Women And Child Development: Indian Ministry Data

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The source of this article

INDIA 2012

A REFERENCE ANNUAL

Compiled by

RESEARCH, REFERENCE AND TRAINING DIVISION

PUBLICATIONS DIVISION

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Women And Child Development: Indian Ministry Data

The development of women and children is of paramount importance and sets the pace for overall development. A separate ministry of Women and Child Development came into existence from 30th January 2006 with the prime intention of addressing gaps in state action for women and children and for promoting Inter ministerial and Inter-sectoral convergence to create gender equitable and child centered legislation, policies and programmes. The Ministry has nodal responsibility to advance the rights and concerns of women and children and to promote their survival, protection, development and participation in a holistic manner.

Vision and Mission

Vision: Empowered women living with dignity and contributing as equal partners towards the development in an environment free from violence and discrimination. And, well nurtured children with full opportunities for growth and development in a safe and protective environment. Mission-Women: Promote social and economic empowerment of women through crosscutting policies and programmes, mainstream gender concerns; create awareness about their rights and facilitate institutional and legislative support for enabling them to realize their human rights and develop their full potential. Mission - Children: Ensuring development, care and protection of children through cross-cutting policies and programmes, spread awareness about their rights, facilitate access to learning, nutrition, institutional and legislative support for enabling them to grow and develop to their full potential.

Acts relating to Women and Children

The Ministry is in charge of the administration of the following Acts relating to women and children: (a) The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (as amended in 1986) (b) The Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, 1986 (60 of 1986) (c) The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 as amended in 1986 (d) The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 (3 of 1988) (e) The prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 (notified in January 2007) (f) Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, (g) National Commission for Women Act 1990 (h) Infant Milk substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant food (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992 (41 of 1992) (i) Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005, and (j) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000.

The Ministry has introduced 'The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010' in Lok Sabha on 7.12.2010 with the object to provide protection to women against sexual harassment at workplace. The Bill covers all workplaces both in public and private sector, whether organized or unorganized. The Ministry has also introduced 'The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2010' in Parliament on 23rd March, 2011.

The Ministry's mandate primarily includes formulation of plans, policies and programmes for women and children; enactment and amendment of legislations

related to them; and overall guidance and coordination of efforts of governmental and non-governmental organizations working in the field of women and child development. The Ministry's schemes and programmes play a supplementary and complementary role to the development programmes of the Ministry.

POLICY AND SCHEMES FOR WOMEN

National Policy for Empowerment of Women In 2001, the National Policy for Empowerment of Women (NPRW) was formulated as the blueprint for the future, with the express goal of bringing about the advancement, development and empowerment of women. The NPEW laid down detailed prescriptions to address discrimination against women, strengthen existing institutions which includes the legal system, provide better access to health care and other services, equal opportunities for women's participation in decisionmaking, and mainstreaming gender concerns in the development process, to name a few. The policies/programmes of the Government are all directed towards achieving inclusive growth with special focus on women in line with the objective of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women. To realize the goal of gender equality, the Government has undertaken several initiatives that seek to achieve the holistic empowerment of women. In keeping with this goal, the focus of planning process has evolved from a purely welfare oriented approach to recognizing women's centrality in the developmental plan, cutting across all sectors. With this fundamental change in approach, future is envisioned in which women are empowered and self-reliant and live in a healthy and secure environment.

SCHEMES FOR WOMEN

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls - (RGSEAG)- SABLA: Government of India in the year 2010-11 has launched a new scheme Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)-SABLA' on a pilot basis in 200 districts across the country using the ICDS platform. It is being implemented through the State Governments / UTs with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government for all inputs other than nutrition provision for which 50% Central assistance to States is provided by Government of India, SABLA aims towards self-development and empowerment of the Adolescent Girls (AGs) in the age group of 11-18 years by providing nutrition for all out-of-school girls (11-18 years) and in-School girls (14-18 years).

Besides this, there is a crucial non-nutrition component to the Scheme wherein the AGs are given education and counseling on nutrition and health, family welfare, adolescent reproductive and sexual health, child care practices; and life skills which will serve to empower the AGs to have greater control over life situations, grow up to be healthier, more confident and truly empowered women, equipped to make informed choices as well as take decisions on their own. This will also help them better cherish their girl children.

According to the baseline survey conducted by the State Governments/ Administration of Union Territories, there are nearly 100 lakh Adolescent Girls eligible to avail benefits under the Sabla scheme. Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) - CMB Scheme: A new Scheme for Pregnant and Lactating women has been introduced by the Government of India for implementation on a pilot basis in 52 districts in 2010-11. It is a Conditional

Cash Transfer Scheme under which cash incentive of r 4000 in 3 installments is provided to pregnant women of 19 years and above, for their first two live births, between the second trimester of pregnancy till the infant completes six months of age, subject to fulfillment of specific maternal and child health conditions. The scheme aims to provide part compensation for wage loss so that the women are not under economic compulsion to work upto to the last days of pregnancy and immediately after delivery.

Further, it is an effort to improve the health status of the mother and infant. IGMSY is being implemented in 52 districts across the country. According to the baseline survey conducted by States / UTs, 12.5 lakh Pregnant and lactating women are expected to avail services under the IGMSY annually. r 117.9 crores were released to States/UTs under the Scheme.

STEP : With a view to ensure employment and income generation of marginalized women through training and skill up gradation for self employment, the scheme Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) was launched as a Central Sector Scheme in 1986-87. The scheme seeks to provide updated skills and new knowledge to poor and asset less women in 10 traditional sectors i.e., Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries, Handlooms, Handicrafts, Khadi and Village Industries and Sericulture and Waste Land Development and Social Forestry for enhancing their productivity and income generation. The objective of the scheme is to provide training for skill upgradation.

l To enable groups of women to enhance their earning capacity by employment cum-income generation programmes.

l To train them in managerial entrepreneurship and marketing skill so that both backward and forward linkages can be established.

l To help in asset formation in income generation, and l To provide support services like legal awareness, gender sensitization, health, education etc.

The target groups include marginalised, assetless rural and urban poor women with special focus on SC/ST households and families below the poverty line. The scheme is being implemented through Public Sector Organisations, District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs), Federations, Cooperatives and Voluntary Organisations (Registered). 90% of the project cost is borne by the Government of India and 10% is the implementing agency share. The maximum permissible per capita cost is r 16,000/- as per revised norms of the scheme. The project range may vary from 200 to 10000 beneficiaries per project. Apart from the system of concurrent evaluation being followed presently, the system of end-line evaluation of each project is being incorporated into the scheme. Each project has a specific duration ranging from 2 to 4 years, which has been revised upto 5 years depending upon the nature and type of activities being undertaken in the project.

