Status of Implementation and Functioning of ICPS & Child Protection

Status of Implementation and Functioning of ICPS & Child
Protection Mechanisms in Kerala
JITHIN.T
Student Social worker
Department Of Social Work
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Kollam Kerala
India
Abstract
Child Protection is about protecting children from or against any real danger to their life and
childhood. It is about reducing their vulnerability to any kind of harm and in harmful
situations. As a developing country like India Child protection gains its importance because
of the largest population of children in the world. For full filling the effective child protection
needs, the country launched the umbrella programme Integrated Child Protection Scheme
(ICPS) in 2009, clubbing with different child protection programmes and mechanisms also
ensuring the service of community, Non-government organizations and individuals who
working in the field of Child Protection.
This paper studies about the current status and implementation of ICPS in Kerala state. The
Paper also critically discussing about the functioning of child protection mechanisms and
major child right issues in Kerala.
Key Words: Child Rights and Protection, Protection Scheme, ICPS, child protection
mechanisms
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INTRODUCTION
This, we are told, is the century of the child. More than ever before, the world is
child-oriented. Our children need better Care, schools, better health care, and better homes
and Protection. The total world population of the children is around 6.916 billion. India’s
total population is 1.2 billion, of whom 45% are children. Every year, an estimated 26 million
children are born in India. With more than a third of its population below the age of 18, all
this makes India becomes largest child population in the world.
Children’s the citizens of Future as well as today, thus state cannot deny their rights today,
but children’s are more vulnerable due to their age as well as other adverse socio economic
circumstances. In India a large level of children’s faces difficult conditions and they need
immediate care and protection. Children are the most vulnerable section of a society. And the
primary responsibility of the care and protection is vested in the hands of the state rather than
the family. Child rights are meaningless unless government provides remedies when they are
violated. When viewing within a right based framework, the challenge before every system or
community is ensuring the child right to survival, protection, development and participation
without delay. Right based approach allows the state to step in and serve as a guardian for
children. Child protection involves intervention programmes, policies and legislations to
prevent the neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children. The current Policies and
schemes in the area of child protection is indicating the duty of the State as a primary duty
bearer and the development of a preventive, community oriented and family based approach
towards child protection. The ineffective performance of the Government as a primary duty
bearer, it creates various kind of Child right issues across the country, as a coping mechanism
for the better service, Government of India established the ICPS scheme.
Child protection is a global concern after the ratification of the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child. And in 1992 India signed the document and it helps to hike the
relevance of child protection in India. As per the UNCRC a child is below the age of 18
years. One third of the Indian population involving person below the age of 18 years and
among this 45% of them are facing different kind of difficulties related to their protection.
While considering all this need and importance In 2009 Government of India launch a new
programme called “Integrated Child Protection Scheme - ICPS”.
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Children’s in India- Ground realities

India has the largest young population in the world. Around 42 crore children’s are
living in India.

Only 35% of births are registered, impacting name and nationality.

One out of 16 children die before they attain the age of 1, and one out of 11 die before
they are 5 years old.

35% of the developing world’s low-birth-weight babies are born in India.

40% of child malnutrition in the developing world is in India.

The declining number of girls in the 0-6 age-group is cause for alarm. For every 1,000
boys there are only 927 females -- even less in some places.

Of every 100 children who enroll, 70 drop out by the time they reach the secondary
level.

Of every 100 children who drop out of school, 66 are girls.

65% of girls in India are married by the age of 18 and become mothers soon after.

India has the world’s largest number of sexually abused children, with a child below
16 raped every 155th minute, a child below 10 every 13th hour, and at least one in
every 10 children sexually abused at any point in time.

Total of 46% children from ST and 38% SC out of school.
Children’s in Kerala

Incidence and rate of Juvenile Delinquency is increasing from 22740 to 25125 from
the year 2010 to 2011. Among this 57% belonged to the poor families whose annual
income was up to Rs. 25,000.

Till 2013 around 44400 more children’s are brought before the Cwc’s and JJB’s in
Kerala. 90% of them are from the economically weaker sections of the families such
as SC/ST, Adivasi, Costal communities.

