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New Delhi : The exercise of conducting social audit of Child Care Institutions has been initiated by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). This is in pursuance of the directions of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Exploitation of Children in Orphanages in State of Tamil Nadu vs. UOI & Ors.
The Government has enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015,. replacing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, to further improve and strengthen the condition of rehabilitation homes. The primary responsibility in execution of the JJ Act lies with the State Governments.
Under the JJ Act, 2015 several provisions have been included to improve the condition of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) including those housing children in conflict with law by providing for inspections of these CCIs by Juvenile Justice Board, prescribing various rehabilitation and reintegration services including skill development, recreational facilities, mental health interventions, etc.
Under Section 41 of the Act, registration of institutions including Homes for children in conflict with law has been made mandatory with penalty in case of non-compliance. Under Section 54, the State Governments are required to appoint Inspection Committees for the State and district for mandatory inspection of all facilities housing children, at least once in three months.
Maintenance grant for children in rehabilitation homes has been enhanced to Rs 2,160 per child per month with effect from November 16, 2017. Maintenance grant was increased from Rs 750 to Rs 2,000 per child per month when financial norms were revised under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) with effect from April 1, 2014. This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on March 15, according to a PIB release.