Since inception, 238 projects have been sanctioned under the scheme upto the financial year 2009-10. Of these, more than 100 projects are being implemented across the country at present. Keeping in view evaluation of the programme undertaken across the country by an independent agency, the scheme norms / parameters have been revised in the year 2009 and some of the locally appropriate sectors have been incorporated into the scheme. The Programme implementation Manual (PIM) for the scheme

has also been uploaded on the website of the Ministry. An amount of r 20.00 crores has been earmarked for the scheme for the year 2011-12. Women Emprowerment and Livelihood Programme in Mid-Gangetic Plains - ‘‘Priyadarshini’’ : The Ministry is administering this IFAD assisted pilot project in 13 blocks spread over four districts viz, Shravasti, Bahraich, Rae Bareli and Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh and two districts viz, Madhubani and Sitamarthi in Bihar. The Programme aims at holistic empowerment (economic and social) of vulnerable groups of women and adolescent girls in the project area through formation of women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) and promotion of improved livelihood opportunities. Over 1,00,000 households are to be covered under the project and 7200 CHGs will be formed during the project period ending 2016-17. Though the focus of project is on livelihood enhancement, the beneficiaries will be empowered to address their political, legal and health problems though rigorous capacity building. The total project cost is R 147 crores. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the lead programme agency for the implementation through engagement of Resource NGOs and Filed NGOs. Field NGOs will be carrying out all field level activities, whereas Resource NGOs will undertake activities relating to specialized capacity building and provide other technical support to all field level project functionaries to ensure effective implementation of the programme. Training will be given to the SHG members such as income generation and allied activities, marketing of products and social issues etc.

During the last financial year, all preparatory activities necessary to launch field level implementation were completed. These activities included selection of blocks in six project districts, setting up of programme management structures at National and State levels, establishment of Project Implementation Units and deployment of district level project staff. Besides, a Programme Implementation Manual (PIM) was prepared. Finally, the process of selection of Resource NGOs and Field NGOs was completed and the implementation of the project has been marked in the field.

For the financial year 2011-12, an allocation of R 26.10 crores has been made in the Ministry’s budget to achieve following targets :

(i) Establishment of Community Service Centres (CSCs) at each block.

(ii) Mobilisation of women into Self Help Groups (SHGs).

(iii) Training and other capacity building programme, CSCs, field, district

state and national level project functionaries.

(iv) Conducting exposure visits for SHGs, CSCs and field level project

functionaries.

(v) Sub sector studies.

(vi) Sensitization of Bankers and other stakeholders.

Swadhar : The Swadhar Scheme was launched by the Ministry during the year 2001-2002 as a Central Sector Scheme for providing holistic and integrated services to women in difficult circumstances such as destitute widows, deserted by their families in religious places like Vrindavan and Kashi, women prisoners released from jails and without family support, women survivors of natural disasters who have been rendered homeless and are without any social and economic support, trafficked women/girls rescued or runaway from brothels, women victims of

terrorist violence who are without any family support and without any economic means for survival, mentally challenged women who are without any support of family or relatives and women with HIV/AIDS deserted by their family and without social/economic support etc. The package or services made available under the Scheme include provision of food, clothing, shelter, health care counseling and legal support, social and economic rehabilitation through education, awareness generation, skill upgradation and behavioral training. The scheme also supports a Helpline for women in distress. The Scheme is implemented through Social Welfare/Women and Child Development Department, Women’s Development Corporation, Urban Local Bodies, reputed Public/Private Trust or Voluntary Organisations etc. provided they have the needed experience and expertise in the rehabilitation of such women on a project to project basis.

As on 31.3.2011, 332, Swadhar homes and 233 women helplines were functional.

Short Stay Homes : The Scheme of Short Stay Homes, launched in 1969, is meant to provide temporary accommodation, maintenance and rehabilitative services through voluntary organizations to women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord of crime. Under the programme, temporary shelter to the needy women and girls is provided for 6 months to 3 years. Children accompanying the mother or born in the home may be permitted to stay in the home upto age of 7 years, after which they may be transferred to childrens' institutes. Rehabilitation of residents is provided with vocational training and skill development to make them economically independent and self-reliant. The programme was transferred to Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) w.e.f. April 1999. During the year 2010-11, and amount of j 2445.00 lakhs was released by CSWB to 337 Short Stay Homes benefiting 19961 beneficiaries all over the country.

Swadhar and Short Stay Homes are proposed to be merged to a new scheme i.e. ‘‘Swadhar Greh’’ with revised financial norms.

Working Womens’ Hostel : In order to promote greater mobility of women in the employment market and to provide suitable, safe, inexpensive accommodation to women residing away from their hometowns to be able to work, Government of India is implementing since 1972-73 a scheme of Working Women's Hostel as a Central Sector Plan Scheme. So far, 891 hostels have been sanctioned under the Scheme since inception in 1972-73, with a sanctioned capacity of about 66299 women and 8532 children in attached 323 day care centers. The revised guidelines of the scheme have been issued in November 2010. Under the revised scheme (details available on the website of the Ministry, i.e., www.wcd.nic.in) financial assistance can be availed by State Government agencies including Women Development Corporation. Women Finance Corporations etc., Urban Municipal Bodies including Cantonment Boards, Panchayti Raj institution, Self Help Groups, Recognized Colleges/Universities, Civil Society Organisations and Co-operative institutions. The financial assistance components under the scheme are as under :

(a) 75% of the cost of construction of the hostel building on public land.

(b) Financial assistance for rent of the hostels to be run in rented premises.

(c) One-time non-recurring grant at the rate of Rs. 7500/- per inmate at the

time of commencement of the hostel for purchase of furmiture, etc.

(d) Grant of upto Rs.5.00 lakh for the purposes of maintenance and repair of

hostel building constructed under the scheme.

(e) A matching grant (50-50) for building construction may be offered to the

corporate houses under the scheme on public land only.

(f) During the execution of the construction work, an additional grant

towards the construction cost over and above the originally approved

grant on account of cost escalation may also be considered.

As per the established procedure, proposals fulfilling the guidelines of the

Scheme and recommended by the State Level Empowerment Committee are to be

placed before the Project Sanctioning Committee of the Ministry for its consideration

and approval.

Ujjawala : ‘Ujjawala’ is Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking, with

five specific components - Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and

Repatriation of victims of Trafficking. It was launched on 04th December, 2007.

The Scheme comprises of five components :

(i) Prevention, which includes formation of Community Vigilance Groups/

adolescents groups, awareness and sensitization of important functionaries

like policy, community leaders and preparation of awareness generation

materials, holding workshops, etc.

(ii) Rescue, for safe withdrawal of the victim from the place of exploitation.