The status of Tribal children in Kerala around 30179. Among this 75 % of tribal
children are lagging Primary education

The status of children living in Costal Areas of Kerala is around 60393.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme – ICPS
ICPS is an umbrella programme mainly clubbed several child protection schemes under one
single scheme. It mainly focused on government, civil-society, and NGO partnership on child
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protection. The Integrated Child Protection scheme was introduced in 2009-10 by the UPA
government with the aim to improve the wellbeing of children in difficult circumstances, as
Reference: Report: “Children in India- A Statistic Appraisal 2012” -GOI
A Case study on the School dropout Scheduled Tribal students of Wayanad District, Kerala Jobin Joy
An Over View of Kerala Fisheries - with Particular Emphasis on Aquaculture
well as to the reduce vulnerability situations and abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment
and separation of children from their families and
trafficking. This scheme is being
implemented from the financial year 2009-10 through the State Governments/ Union
Territory Administrations.
In 2006 the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) proposed the adoption of
the Integrated Child Protection Scheme. In 2009 the central government gave the scheme its
approval and has begun the extensive task of providing children with a protection and safe
environment to develop and flourish. GOI has proposed to combine its existing different child
protection schemes under one integrated scheme. It aims to provide for care and protection of
all the children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection.
ICPS proposes to involve steps to:
 Strengthen families and prevent them from breakup and children becoming
homeless and without care and protection.
 Provide support to children already outside the mainstream, beginning from
emergency outreach services to final rehabilitation with their families/ society.
History of Child Protection in India: An overview
India as a developing country is known to 1.2 billion people, which make the second most
populous country in the world. As per the recent census, 50% of the current population is
between the ages of 0-25. Every year an estimate of 26 million children are born in India.
India has made significant commitments towards ensuring child rights and child protection.
There have been positive indicators in Infant mortality rates are decreasing, child survival has
improved, literacy rates are improved, School dropout rates are fallen etc.
But the issues of child right violations are prevalent in India. Child protection issues like
Child abuse, domestic violence, child trafficking, sexual harassments and abuse, etc are
reported throughout the country alarmingly. The crime against children’s also increasing.
Most of the cases, proper intervention is not possible due to the lack of political reasons and
ineffective Legal mechanisms.
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The child rights and welfare concerns have been addressed in a number of International
Conventions, Standards and Declarations, including the UN Convention of the Rights of the
Child (UNCRC) 1989.
India has adopted a number of laws and formulated a range of policies to ensure children’s
protection and improvement in their situation. The Constitution of India recognizes the
vulnerable position of children and their right to protection.
For ensuring the child rights and welfare the government of India Passed different laws like
Guardian and Wards Act 1890, Factories Act 1948, Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act
1956, Probation of Offenders Act 1958, Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 1959,
Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes Act 1960, National Policy for Children 1974,
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976, Child Marriage and Restraint Act 1979,
Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1986, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986,
National Policy on Education 1986, Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act 1987, National Policy on Child Labour 1987, Infant Milk
Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and
Distribution) Act 1992, National Nutrition Policy 1993, Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994, Persons with Disabilities (Equal Protection
of Rights and Full Participation) Act 2000, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Act 2000, National Health Policy 2002, National Charter for Children 2004, National Plan of
Action for Children 2005 ,Commissions for Protection of the Rights of the Child
2005.Protection of childrens from Sexual offenses Act 2012.
Several constitutional provisions protect children in India, among them:

Article 15 affirms the right of the State to make special provision for women and
children.

Article 24 provides that no child below the age of 14 shall be employed to work in
any hazardous employment.

Article 39 (e) of the Directive Principles of State Policy provides that children of
tender age should not be abused and that they should not be forced by economic
necessity to enter vocations unsuited to their age or strength.

