties
care responsibilities
ECCE=
ICD
National ECE
Quality Standards
Curriculum
for ECCE
Framework
National ECCE
Capacity Building
Council
M& E
1. An ECCE programme of 4 hours duration
2. One classroom measuring atleast 35 square meters for a group of 30 children and
availability of adequate (atleast 30 square meters) outdoor pace for a group of 30
children
3.  Adequately trained staff
4.  Age and developmentally appropriate, child centric curriculum transacted in the
mother tongue /local vernacular
5. Adequate developmentally appropriate toys and learning materials
6. A safe building which is within easy approach. It should be clean and should have
surrounding green area
7. Adequate and safe drinking water facilities
8. Adequate and separate child-friendly toilets and hand wash facilities for girls and
boys
9. Separate space allocated for cooking nutritionally balanced meals and nap time
for children
10.Immediate health service in terms of First Aid/ Medical Kit available at the centre
11.The adult/ caregiver: child ratio of 1:20 for 3-6 year old children and 1:10 for
under 3s should be available at the ECCE Centre. Children should not be
unattended at any given point of time
National Mental Health Policy, 2014
Access of mental health services
To reduce prevalence and impact of risk factors
associated with mental health problems.
to reduce stigma associated with mental health
problems.
To enhance availability of skilled human resources
for mental health.
Impart intervention services.
 To Achieve the set goals and strategies
1.Develop Human Resources for Child Protection – focusing on mid-
level cadres:

•Facilitate development of a framework for Child Protection social

workforce development
•Develop core trainer groups in states
•Develop standardized training modules

2. improve quality of Child Protection Services

• Set standards for services through Standard Operating Procedures,
guidelines, pilot models of functional structures like Special Juvenile Police
Units (SJPUs), Special Courts etc.
• Enhance monitoring and supervision of ICPS, JJA and Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) through the judiciary and Commissions
for Protection of Child Rights
• Strengthen medical sector’s capacity to respond to violence against children
3. Community-based protection mechanisms
• Support formation and strengthening of community based
structures from village, block and district level
• Support the synergy of structures with other community
structures like Panchayati Raj Institutions, School Management
Committees etc.
• Build referral linkages with child protection services
• Develop safe communities model in two cities
• Strengthen data systems for Child Protection
• Create prototype and roll out on ICPS scorecard to advocate for
greater investment in the quality of Child Protection
Management Information Systems (CPMIS)
• Generate, analyze and use data to advocate for policies and
programmes to strengthen child protection systems
 Existing gaps
General Gaps
Inadequate implementation of laws and legislations
Mechanisms and structures prescribed by legislations not in place to enable effective
implementation;
No mapping has been done of the children in need of care and protection or of the services
available for them at the district/city/state level;
A large percentage of children in need of care and protection are outside the safety net and
have no support and access to services;
Existing Schemes are inadequate in outreach and funding, resulting in marginal coverage
of destitute children and children in difficult circumstances;
Allotment of negligible resources to child protection and uneven geographical spread in
utilization of allotted resources;
Overbearing focus on institutional services with non-institutional services being negligent;

Lack of coordination and convergence of programmes/ services;

Inter-state and Intra-state transfer of children especially for restoration to their families have
not been provided for in the existing schemes.
Lack of professionally trained manpower for providing child protection services in the
country, especially counseling services
Lack of lateral linkages with essential services for children for example education, health,
police, judiciary, services for the disabled, etc.
 
 Specific Gaps

Lack of institutional infrastructure to deal with child protection;