(iii) Rehabilitation, which includes providing safe shelter for victims with basic

amenities such as food, clothing, counselling, medical care, legal aid, vocational

training and income generation activities etc.

(iv) Reintegration, for restoring the victim into the family/community (if she so

desires) and the accompanying costs.

(v) Repatriation, to provide support to cross - border victims for their safe

repatriation to their country of origin.

An allocation of Rs.10 crores has been made for 2011-2012 under the Scheme.

Gender Budgeting Initiatives : Gender Budgeting is a powerful tool for achieving gender mainstreaming so as to ensure that benefits of development reach women as much as men. It is not an accounting exercise but an ongoing process of keeping a gender perspective in policy/programme formulation, its implementation and review.

Gender Budgeting Initiatives : Gender Budgeting is a powerful tool for achieving gender mainstreaming so as to ensure that benefits of development reach women as much as men. It is not an accounting exercise but an ongoing process of keeping a gender perspective in policy/programme formulation, its implementation and review. To institutionalize Gender Budgeting in India, the setting up of Gender Budgeting Cells (GBCs) in all Ministries/Departments was mandated by the Ministry of Finance in 2005, Till date, GBCs have been set up in 56 Ministries which are expected to serve as focal points for coordinating Gender Budgeting initiatives, both intra and inter ministerial. The Ministry of Women and Child Development as the nodal agency for Gender Budgeting has been undertaking several initiatives for taking it forward at

the national and state levels. One of the key focus areas has been advocating for setting up of GCSs in all Ministries/ Departments, strengthening internal and external capacities and building expertise of GBCs to undertake gender main streaming of policies/schemes/ programmes. For this, the MWCD has been engaged in conducting a number of training workshops, one to one orientation/discussions, and development of resource material. This orientation serves as the first step to introduce the concept of Gender Budgeting in the Ministries/Departments. Institutes of national repute like the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida and premier training institutions in the States like the States Institutes of Rural Developments (SIRDs) and the Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) have been developed as resource institutions and they have introduced Gender Budgeting training as part of their training courses. More than 1000 Central and State Government officials and other stakeholders have been trained on GB in the last three years. As a result of these capacity building efforts many Ministries/States have initiated the process of Gender Budgeting.

Another important step taken in the direction of Gender Budgeting in the country was the incorporation of the Statement 20 as part of the Expenditure Budget Document, Volume I. The statement is an important tool for reporting allocations for women and provides an indication of the funds flowing to them. The number of Ministries reflecting their schemes and programmes in the Gender Budget Statement has increased from 9 in 2005-06 to 29 in 2011-12. The total magnitude of gender budget reflected in the Gender Budget Statement has also increased from 2.79% to 6.22% during the same period.

National Mission for Empowerment of Women

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched on 8th March, 2010 a new programme, namely, the Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) with the objective to empower women socially, economically and educationally by securing convergence of schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments of Government of India as well as State Governments. At the apex level, policy direction will be laid down by National Mission Authority (NMA), which is headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister and 13th Ministers are members of NMA. NMA will be assisted by Central Monitoring Committee and Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee (IMCC).

At the Central level, the National Resource Centre for Women (NRCW) Shall provide technical support to the Mission Directorate. NRCW will comprise experts in identified domain areas. The NRCW would undertake research, impact assessment studies of policies, programmes and schemes of the Government, and liasoning with existing structures/institutions relating to women’s empowerment. The NRCW would also devise media strategies to highlight the programmes and schemes of the Governments as well as awareness generation programmes to focus on retrograde social practices affecting the society. It will assist the National Mission Authority and the participating Ministries in planning, implementing, monitoring and reviewing the programmes relating to women’s empowerment using a convergence approach. Similarly, at the State level, there would be a State Mission Authority (SMA) and State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW).

The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tripura, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab and Union Territory of Chandigarh Administration has informed about the setting up of SMAs. Gujarat and J & K have set up SRCW also. The other States are also in the process of setting up of SMAs and SRCWs. The key functions of the National Mission are: • Economic empowerment of women. • Ensure that violence against women is eliminated progressively. • Ensure social empowerment of women with particular emphasis on health and education. • Oversee gender mainstreaming of programmes, policies, institutional arrangements and processes of participating Ministries, institution and organizations. Undertake awareness generation as well as advocacy activities to fuel the demand for benefits under various schemes and programmes and create, if required, structures at district, tehsil and village level with the involvement of Panchayats for their fulfillment.

Schemes of Central Social Welfare Board

Family Counselling Centres : The scheme of Family Counselling Centres (FCCs) was introduced by Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) in 1983. Through the Centres, counselling, referral and rehabilitative services are provided to the women who are victims of atrocities, Family maladjustment and social ostracism and services are also provided for crisis intervention and trauma counselling in case of natural and manmade disasters.

The Centres also create awareness and mobilize public opinion on social issues affecting status of women. The FCCs work in close collaboration with the local administration, police, courts, legal aid cells, medical and psychiatric institutions, vocational training centers, short stay homes etc. to provide referral and rehabilitative services. The FCCs provide professional counseling to the clients through counsellors having educational background of MSW, Psychology and Sociology. In many States, the respective State Governments have declared the FCC centers as Service Providers and counsellors as Protection Officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005. During the year 2010-11, 759 FCCs have been sanctioned grant and j 2480.82 lakhs was released by CSWB covering 1,88,488 beneficiaries.

Condensed Courses of Education of Women: The scheme of Condensed Courses of Education was intiated by Central Social Welfare Board to cater to the needs of adult girls/women who could not join mainstream education and who were dropouts from formal schools. Under the scheme, priority is being given to tribal, hilly and backward areas. The scheme aims to provide educational opportunities to girls/ women above the age of 15 years along with additional inputs of skill development/ vocational training at different levels - Primary, Middle / High School and Matric / Secondary levels. The main focus of the Scheme it to ensure that contents of the course are need-based and modified according to local requirement and simultaneously targeted towards various stages of educational levels in order to make them empowered. During the year 2010-11, a total number of 780 courses

were sanctioned benefiting 19500 women. An amount of j 783.10 lakh was sanctioned and r 744.99 lakhs was released by CSWBs. Awareness Generation Programme The scheme of Awareness Generation Projects was introduced by the Central Social Welfare Board in the year 1986-87 with the main aim to identify the needs of rural and poor women and to increase women's active participation in development and other allied programmes. Issues such as the status of women, women and law, women and health, community health and hygeine, technology for women, environment and economy are being taken up in the camps with special focus on local issues. Awareness Generation Programme Scheme aims at empowering women by providing knowledge on issues related to women ranging from health / nutrition to constitutional rights by providing information through organizing Awareness Generation Camps and to enhance their participation in development process and decision making. Under the scheme, camps are being organized throughout the country, which provide a platform for women to come together to exchange their experiences and, ideas and in the process, develop an understanding of reality and also the ways to tackle their problems and fulfill their needs.