Article 39 (f) requires children to be given opportunities and facilities to develop in a
healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity, and that childhood and
youth be protected against exploitation and moral and material abandonment.
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
Article 45 of the Directive Principles of State Policy provides for free and compulsory
education for all children until they complete the age of 14.
Existing Central child protection programmes in India under ICPS
The existing institutions and programmes for child protection in India primarily starts from
the provisions under the National Policy for Children, 1974 Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act, 2000, National Charter for Children, 2003 and National Plan of
Action for Children 2005. These comprise several programmes and schemes implemented by
different ministries and departments among which are:
i.
A Programme for Juvenile Justice for children in need of care and protection and
children in conflict with law. The Government of India provides financial assistance
to the State Governments/UT Administrations for establishment and maintenance of
various homes, salary of staff, food, clothing, etc. for children in need of care and
protection and juveniles in conflict with law. Financial assistance is based on
proposals submitted by States on a 50:50 cost sharing basis.
ii.
An Integrated Programme for Street Children without homes and family ties. Under
the scheme NGOs are supported to run 24 hours shelters and provide food, clothing,
shelter, non-formal education, recreation, counselling, guidance and referral services
for children. The other components of the scheme include enrolment in schools,
vocational training, occupational placement, mobilizing preventive health services
and reducing the incidents of drug and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, etc.
iii.
CHILDLINE Service for children in distress, especially children in need of care and
protection so as to rescue them from abuse, provide shelter to them, medical services,
counselling, repatriation and rehabilitation.
iv.
Scheme for Assistance to Homes for Children (Shishu Greha) to Promote In-Country
Adoption for care and protection of orphans/abandoned/destitute infants or children
up to 6 years and promote their in-country adoption.
v.
Scheme for Working Children in Need of Care and Protection for children kept as
domestic child labour, working at roadside dhabas, mechanic shops, etc. The scheme
provides
for
bridge
education
and
vocational
training,
medicine,
food,
recreation/sports equipments, etc.
vi.
Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers in the
age group of 0-6 years. The scheme provides for comprehensive day-care services
including facilities like food, shelter, medical, recreation, etc.
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vii.
Pilot Project to Combat the Trafficking of women and Children for Commercial
Sexual Exploitation in source and destination areas for providing care and protection
to trafficked and sexually abused women and children.
Child Protection in Kerala: An overview
Kerala is one of the most leading developing state in India, having higher positive indicators
in child protection comparing to other Indian states. As in most social sector indicators,
Kerala tops the national child rights index, followed by Karnataka. Kerala's child marriage
indicator is the lowest, and the State's performance is far from satisfactory in early childhood
care and crimes against children’s in Kerala, which ranks first in the national child rights,
stands ninth in its Gross Domestic Product.*
Reference: * http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-tops-child-rights-index/article2612302.ece
In Kerala the child protection programmes and services are co-ordinate through Social Justice
Department of the Government of Kerala. The children’s homes and observation homes were
established before 1980.The homes existed even before the establishment of the social
welfare department. After the formation of the Social justice department homes were brought
under its control. ICPS established with an objective to provide a protective environment for
overall development of children. Failure to protect children has serious consequences for the
physical, mental, emotional and social development of the child, resulting in a loss of
productivity, quality of human capital, values and the social wellbeing of society.
The ICPS focuses its activities on children in need of care and protection. I e Homeless or
abandoned, mentally, physically or terminally ill;, abused or exploited, have no means of
subsistence, victims of armed or civil conflict, staying with parents / guardians who are unfit
–physically, mentally and economically - to look after them,
and are in vulnerable
circumstances.
Children in Conflict with Law are those who have allegedly committed an offence. Children
in contact with Law are those who have come in contact with law either as a victim or as a
witness or due to any other circumstance. The ICPS provide preventive, statutory care and
rehabilitation services to vulnerable children including those from potentially vulnerable
families and families at risk, children of socially excluded groups like migrant families,
families living in extreme poverty, SCs, ST & OBCs families subjected to or affected by
discrimination, minorities, children infected and / or affected by HIV/AIDS, orphans, child
drug abusers, children of substance abusers, child beggars, trafficked or sexually exploited
children, children of prisoners street & working children.
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The services of ICPS are being delivered through the established functioning structure
mandated by the Juvenile Justice act 2006, at all government level and statutory structure
such as;
• State Child Protection Society (SCPS)
• District. Child Protection Units (DCPU)
• Child welfare Committees (CWC)
• Juvenile justice Board (JJB)
• Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU)
For effective implementation of ICPS Scheme, the programme aims to connecting the
services Govt. & Non – Govt. and private sector organizations, expert institutions & expert
individuals who working in the field of child protection, by providing institutional and non –
institutional protection services for children.
For the effective implementation of ICPS scheme at district level Dist. Child Protection
Societies are formulated in each District headed by District Collector. For implementation of
the scheme, recruitment at State level structures is completed and all District Level structures
are completed.
Child Protection Programmes of Kerala Government under ICPS
I.