Inadequate number of Child Welfare Committees (CWC) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB);
The CWCs and JJBs are not provided with requisite facilities for their efficient functioning,
resulting in delayed enquiries and disposal of cases;
Lack of standards of care (accommodation, sanitation, leisure, food, etc.) in
children/observation homes due to low funding norms and also due to lack of supervision
and commitment;
Inadequate training of personnel working under the juvenile justice system and on other
child protection programmes which is also inequitable among States;
Weak supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the juvenile justice system;
Many of the street children projects do not provide all the basic facilities required, especially
availability of 24 hour shelter, food and mainstream education;
Not all street children projects are dealing with substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and other
sexual abuse related vulnerabilities of children;
None of the schemes addresses the needs of child beggars;
Minimal use of non-institutional care options like adoption, foster care and sponsorship, for
children without family/parental care;
Number of Shishu Grehas for orphans are inadequate;
Lack of rehabilitation services for older children not adopted through the regular
adoption process;
After-care and rehabilitation programme is not available in all the States, and even
in those States where it is available it is being run as any other institutional care
facilities under the JJ Act 2000;
Issues like child marriage, female feticide, street children, working children, and
discrimination against the girl child are inadequately addressed;
No interventions for children affected by HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, identity –
based discrimination, militancy, disaster (both man-made and natural), abused and
exploited children, and children of vulnerable groups like commercial sex workers,
prisoners, and migrant population.
Inadequate attention to preventive measures with major focus of government
programmes being on addressing the problem after it occurs.
There is also a large gaps in data, both in quantitative and qualitative on the range
and nature of protection issues like abuse, violence, conflict , displacement, to
name a few.
Principles to keep in mind while developing the interventions
The implementation strategies and specific interventions will be finalized keeping in mind the best interest of
the child and the philosophy of building child-friendly protection services. The following key principles will be
kept in mind:

1. Child protection a shared responsibility: The responsibility for child protection

is a shared responsibility of government, family, community, professionals, and
civil society. It is important that each role is articulated clearly and understood
by all engaged in the effort to protect children. Government has an obligation to
ensure a range of services at all levels.
2. Reducing child vulnerability: There is a need for a focus on systematic
preventive measures not just programmes and schemes to address protection
failures at various levels. A strong element of prevention will be integrated into
programmes, converging the provisions and services of various sectors on the
vulnerable families, like livelihood support( NREGS), SHGs, PDS, health, child day
care, education, to strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child neglect
, abuse and vulnerability.
3.Strengthen family: Children are best cared for in their own families
and have a right to family care and parenting by both parents.
Therefore a major thrust will be to strengthen the family capabilities to
care for and protect the child by capacity building, family counseling
and support services and linking to development and community
support services.
4. Promote non-institutional care: There is a need to shift the focus of
interventions from an over reliance on institutionalization of children
and move towards more family and community –based alternatives for
care. Institutionalization should be used as a measure of last resort
after all other options have been explored.
5. Inter-sectoral linkages and responsibilities: Child protection needs
dedicated sectoral focus as well as strengthening protection awareness
and protection response from other sectors outside the traditional
protection sector including in emergencies and HIV/AIDS programming.
 Create a network of services at community level: An appropriate
6.
network of essential protection services is required at all levels for
supporting children and communities.
7. Establishing standards for care and protection: All protection
services should have prescribed standards for key actions and should
be monitored regularly. Institutionalization should be for the shortest
period of time with strict criteria being established for residential
placement and all cases of institutionalization reviewed periodically.
8. Building capacities: Protection services require skilled, sensitive
staff, equipped with knowledge of child rights and standards of care
and protection. Capacities of all those in contact with children require
strengthening on a continuing basis, including families and
communities.
9. Providing child protection professional services at all levels: There
is a need for varied special services for the many situations of child
neglect, exploitation and abuse, including for shelter, care,
psychological recovery, social reintegration, legal services etc. which
have to be professional and child-focused.
10. Strengthening crisis management system at all levels: First
response and coordinated inter-sectoral actions for responding to
crisis need to be established and institutionalized.
11. Reintegration with family and community: systems are to be put
in place for efforts to reintegrate children with their families and
community and regular review of efforts instituted.
12.Addressing protection of children in urban poverty: Children in
urban poverty are at high risk/ increased vulnerability; constantly
under threat of eviction; denial or exclusion from basic services;
social turmoil; and the stretched capacity of the adults to function as
adequate caretakers due to their poverty. This indicates the need for
developing a strong social support and service system.
13. Child impact monitoring: all policies, initiatives and services will
be monitored for their child impact and reports made public,
including for children themselves through child friendly reports.
 Mechanism
Constitution of India
National /State Commission for Child Rights and Rights
Legislations
Policies and programmes
Social Welfare Department/Mahilakalyan Department
Stake Holders
 Mechanism ……
State Child Protection Society
District Child Protection Society
CARA/SARA
Human Rights Commission
Juvenile Justice Board
Child Welfare Committee
Special Juvenile Police Unit
NGO’s