A grant of r 10,000/- is being provided for organizing 8 days camp and 2 days follow-up. Training organizations have been identified in all 33 States for imparting training to organizers of the camps. Budget for Training is Rs.1000/-per trainee. The identification of problem under thematic camps was successfully done in the year 2010-11.

The problems like female foeticide, domestic violence, imbalance sex radio, redlight areas, devdasi system, tonhi pratha, child marriage, honour killing, trafficking, highest rate of suicide, HIV/AIDS, alcholism, blind faith etc. were identified by the various states. State Boards were also pointed out the need for providing awareness to adolescent girls at school/college levels as a precautionary measure form problems like marital discords, trafficking, female foeticide, honor killing, etc. The kind of thematic camps in respective areas were identified so as to conduct thematic camps for the year 2011-12 in need-based areas. During the year 2010-11, grant was provided for organizing 3500 camps benefiting 87500 women. A grant of j 350.00 lakh was sanctioned and j 350.00 lakh were released.

Award

Stree Shakti Puraskar : As a measure of recogonition of achievements of individual women in the field of social development, the Government of India has instituted five national awards known as 'Stree Shakti Puraskar'. These awards will be in the name of the following eminent women personalities from Indian history, who are famous for their personal courage and integrity: l Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar

l Kannagi

l Mata Jijabai

l Rani Gaidenliou Zeliang

l Rani Lakshmi Bai.

From the year 2007, another sub category of Stree Shakti Puraskar, named as the Rani Rurdramma Devi has been added, which will be awarded to individual

men and women for their outstanding administrative skill, leadership quality and courage. Each award carries a cash prize of j 3 lakh and a citation. For the year 2010, Stree Shakti Awards were given to: Rani Lakshmibai Award

(i) Mrs. Pottabathini Padmavathi (Andhra Pradesh)

Kannagi Award

(i) Smt. Thagu Maya Bardewa (Sikkim)

Rahi Gaidenliou Zeliang Award

(i) Mrs. Rathnamma (Kamataka)

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award

(i) Smt. Monika S. Garg (Uttar Pradesh)

POLICYAND SCHEMES FOR CHILDREN

National Policy for Children

The National Policy for Children was adopted on 22nd August 1974. This Policy lays down that the State shall provide adequate service for children, both before and after birth and during the growing stages for their full physical, mental and social development. The measures suggested in the Policy include, amongst others, a comprehensive health programme, supplimentary nutrition for mothers and children, free and compulsory education for all children up to the age if 4 years, promotion of physical education and recreational activies, Special consideration or children etc. The Policy is being reviewed by the Ministry as per present needs and priorities.

National Charter for Children

The Government of India adopted the National Charter for Children as notified in the Gazette of India on 9th February, 2004. The National Charter is a statement of intent embodying the Government's agenda for children. The document emphasizes Government of India's commitment to children's rights to survival, health and nutrition, standard of living, play and leisure, early childhood care, eduction, protection of the girl child, empowering adolescents, equality of 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. It also provides for protection of children in difficult circumstances, children with disabilities, children from marginalized and disadvantaged communities, and child victims. The document, while stipulating the duties of the State and the Community towards children, also emphasizes the duties of children towards family, society and the Nation.

SCHEME FOR CHILDREN

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched in 1975 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the following objectives: (a) to improve the nutritional and health status of children below the age of six years and pregnant and lactating mothers; (b) to lay the foundation for the proper psychological, physical and social development of the child, (c) to reduce the incidents of mortality,

morbidity, malnutrition and school dropouts, (d) to achieve effective coordination of policy and implementation among various departments to promote child development, (e) to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the health and nutritional needs of the child through proper health and nutrition education, The Scheme provides for a package of services to children below 6 years and pregnant women and lactating mothers, comprising : (i) Supplementary Nutrition (ii) Nutrition and Health eduction, (iii) Pre-school, non formal education. (iv)Referrals, (v) Immunization, (vi) Health check-ups. The latter three services are provided in convergence with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Public Health System.

The services are provided concurrently so that synergetic and holistic development of children takes place. Inter-sectorial convergence with cognate Ministries is therefore, in-built and integral to the ICDS Scheme. The primary convergences is with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wherein three services under ICDS are delivered through Health Ministry's programme of Reproductive and Child health (RCH) under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for addressing the health needs of mothers and children. Inter-sectoral convergences of ICDS is also visualized with programmes for providing safe drinking water and sanitation of the Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Drinking Water Supply.

The revised financial and nutritional norms under ICDS are: Category Revised rate Calories Protein (per beneficiary (K cal) (g) per day)

===Table begins===* Children (6-72 months) r 4.00 500 12-15

Severely underweight r 6.00 800 20-25

children (6-72 months)

Pregnant women & r 5.00 600 18-20

nursing mothers

===Table ends===*

The Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers are honorary workers and are paid honorarium inthe range of r 2938 per month to r 3063 per month depending upon their qualifications and experience. AWW of mini-AWC/Helper is paid an amount of r 1500 per month. Besides, the States/UTs are also giving monetary incentives to these workers out of their own resources for additional functions assigned under other schemes.

Till 2005, the ICDS had covered only 50% of the habitations in the country. The ICDS Scheme has been expanded in three phases in the years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2008-09 to cover all habitations reaching upto 14 lakh AWCs in 7076 approved projects. Of these, 7015 Projects, 13.67 lakh AWCs have been sanctioned. As on 31.3.2011, 6722 projects and 12.62 lakh AWCs are operational. The States/UTs are in the process of operationalisation of sanctioned projects and AWCs which is likely to be completed soon. After universalization, AWCs would reach every habitation with focus on SC/ST and minority habitations.

As on 31.3.2011, the total number of beneficiaries who received Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) was 780.52 lakh children and 176.94 lakh pregnant and lactating women and a total of 364.97 lakh children (3-6 years age) received Pre-School Education. Food and Nutrition Board Food and Nutrition Board in the Ministry of Women and Child Development is involved in policy making, strategy development as well as identifying innovative measures for the improvement of the nutritional status of the people of our country. It also focuses on improving the dietary habits of the people through nutrition education and extension; promotion of low cost, locally available foods; conservation of fruits and vegetables through home-scale processing; and training of health functionaries in nutrition. The FNB operates through a technical wing at the Centre, four Regional Offices, Quality Control Laboratories at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and 43 Community Food and Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUs) located in 29 States/ UTs.