Institutional services provided by the Government of Kerala under ICPS
Children’s Homes
A large number of children in need of care and protection who enter the
juvenile justice system through the Child Welfare Committees are in need of
residential care and protection during the pendency of any inquiry or for their longterm care, treatment, education, training, development and rehabilitation. Children’s
homes are established for taking care of these children’s. Currently in Kerala Social
Welfare Department maintains 8 Children’s Homes to safeguard the rights of children
in need of care and protection.

Observation
Children in conflict with law who enter the juvenile justice system through the
Juvenile Justice Boards are admitted in the observation Homes as per the guidelines
of JJ Act 2000. The Act empowers the State Governments to establish and maintain
either by itself or under an agreement with voluntary organizations, observation
homes in every district or group of districts for their temporary reception. In order to
facilitate and expedite setting up of Observation Homes in every district or group of
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districts, the scheme shall provide financial support to the State Governments and
Union Territory Administrations. Currently Government of Kerala established
Observation homes and JJB’s in all the 14 districts.

Special Homes
Children in conflict with the law committed by the Juvenile Justice Boards
(JJBs) for long term rehabilitation and protection require institutional services. The
State Governments are empowered to establish and maintain either by itself or under
an agreement with voluntary organizations, currently 2 special Homes are established
in kerala, in Trivandrum and Kozhikode.

Special Home for Children
This is meant for the rehabilitation of children who have involved in
crime and when the case is disposed by the Juvenile Justice Board and there is no
other provision other than placing the child in a correctional setting.

Children's Home (Normand)
This Home is meant for 50 numbers of Non-infected and healthy children of
leper patients and destitute children.

Balasadan
This Home is meant for Destitute Children who are way wards and strays
between the age of 4 and 16. Sanctioned number of inmates of these institutions is
100 each.

Sanadha Balyam
Sandhya Balyam is established in 2007 by the Social Justice Department
Sanadha Balyam in April 2007 to facilitate the adoption of children from various
recognised orphanages in the State. The scheme aims at providing foster care
placement for orphaned or abandoned children and its major achievement has been
that child-care centers in the State now know what to do with the adoptable children
they shelter. After 2009 the programme clubbed with ICPS.

Open shelters for children in need in urban and semi-urban areas
The large numbers of homeless children, pavement dwellers, street and
working children and child beggars, left on their own and in need of care and support,
is an urban phenomena of great concern. Currently in Kerala 3 open shelters are
established for the children’s around 214 childrens are rehabilitated in this Homes,
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Open shelters are established by the co-operation of the Ngo’s and civil society
organizations by the financial support.
II.

Non institutional services provided by the Government of Kerala under ICPS
Sponsorship
Sponsorship programmes are delivered to the children in need of care and
protection. Many children are at risk of abandonment, exploitation, neglect and
destitution because of poor socio-economic conditions of their families. Poor families
often place their children into institutional care as a poverty coping measure. For
avoiding this forceful institutionalization due to the lack of Educational, medical
health care assistance, Government of Kerala provides financial assistance for the
most vulnerable families with a view to preserving the children’s with their family.

Foster-care
Fostering is a short-term placement of a child in a protective environment.
Fostering is a process whereby a child lives, usually on a temporary basis, with an
extended or unrelated family member. Such an arrangement ensures that the birth
parents do not lose any of their parental rights or responsibilities. Fostering mainly
focusing on the long term parental care.
In Kerala fostering processes are co-ordinate by the Child Welfare Committees, in
each District level, under the legality of Juvenile Justice Act 2006.

Adoption
Adoption is a process through which a child who is permanently separated from
biological parents because her/his parents have died, or have abandoned or
surrendered her/him, becomes a legitimate child of a new set of parent(s) referred to
as adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached
to this relationship.
Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) is the nodal agency for coordinating the
work and has been primarily engaged in streamlining inter-country adoption. The
adoption prosess only done through Special adoption Agencies recognized by the
central government and the Child Welfare Committees. Currently 8 SAA are
recognized under the ICPS in Kerala.

