Registration Of Child Care Institutions Essential To Monitor Standards Of Care In India

During the year 2013-14, a total of 3924 children were placed in In-country adoption out of which 2293 were females and 1631 were males. A total of 3988 children were placed in In-country adoption out of which 2300 females and 1688 were males in 2014-15. During April 2015 to June 2015, the number of children placed in In-country adoption were 816 out of which 518 were females and 298 were males. In Inter-country adoption, 422 children were placed for adoption in 2013-14 out of which 294 were females and 118 were males. In 2014-15, a total of 374 children were placed in Inter-country adoption out of which 255 females and 119 were males. During April 2015 to June 2015, the number of children placed in Inter-country adoption were 95 out of which 66 were females and 29 were males.

There are 1521 Children's Homes and 320 Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs) in the country which are being funded under the centrally sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has reported that it has registered 74 complaints of misbehavior/abuse, ill-treatment and exploitation of children in the Child Care Institutions including Children Homes and Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs) during the last three years and the current year.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and Central Model Rules framed thereunder provides for monitoring, inspection, standards of care and measures that may be taken by the State Government/UT Administration to address any reported instance of ill treatment. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been urging the State Governments/UT Administrations from time to time to identify and register all child care institutions, so as to ensure that standards of care can be monitored. In response to complaints received at national level, NCPCR makes recommendations to the State Governments/UT Administrations for taking appropriate action.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a starred question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source-Medindia