The National Nutrition Policy was formulated in 1993, and as a follow up, the National Plan of Action was developed in 1995. The National Plan of Action identified the different sectors in the Government for taking up coordinated action to combat malnutrition. National guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding have been brought out and the implementation of the Infant Milk Substitutes, Infant Foods and Feeding Bottles (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1992, as amended in 2003 (IMS Act) rests with Food and Nutrition Board.

Programmes are undertaken to train master trainers such as Medical officers/ Nursing Officers, Child Development Project Officers/Supervisors., Principals of Schools implementing Mid-Day Meal as well as the field level functionaries. Nutrition awareness programmes for the community, home-scale preservation of fruits and vegetables which also promotes skill developmetn in the adolescent girls and women are organized. Demonstrations for promotion of low cost nutritious recipes are held to facilitate adoption of means to achieve better nutrition. Linkages with ICDS for better quality of supplementary nutrition, health and nutrition education are maintained. For promotion of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices, focus on appropriate feeding and implementation of IMS Act are undertaken. FNB has various publications which provide useful information on the basics of nutrition to the people at large. The list of publications is on the website of the Ministry of Women and child Development. FNB provided the backend support to Ministry of Women & Child Development, which jointly with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, prepared a Strategy Note to 'Address India's Nutrition Challenges'. Several consultations were held with various stakeholders, Consultative committee of the Parliament and meeting with young MPs on Nutrition. Following these consultations, Planning Commission held the Multi-Stakeholders Retreat on Addressing India's Nutrition Challenges, on 7-8th August, 2010. The various suggestions received and consultations held were incorporated in the agenda for the Prime Minister's National Council for India's Nutrition Challenges.

The first meeting of the Prime Minister's National Council for India's Nutrition Challenges was held on 24th November, 2010 wherein the major recommendations were as under:

l Strengthening and restructuring the ICDS Scheme; l Introduction of a multi-sectoral programme to address maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high burden districts; l Introducing a nationwide information, education and communication campaign against malnutrition; l Making nutrition a focus in the programme in schemes of line Ministries. Several follow up consultations have been held thereafter and action is in process. Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers: Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme provides day care facilities to the children in the age group of 0-6 years from facilities with monthly income of less than j 12,000-. In addition to being a safe space for the children, the creches provide services as supplementary nutrition, pre-school education and emergency health care, etc. The scheme is presently being implemented through the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). The scheme provides a grant of j 3,532/- per month for a creche, limited to 90% of the schematic pattern or actual expenditure whichever is less and the remaining expenditure is borne by the implementing agencies. Honorarium to creche workers is fully funded under the scheme. The details of grant admissible are as under:- Recurring grant

===Table begins===*

Components Ceiling of expenditure Grant

Honorarium to two creches workers j 2000.00 per j 2000.00 (100%)

per creche @ j 1000.00 per creche month

Supplementary nutrition per creche j 1352.00 per j 1217.00 (90%)

for 25 children for 26 days @ j 2.08 month

per child

Emergency medicines and contigencies j 350.00 per month j 315.00 (90%)

===Table ends===*

Non-recurring grant

Components Ceiling ofexpenditure Grant

Purchase of consumable stores once at j 10,000.00 per j 10,000.00

the time of opening of new creche @ creche per creche

j 10,000.00 per creche

Replacement of old consumable stores j 5,000.00 per j 3000.00 per

at an interval of five years @ j 5,000.00 creche crèche

Monitoring of Creches

The Scheme has in-built component of monitoring of creches. State-wise independent monitoring agencies have been identified which include Schools of Social Work, Women's Studies Centres and other reputed agencies. Grant for monitoring of creches Welfare 1197 is given @ j 700.00 per creche visited and inspected and lump sum one time grant of j 10,000.00 to each monitoring agency. Every creche is required to be inspected at least once in a period of two years. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prepared by Central Social Welfare Board inter-alia makes provisions for monitoring of the creches by the Board through their State Units, local committees and District Monitoring Committee to monitor the work of the creche. The local committee, include Village Development Officer as member. All the members of this Committee would be required to sign the certificate of satisfactory working of the creches. The NGOs have been advised that the members of the Committee would be free to inspect the facilities and services being provided in the creches. There will be a District Monitoring Committee headed by District Magistrate, which is required to review the functioning of the creches in the district. Indian Council for Child Welfare is also framing Standard Operating Procedures to be followed by them. The break-up of creches implementing agency wise is as under:- ===Table begins===*

S.No. Name of Agency Number of Creches

1. CSWB 18,594

2. ICCW 5,191

Total 23,785 ===Table ends===* With a view to provide better facilities, a Committee was set up to suggest changes in the financial norms and infrastructural facilities. The recommendations made by the Committee are under examination. Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS): Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing this comprehensive Centrally sponsored scheme since 2009-10 through the State Government/UT Administrations on a predefined cost sharing financial pattern. The objectives of the Scheme are to contribute to the improvement in the well being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as reduction of vulnerabilities to situation and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from parents. ICPS provides preventive, statutory care and rehabilitation services to children who are in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law as defined under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and its Amendment Act 2006 and any other vulnerable child. It provides financial support to State Governments/UT Administrations for running services for children either themselves or through suitable NGOs. These services include (a) Homes of various types for children (b) Emergency outreach service through Childline; (c) Open shelters for children in need of care and protection in Urban and Semi Urban Areas; (d) Family Based Non-Institutional Care through sponsorship foster care and adoptions. In 2010-11, the Ministry assiated 1199 Homes, 143 Specialised Adoption agencies and 104 open shelters through State Governments/UT Administrations. Financial assistance under this Scheme is also provided for setting up of statutory bodies under the JJ Act namely, (a) Child Welfare Committees (CWCs)

and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs). As reported by the State Governments/UT Administrations, 548 CWCs and 561 JJBs have so far been set up across the country.

To ensure effective implementation of the scheme and provide quality services to children, ICPS also provides financial assistance to set up service delivery structures with dedicated staff at State and District levels.

Prior to the release of grants under the scheme, the State Governments/UT Administrations are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and commit their share of funds for implementation. All the States/UTs except the State of Jammu & Kashmir, have signed the MoU for implementation of this scheme. The scheme had been very successful in building an understanding on child protection issues amongst State Government/UT Administrations functionaries. The subject has now been placed high on priority by all stakeholders which will lead to emergence of an environment that is safe for all children. Childline Services: Childline is a 24 hour toll free emergency outreach telephone service (1098) for children in distress. At present, Childline is functioning in 174 cities/districts.