After-care
The Juvenile justice Act, 2000 provides institutional care for juveniles in
conflict with law and children in need of care and protection up to the age of 18 years.
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However, most of the children in care have nowhere to go once they reach the age of
18 and are discharged from their institutions. Currently 3 after care homes are run by
the Government of Kerala under the ICPS.

Child line
Child line is a national emergency toll free phone outreach service for the
children in
need of care and protection operates on the 1098 number, and is
supported by the ICPS, Government of India and works in partnership with state
governments, NGOs, and Corporate Sector. Child line India Foundation has been
appointed as the Mother NGO for setting up, managing and monitoring the Child line
1098 service all over the country.
At present Child line is operational in 82
cities/districts in India. In Kerala Child line is functional in 9 districts, of which
Trivandrum, Kochi, Thrissur, Calicut, Wayanad are supported by Government of
India, and Kannur, Kasaragod, Malappuram and Palghat are supported by
Government of Kerala. The Government of Kerala has started supporting Child line
service in Malappuram, Kasaragod, Palghat and Kannur in 2007-08 for which funds
have been routed through Child line India Foundation.

Snehapoorvam
The statistics reveals that in Kerala, around 75,000 children below 18 years are
living in orphanages. Around 1500 orphanages are functioning in Kerala. Almost 8090% of the children in orphanages have families and relatives. Kerala Government
has launched an initiative “SNEHAPOORVAM” to provide financial support to
orphans who are living in the family, with their relatives, friends, or the support of the
community under the Social welfare Department implemented through Social
Security Mission. The mission has initiated the project that aims at bringing these
children to the main stream of the society.
Status of statutory support services in Kerala under ICPS
1. Child Welfare Committees (CWCs):
The JJ Act , 2006 rmakes it mandatory to establish one Child Welfare
Committee in each district as the final authority to dispose of cases for the care,
protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of children in need of care &
protection and to provide for their basic needs and protection of rights. For the
effective implementation of ICPS , Government of Kerala established Child welfare
committees in all the 14 districts of Kerala.
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2. Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs)
The JJ Act, 2006 makes it mandatory to have one Juvenile Justice Board in
each district to deal with matters relating to juveniles in conflict with law.
For the effective implementation of ICPS, Government of Kerala established Juvenile
Justice Boards in all the 14 districts of Kerala.
3. Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs)
The Juvenile Justice Act 2000 provides for setting up Special Juvenile Police Units in
every district and city to coordinate and upgrade the police interface with children. All
the police officers, designated as juvenile/child welfare officers in the district or city,
are members of the SJPU.
Currently Special Juvenile Police Units are constituted in Kerala in District level. This
team is headed by the Crime detachment DYSP.
Child care institutions in Kerala
ICPS is basically a Government-Non government partnership programme, because of that the
benefits of the programme being delivered through the help of the civil society organizations
and Government distribution systems.
Government Run Institutions: Below is the information regarding the children’s homes
under the control of the Kerala state social justice department.
LIST OF GOVT. RUN HOMES*
ACTUAL
SL
NAME AND
N
ADDRESS
O
OF HOME
DISTRICT
TYPE
CAPACI
NO.OF
OF
TY
CHILDREN
HOME
AS ON 1ST
APRIL 2013
Boys Gir Boys
Girls
ls
1
Poojappura
Thiruvananthap
CH
50
90
65
uram
2
Beach Road
Kollam
,,
100
3
Vayalithala
Alappuzha
,,
30
4
Thiruvanchiyo
Kottayam
,,
100
100
or
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5
Kakkanadu
Ernakulam
’’
50
100
(Girls)
6
Ramapuram
Thrissur
CH
100
90
7
Vellymadukun
Kozhikode
’’
100
150
Kozhikode
’’
nu
8
Vellymadukun
nu
9
Poojappura
10
(Girls)
Thiruvananthap
190
0
OH
25
8
’’
25
6
uram
10
Beach Road
Kollam
11
Vazhayila P O Pathanamthitta
’’
25
1
12
Mayithara
’’
25
5
13
Thiruvanchyoo Kottayam
’’
25
2
Alappuzha
r
14
Kakkanadu
Ernakulam
’’
25
2
15
Ramavarmapu
Thrissur
’’
50
2
Palakkad
’’
25
7
ram
16
Muttikulangar
a
17
Thavanoor
Malappuram
’’
25
1
18
Vellymadukun
Kozhikode
’’
25
1
Kozhikode
’’
nu
19
Vellymadukun
nu
50
0
(Girls)
20
Kaniyambatta
Wayanadu
21
Chirakkara
Kannur
22
Paravanadukka Kasargodu
OH
25
2
’’
25
4
’’
25
2
SH
20
7
m
23
Poojappura
Thiruvananthap
uram
24
Vellimadukun
nu
Kozhikodu
’’
20
0
(Girls)
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Anchalumood
25
Kollam
ACH
u
(Girls)
Vellimadukun
26
10
0
’’
Kozhikodu
25
10
nu
64
0
27
Chirakkara
Kannur
28
Vellimadukun
Kozhikodu
nu
’’
100
Home for
25
12
25
15
5
Mentally
deficient
Chirakkara
29
Kannur
Home for
25
25
25
25
Physicall
y
disabled
Cherthala
30
’’
Alappuzha
1045
44
TOTAL
650
385
5
CH: Children’s Home, OH: Observation Home, SH: Special Home, ACH: After care Home
SPECIALISED ADOPTION AGENCIES (SAA)-under ICPS*
Actual No: of
Sl
Name and Address of SAA NGO /
No
1
Capacity children as on 1st
Govt
April 2013
Boys
Girls
25
25
28
UNIT-2 ’’
25
6
1
’’
25
1
2
’’
20
5
4
’’
20
2
0
Kerala state child welfare
NGO
council, Trivandrum-UNIT
1
’’
2
3
Shishu Bhavan,sisters of
Nazrath,Eranakulam
4
Anandha Bhavan Foundling
Home,Palakkad
5
Divine Provident foundling
Home
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6
Sai Niketham Foundling
’’
20
6
4
’’
25
1
3
’’
20
8
5
Home, Thrissur
7
St:joseph Foundling Home,
Thrissur
8
Deena sevana sabha,Sneha
Niketham
Open shelter’s in Urban & semi urban areas under, NGO Run*
Sl
Name and Address of the Location of
No
NGO
Capasity Actual No:of
children as on 1st
the shelter
April 2013
1
Don-Bosco Veedu society
Thampanoor
Boys
Girls
25
Nil
17
40
46
0
50
81
70
Trivandrum
2
Association for welfare of
Free Birds
Handicapped
up school Calicut
3
Dream open shelter Home
Dreams
Bhannu
Road
Chalad,
Kannur
Reference: * Minutes of the 38th PAB Meeting under ICPS held on 17/01/12
Kerala Orphanages: Charity as a New Business
Kerala has around 1800 orphanages, recognized by the State Orphanage Control Board.
Around 75000 children’s are living in these institutions. Most of them are established and
running without meeting the legal requirements of the Norms of Juvenile Justice Act and the
Orphanages Control Act 1960, most of the institutions are run by the minority-Religious
organizations. The recent incidents happened in Kerala, shows that a large scale child
trafficking from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal to orphanages in Kerala, by promising free
education and lodging. The recent reports reveals that the racket of child trafficking in the
name of charity is prevalent in Kerala, the reports says that the illegal trafficking is aiming to
get more financial Support from the Middle East Arab countries and Grand in Aid from the
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Government. The second foremost aim is to demanding new divisions, Batches and posts for
new teachers by admitting this trafficked children’s in their schools and claim the
government grants by the strength of the trafficked children’s.
The child trafficking issues are become vibrant, when a group of children around 600 were
detained by the Railway Protection Police in Palakkad. Soon this incident reveals that the
children’s were trafficked to two Muslim Orphanages in Malappuram and Kozikkodu. The
children’s were travelling with fake identity cards provided by the Orphanage and they
carrying fake Adahar cards ,fake Permission letters from the CWC’s of Jharkhand, Bihar,
West Bengal. This facts reveals that a strong Child trafficking Mafia working for the
Orphanages in Kerala. Later the enquiries reveal that most of the orphanages brought
children’s from other states to keep their institutions running. The investigations conducted
by the Kerala Police on this Child Trafficking become freezes, because of the political
pressures. Most of the institutions are established and runs by a minority religious group, and
supported by a religious Political Party called Indian Union Muslim League, which part of
the Kerala government. However even the reports of the Orphanage control Board on the
issue of Child trafficking framed to help the trafficking organizations, because of the
communal views of the members.
The later report on this issue reveals that these organizations get financial contribution from