The basic objectives of Childline are to: (i) respond to the emergency needs of the children in difficulty and refer him/her to such services as he/she is in need of; (ii) provide a forum for networking among Government agencies and non- Government agencies dedicated to the network of services in child care and protection; (iii) sensitize hospitals, medical personnel , police municipal corporations etc. towards needs of children, (iv) ensure protection of rights of the child, and (v) provide an opportunity to communities to respond to the needs of children in difficult circumstances. Childline operations are coordinated, monitored and expanded by Childline India Foundation, which is a society substantially funded by the Government of India.

Scheme for Welfare of Working Children in Need of Care and Protection: The scheme is in vogue since January, 2005. The objective of the scheme is to provide non-formal education, vocational training etc. to working to facilitate their entry/ re-entry into mainstream education in cases where they have either not attended, any learning system or where, for some reason, their education has been discontinued, with a view to prevent their future exploitation.

Financial assistance is provided under this scheme to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for setting up of composite centres of working children exclusively in those areas which have not already been covered by the Ministry of Labour & Employment under their schemes, namely, National Child Labour Project and Indo-US Project. At present, Ministry is assisting 116 projects of 100 children each under this scheme in 14 States/UTs. The budget allocation for the last financial year 2010-11 was j 12.50 crores, out of which j 10.19 crore was released to assist 105 projects covering 10,500 beneficiaries. The budget allocation under this scheme for the current financial year is j 10.00 crores. It is proposed to discontinue this scheme as the objectives can be covered under ICPS. The Girl Child The Provisional results of Census 2011 show that the sex ratio (female/1000 males) in the country increased from 933 in 2001 to 940 in 2011. However, the sex ratio in the age group 0-6 years has shown decline from 927 in 2001 to 914 in 2011. The Welfare 1199 Ministry has taken various initiatives to tackle the falling sex ratio of girl child as follow; Prevention of female foeticide: Crime and violence against the girl child starts even before she takes birth. This is evident from falling child sex ratio from 945 in 1991 to 914.

The Ministry recommends strengthening the existing administrative, enforcement and monitoring provisions under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (PNDT) Act, 1994 and put in place such mechanisms that can address the problem of sex determination and foeticide in a more effective manner. In addition, the onus should be placed on all concerned to harness available resources to arrest this decline. Besides, strict enforcement of the PC & PNDT Act a nation-wide campaign to close all unregistered clinics should be initiated. Stringent action should be initiated against violators of the law. The role of advocacy for women's empowerment and the drawing up of a concerted plan of action for awareness generation activities has also been emphasized.

Raising awareness and advocacy is also important. Some of the initiatives taken by MWCD are: To create national awareness on issues relating to girl child. In 2009, MWCD declared January 24 as the National Girl Child Day; In 2010, as part of the celebrations, a panel discussion was organised on "Valuing the Girl Child: Meeting the Challenges of Sex Selective Abortion and Child Marriage"; In 2011, Empowerment of Adolescent girls with special focus on the newly launched SABLA scheme was the theme adopted for the National Girl Child Day. States were also requested to undertake programmes for raising awareness on issues relating to girl child. Further, State Governments have been regularly asked to take appropriate advocacy measures to improve the status of girl child in their respective States. Dhanlakshmi - Conditional Cash Transfer for Girl Child with Insurance Cover: A Pilot Scheme "Dhanlakshmi- Conditional Cash Transfer for Girl Child with Insurance Cover (CCT)" was launched on 3rd March 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Scheme provides cash transfer to the family of the girl child (preferably the mother) on fulfilling certain specific conditionalities. i. At birth and registration of birth.

ii. On progress of Immunization (6 monthly transfer).

iii. On completion of full immunization.

iv. On enrolment and retention in school (MWCD will provide cash transfer

till Class 8 and MHRD will provide cash incentives from class 9 to 12). The objective of the Scheme is two fold: i) The direct and tangible objective is to provide a set of staggered financial incentives for families to encourage them to retain the girl child and educate her; (ii) to change the attitudinal mindset of the family towards the girl. This will force the family to look upon the girl as an asset rather than a liability since her very existence has led to cash inflow to the family. The Scheme is being implemented in11 blocks across seven States of Andhra Pardesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. National Child Award for exceptional Achievement: The National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement was instituted in 1996 to give recognition to children with exceptional abilities who have achieved outstanding status in various fields

including academics, arts, culture and sports etc. Children between the age of 4 to 15 years are to be considered for this award. One Gold Medal and 35 Silver Medals (one for each State/UT) are given annually. The awards for the child with exceptional achievement consist of :-

Gold Medal-1 (One)

(i) A cash prize of j 20,000/-,

(ii) A Citation and certificate, and

(iii) A Gold Medal.

Silver Medals - 35 (Thirty Five)

(i) Award money @ j 10,000/- for each awardee,

(ii) A citation and certificate for each awardee, and

(iii) A Silver Medal for each awardee.

The Awards for the year 2010 were presented by Hon'ble President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 14.11.2010.

National Award for Child Welfare

The Award was intituted in1979 to honour five institutions and three individuals for their outstanding performance in the field of child welfare. The awards include a cash prize of j 3 lakh and a certificate for each institution and j 1 lakh and a certificate for each individual. The awards for the years 2009 were presented by hon'ble President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 14.11.2010.

Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award

The Award was instituted in 1994 to honour individuals who make outstanding contribution towards service for children. The Award is given to three individuals who have done outstanding work in the field of child development, child welfare and child protection. The Award carries a cash prize of j 1.00 lakh, a silver plaque and citation. The awards for the year 2009 were presented by Hon'ble President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 14.11.2010.

OTHER PROGRAMMES

General Grant-in-aid Scheme for Innovative Work on Women and Child Development: A number of unchartered areas remain that are not covered by any of the existing schemes. To cover a wide spectrum of programmes areas for tackling social problems or for meeting the needs of specific client groups which have hitherto not been addressed through the schemes of MWCD or other Ministries, a general scheme of Grant-in-aid (GIA) also called Innovative Work for Women and children, is being implemented which does not transgress the existing grant-in-aid schemes but rather supplements them. Support within this scheme is given to work that is innovative in nature, i.e., addressing a peculiar problem or working with a client group that has not been previously covered. Under this scheme, financial assistance is given upto 90% of the approved cost on recurring and non-recurring expenditure. International Cooperation The Ministry is responsible for International Cooperation in matters relating to Women and Children.

Cooperation with UNICEF: UNICEF projects are being implemented in India through an agreement between Ministry of Women and Child Development on behalf of Government of India and UNICEF, which is prepared after mutual

consultation and consensus. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry for coordinating the implementation of the Agreement. The Ministry of Women and Child Development conducts periodic review meetings to coordinate and monitor the implementation and expenditure of the programme. The new Agreement, titled "Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP)" for the period 2008-12 was signed between Ministry of Women and Child Development and UNICEF on 3rd June, 2008 in New Delhi. The CPAP will be implemented through sectoral Ministries and Departments and aims at focusing on reduction in India's Infant Mortality and Maternal Mortality Rates, fighting under-nutrition, promoting girl child, addressing violence against children, providing quality education, ensuring safe drinking water and environmental sanitation and tackling HIV.