foreign countries and Grand in Aid from the Government. It is a clear violation of the
provisions of the Orphanages control Act 1960. Because there is no provision for granting
government financial Aid for those organizations which receiving foreign money. Also the
report of the Local Fund Auditing (LFA) criticize that the Kerala Social justice department
help the fraudulence of these organizations by granting money without proper supervision
and validation of documents.
The current scenario in Kerala shows that no government had taken action against the
powerful orphanage trafficking lobby as they had political and religious backups. In fact
most of the organizations run these charity orphanages as a cover for their illegal activities.
Total Number of Orphanages registered under the Kerala Orphanage control Board,
which eligible For the Grant-in aid. *
Sl No:
Districts
Total No: of
Strength fixed
Estimated
orphanages
for Grant-in
Grant in Aid
registered under
Aid by Kerala
for 1 Year
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the Orphanages
government
Control Board
1
Thiruvananthapuram 23
1787
2144400
2
Kollam
19
1666
1999200
3
Pathanamthitta
5
280
336000
4
Alappuza
13
1077
1292400
5
Kottayam
56
3324
3988800
6
Eranakulam
56
5158
6189600
7
Thrissur
61
7621
9145200
8
Idukki
22
1325
2915000
9
Malappuram
41
6428
7713600
10
Palakkad
27
2795
3354000
11
Kozikkodu
33
5608
6729600
12
Wayanadu
16
1398
1677600
13
Kannur
38
2731
3277200
14
Kazargod
9
866
1039200
Total
419
42064
50476800
ICPS funding on Union Budget during 2009-2015
Funding Pattern: ICPS is a centrally sponsored scheme and shall be implemented through
the State/UT .The total bulk funding from the Central Government distributed towards each
states based on the recommendations of the Project Approval Board (PAB). State/UT shall in
turn provide grant-in-aid to voluntary organizations under the different components as per the
requirements.
Reference*: Official website of Kerala Orphanage control Board:
Tehelka Magazine, Volume 11 Issue 40, Dated 4 October 2014
Years
Total Union
Total Funding for
% Of Child Budget in
Budget (in
ICPS(in crores)
Union Budget
crores)
2009-10
43736
59.36
4.28
2010-11
53941
115.13
4.17
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2011-12
52433
177.5
4.87
2012-13
66634
273.8
4.76
2013-14
72496
300.68
4.56
2014-15
69888
400
4.52
2015-16
57919
402.23
3.26
ICPS Central Funding for Kerala during 2009-2016
Year
Central Allocation for ICPS(in crores)
2009-2010 1.491
2010-2011 3.202
2011-2012 3.341
2012-2013 5.10
2013-2014 4.797
2014-2015 7.035
2015-2016 ---
Reference: Ministry of Women & child welfare http://wcd.nic.in/icpsmon/pdf/sanctions/san_kerala_26feb2014.pdf
Press information Bureau -Government of India
Conclusion
ICPS is an important initiative established by the Government of India to enhance the care
and protection of the vulnerable childrens India. ICPS serves different kind of safe guards for
the children. ICPS started in 2009 and now it reaches all over the Indian states for delivering
its services through its specific mechanisms. The implementation process of ICPS is a
difficult task but almost all the states completed the statutory requirements for the effective
functioning of the ICPS. Currently as per the reports, the crime against women and children
are increasing, also the number of juvenile delinquents are increasing. More and more
children came in to the Juvenile system. All this facts are bit desperation.
However different types of drawbacks are identified in the Implementation of ICPS in kerala.
The most of the schemes are developed for focusing the problem affected children’s. No
preventive schemes are developed for reducing the risk of vulnerabilities. Government
policies also concentrated on the rehabilitation of children’s in government Homes, nor
preserving them in the Biological family. There were no such schemes focusing on building a
Protective environment for the overall development of the Child, such as good food, security,
better family care, and better medical care.
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The implementation Of Juvenile Justice Act and other laws regarding the child protection in
Kerala are very poor. Besides forming the State child protection Unit and District Child
Protection Units. Even the Kerala Juvenile justice Rules were passed after the 10 years of