UNICEF has committed to support the Government of India's flagship programmes in the social sector in order to support and strengthen their essential work and to raise US $ 512 million for the five year programme of cooperation in India. The GOI-UNICEF Country Programme Action Plan 2008-12 is guided by UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other national and international instruments.

Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): India signed the Convention of Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 30th July, 1980 and ratified it on 9th July 1993 with one reservation and two declaratory statements. The convention obligates the State parties to undertake appropriate legislative and other measures to eliminate discrimination against women and for guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedom on the basis of equality with men.

The First Report was submitted (on 21st October) in 1997 and was considered (on 24th and 30th) in June 2000. A combined 2nd and 3rd Periodic Report was submitted in June 2005. The UN Committee on CEDAW considered the Report on 18th January 2007. The Ministry is in the process of finalising the 4th & 5th report and would submit the same in 2011. Beijing Platform for Action: The Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995 was a landmark event that set the pace for women's empowerment when a Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA) were adopted. BPFA has identified 12 critical areas of concern for women. India adopted both without any reservations. The Committee on Status of Women reviews progress made by member countries in the critical areas. The 55th session of CSW focussing on education of girls was held in 22nd February-4th March, 2011 and was attended by the Hon'ble Members of Parliament & Representatives from MWCD.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child :- India acceded to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on 11 December, 1992 to reiterate its commitment to the cause of children. The objective of the Convention is to secure the right of every child to survival, education, protection, growth and development in a healthy and congenial environment. The two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on (i) Involvement of children in armed conflict; and (ii) sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, have also been signed and ratified by the country in the year 2005. The third and fourth combined Periodic Report on the UNCRC and the initial Reports on the two Optional Protocols have been presented to the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights on 26.08.2011.

STATUTORY AND AUTONOMOUS ORGANISATIONS

National Commission for Women (NCW) is a statutory body constituted on 31.1.1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. The main task of the Commission is to study and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women and to review the existing legislations and suggest amendments, wherever necessary.

The Commission also ensures speedy redressal of grievances of women. The NCW has formulated a scheme titled 'Scheme for Relief and Rehabilitation of Victims of Rape, 2005'. It envisages compensation to the victims of rape up to a maximum amount of r 2 lakhs for all rehabilitation measures. The National Commission for Women has also initiated a pilot project with Delhi Police in May, 2008. The project is called 'Save Home, Save Family'. The intention is to settle disputes of married couples through reconciliation process. A major function of the project is also to handle cases of violence against women (VAW), provision of police assistance on criminal complaints, referral to family service agencies, counselling, legal aid and generating awareness of VAW. NCW was nominated as the co-ordinating agency at the National level for dealing with issues pertaining NRI marriages. NRI cell of NCW deals with complaints received from deserted women in India and abroad due to cross-country marriages.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) The Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005 was notified in the Gazette of India on 20th January, 2006. A National Commission for Protection of Child Rights was set up on 5th March 2007 in accordance with the provisions of the Act for proper enforcement of children's rights and effective implementation of laws and programmes relating to children. Its Mission is to protect, promote and defend child rights in India. Its mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, practices and administrative structure in the country are in consonance with the child rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). State Commissions have been set up in Delhi, Sikkim, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan , Punjab, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh and Odisha.

Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) : The National Credit Fund for Women or the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) was set up in March 1993 as an independent registered society with an initial corpus of Rs.31 crore which has increased to Rs.100 crores over the years. Its main objective is to provide micro credit to poor, assetless women for income generation activities for asset creation and for tiding over contingent consumption needs, as also to act as an instrument of socio-economic change and development of women. Government has proposed to restructure and strengthen RMK to scale up their activities including that of background and forward linkages to function as a single window facilitator and service provider for women self help groups (SHGs).

National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) : (NIPCCD), New Delhi is an autonomous organization under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The objectives of the Institute are to develop and promote voluntary action in social development through training and capacity building of government and non-government functionaries; take a comprehensive

view of child development through research and develop tools/design for supporting implementation of government schemes and programmes; and coordinate meetings of Ministry of Women and Child Development with stakeholders under different schemes/programmes and policy for furthering the objectives and provide feedback.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme represents one of the world's largest and most unique programmes for early childhood development. It is the foremost symbol of India's commitment to her children—India's response to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality, on the other. The Institute has been functioning as an apex institution for training of the ICDS functionaries since 1975. With an aim towards quality improvement in ICDS programme, NIPCCD has planned out several vertical training of block level functionaries apart from its regular job training and refresher courses and training of trainers on a range of topics related to ICDS services delivery systems. The other major initiatives in this area include Training of Trainers on SABLA and IGMSY schemes and Use of Mother Child Protection (MCP) Card; New WHO Child Growth Standards in ICDS; Skill Training of Instructors of AWTCs/MLTCs on IYCF; IMNCI; and Planning and Organizing of Community Education Sessions, etc.

The Institute as a nodal resource agency has also been entrusted with the responsibility of training and capacity building of functionaries at the national and regional level, under the new Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). The major programmes in the area of Child Protection and Juvenile Justice Act include the one-month long Certificate Course on Child Rights and Child Protection Amendment of Juvenile Justice Act; Child Tracking System; Integrated Child Protection; Schemes (ICPS); Sensitization Programme on Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children); Amendment Act, 2006 for Judges of JJB; Orientation Training Programmes for Superintendents of Children's Homes/Probation Officers/Welfare Officers/ Voluntary Organisations etc.

The thrust areas of the Institute relating to child development are maternal and child health and nutrition, early childhood care and education, childhood disabilities, provide mental health in children and child care support services. Several programmes have been designed for various groups of clientele, namely, NGOs, trainers, counsellors, parents and teachers, etc.

The Institute also runs a one year regular Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling with a vision to bridge the gap of trained professionals for undertaking guidance and counselling intervention with children and their families in different settings. The Diploma Course has been recognized by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The Institute in the area of women development is geared to complement national policies and programmes for women's empowerment through training, research and documentation. It is currently focusing on gender planning and mainstreaming, gender budgeting, economic and political empowerment of women, prevention of sexual harassment at work place, prevention of gender related violence such as female foeticide, female infanticide, trafficking of women and children, child

marriage, etc. The major initiatives during 2011-12 include Gender Budgeting, Sensitisation Programme on Child Marriage and Sex Selective Abortion, Programme on Effective Implementation of PWDV Act, 2005; Training Programme on Prevention of Trafficking of Women and Children, etc.