2006 amendment. Even now the doubts on the JJ Kerala Rules are not yet clarified by the
Kerala Government to the public. The most important criticism about the JJ Kerala rule is
which is framed for helping the Ngo’s and other Orphanages.
Commissions for protection of Child Rights are established in each state for the protection of
the child rights. But in kerala child rights commission is not at all co-coordinating with ICPS.
Even the Child Rights commission doesn’t have a Chairperson till March 2015 from mid2014.
The infrastructure facilities provided for the CWC’s, JJB’s, DCPU’s , under the ICPS is very
limited , out of 14 CW’s only Kollam CWC does have own building and staff. The
allocations in the Budget for the infrastructure become unutilized because of the poor
Planning and ineffectiveness of the Kerala government.
Before 2013 the Implementation part of ICPS in Kerala is very slow due to the shortage of
staff availability. As a reason of not establishing the district level delivery structure i.e.
District Child protection units, Kerala lost union Budget allocation in each year. For the
effective implementation of the Programme, Government of Kerala established 14 child
welfare committees and 14 Juvenile Justice Boards in the state. For the Better implementation
and delivery of the services, all the District Child Protection Units are formed and the
required staffs for the Functioning such as Protection officers for the children’s in
Institutional care and children’s in non-institutional care, Counselors, Legal officers, Social
Workers etc are hired.
The budget allocation in the state Budget for the Protection of the child rights is very low.
And no new schemes were established by the state government. The overall implementation
of the ICPS in kerala still need more speed from the side of Policy level changes and in terms
of funding.
ICPS is mainly focusing on involving civil society organizations and Ngo’s in the child care
and protection. The main highlight of the programme is to serving the benefits in a child
friendly Manner in a Right based approach. The involvement and influence of NGO’S and
Civil Society organizations in the field of Child Health, Education, and Rehabilitation are
very important in the Kerala.
ICPS focusing on Government-NGO partnership in child care and protection. In Kerala ICPS
provide funds to various child care institutions for Child Rehabilitation, Education, Care and
protection. As a result of joint co-operation with the Ngo’s and civil society organizations
ICPS can able to provide more services to more beneficiaries in future.
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REFERENCES
Status of children
[1]. Report: “Children in India- A Statistic Appraisal 2012” (Social Statistics Division,
Ministry of Statistic and Program Implementation; Government of India).
[2]. Official website of Department of social Justice-Kerala
http://sjd.kerala.gov.in/index.php/childline -15-3-2015
[3]. A Case study on the School dropout Scheduled Tribal students of Wayanad District,
Kerala Jobin Joy
[4]. An Over View of Kerala Fisheries - with Particular Emphasis on Aquaculture
[5]. http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/india-current-population.html - 15-3-2015
[6]. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-tops-child-rights[7]. index/article2612302.ece - 15-3-2015
BOOKS
[1]. Arathoon Anita, “Introducing History And Civics 5”, 2009.
[2]. Bharti Ali, Praveena Nair “Twenty Years of CRC: A Balance Sheet” volume ii, HAQ
Report,2011
[3]. WOLINS, Martin Selecting Foster Parents The Ideal and The Reality, 1963.
Orphanage & Government run Home info:
[1]. Minutes of the 38th PAB Meeting under ICPS held on 17/01/12
[2]. Reff: Official website of Kerala Orphanage control Board:
http://www.old.kerala.gov.in/dept_socialwelfare/List%20of%20CHARITABLE%20INST
ITUTIONS.htm#List of Orphanages -15-3-2015
[3]. Tehelka Magazine, Volume 11 Issue 40, Dated 4 October 2014
ICPS funding Information
[1]. Ministry of Women & child welfare official web site:
http://wcd.nic.in/icpsmon/pdf/sanctions/san_kerala_26feb2014.pdf - 15-3-2015
[2]. Government order to Pay & accounts officer
[3]. Order No: 14-13/2009 cw ii
[4]. Order No: 14-13/2009 cw ii vol iv
[5]. Order No: 14-13/2014 cw ii
[6]. Press information Bureau -Government of India
[7]. HAQ Study on Budget for children’s in India: 2010, 13.
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