The Institute provides technical advice and consultancy to government and voluntary agencies in promoting and implementing policies and programmes for women and child development and voluntary action. In addition, it collaborates with regional and international agencies, research institutions, universities and technical bodies. To cater the region specific requirement of the country, the Institute has set up four regional centers at Guwahati (1978), Bangaluru (1978), Lucknow (1982) and Indore (2001).

Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)

The Central Social Welfare Board was set-up by a resolution of Government of India dated 12th August, 1953 with the object of promoting social welfare activities and implementing welfare programmes for women, children and the handicapped through voluntary organizations. Till 1969, the Board functioned as an arm of the Government and then it was registered as a charitable company under the company's act to give legal status to the Board. The Board was given the responsibility of taking welfare services to the disadvantaged sections of the society especially women and children, and also developing a nationwide infrastructure of voluntary agencies through which these services could be made available. In order to maintain the topicality of its schemes and programmes and to remain responsive to the needs of society, the Board has been revamping and redesigning or formulating programmes that best fulfill emerging requirements.

Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA)

Central Adoption Resources Agency (CARA) was set up on 20th June, 1990 and registered as an autonomous body under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 on 18.3.1999. On the recommendation of State Governments. CARA gives recognition to agencies to facilitate inter-country adoptions. It also gives enlistment to foreign adoption agencies as recognized under the appropriate laws of their own country and recommended by Indian Missions aboard. So far, CARA has recognized 64 Indian Placement Agencies in the country and 152 Enlisted Agencies, which also include Government Departments in more than 25 countries. CARA also implements Shishu Greh Scheme, which promotes in-country adoption. This Scheme has been subscribed in Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

In order to bring about transparency in the adoption procedures and provide better monitoring of the adoption process, CARA has introduced Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS), a web based management system on adoption to bring about a benign, benevolent, transparent and friendly adoption regime in the country. CARINGS facilitates expeditious and smooth adoption, creates a network of stakeholders towards improved synergy and maintains a National Database to enable effective policy making and research. The system also provides pre-adoption information, facility for online registration and status track to parents who wish to adopt. Besides, "Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2011" have been introduced to facilitate expeditious rehabilitation of children.

Adoption Statistics ===Table begins===* Year In-country Inter-country adoption Total

(NOCs issued by CARA)

2006 2409 853 3262

2007 2494 770 3264

2008 2169 821 2990

2009 1852 666 2518

2010 5693 593 6286

2011* 3499 259 3758

• upto 30.6.2011. Figures likely to increase

PENSION AND PENSIONERS' WELFARE

The Department of Pension and Pensioner' Welfare, was set up in 1985, as part of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to cater to the Central Civil Pensioners across the country. It is the nodal Department of the Government of India for formulation of general policy on pension and other retirement related benefits, besides facilitating redressal of grievances relating to pension and retirement benefits. The Department has taken a number of steps over the years for streamlining the pension administration system for greater convenience and welfare of the pensioners. The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare administers the following rules: i. CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 ii. CCS (Commutation of Pension) Rules, 1981 iii. CCS (Extra-ordinary Pension) Rules iv. GPF (CS) Rules, 1960 v. GPF (India) Rules, 1962 The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare has developed a webbased 'Pensioners' Portal', a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e- Governance Plan of Government of India. It was launched on March 30, 2007 for public domain. The Portal is in operation for dissemination of pension related information as well as registration of pensioners' grievances online. It has two components: (a) non-interactive and (b) interactive. The non-interactive part contains updated information on pension rules and various instructions issued thereunder and the database of pensioners. The interactive part involves online registration of grievances of pensioners and their redressal. Some of the important developments of the recent past are indicated below : (i) Consequent upon implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC), orders for revision of pension of the pre-2006 and post-2006 pensioners were issued. Also provisions regulating pension/family pension/disability pension, etc. were further liberalized. These include: 1206 India 2012 l Enhancement of minimum pension/family pension from Rs.1275/- to Rs.3500/- per month. l Minimum increase of 40 per cent of the pre-revised basic pension of pre- 2006 pensioners/family pensioners. l Grant of additional pension ranging from 20% to 100% to old pensioners/ family pensioners of the age of 80 years and above. l Grant of full pension on completion of 10 years of qualifying service (instead of 33 years of qualifying service). l Raising of ceiling for gratuity from Rs.3.5 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs. l Continuance of family pension to childless widow on remarriage. l Period of enhanced family pension in the event of death of a Government servant while in service increased from 7 to 10 years. l Ex-gratia lumpsum compensation to families of employees who lost their lives in the performance of duty, enhanced from Rs.5 lakh/7.5 lakh to ` 10 lakh/15 lakh. l The benefit of payment of commuted value of additional amount of pension has also been extended to those employees who retired on/after 1.1.2006 but before 2.9.2008, and expired before exercising option for communication of additional amount of pension. l Grant of Constant Attendant Allowance to 100 per cent disabled pensioners who retired in accordance with the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules. l Orders were issued to continue Family Pension @ Rs.3500/- p.m. payable in the case of Burma Civil pensioners even after the Government of Myanmar did not allow the same after 10 years of the death of a pansioner or till he would have attained the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. l Consequent upon acceptance of recommendations of the sixth CPC, the minimum pension payable under ex-French Rules was enhanced to Rs.3500/- p.m. to be effective from January 1, 2006. Similar enhancement was also agreed to in the case of ex-Portuguese pensioners by the Union Territory Administration of Daman and Diu. l Fixed Medical Allowance being paid to the pensioners/family pensioners who are residing outside the jurisdiction of Central Government Health Scheme and the corresponding health schemes of other Departments, enhanced from Rs.100/-p.m. to Rs.300/- p./m. effective from 1st September, 2008. l The Department continued to issue necessary clarifications on various matters/issues on retirement benefits and particularly in the context of various orders issued on account of acceptance of the recommendations of the sixth Central Pay Commission. (ii) A son/daughter of a Government servant, suffering from any disorder or disability of mind (including mentally retarded) or physically crippled or disabled, would now be required to submit Medical Certificate from a 'Medical Board' (as laid down therein) once, if the disability is permanent, and once in five years if the disability is temporary. (iii) Dependent disabled siblings (i.e. brothers/sisters) of a Government servant/ pensioner allowed family pension for life. Welfare 1207 (iv) Family pension to the eligible family members of a Government servant/ Pensioner reported missing and whose whereabouts are not known, to be sanctioned after a period of 6 months reckoned from the date of filing of FIR with the police authorities. (v) Special benefits in cases of death and disability in service—Minimum ceiling of Family Pension and Disability Pension enhanced (for Category 'B', 'C', 'D' & 'E') consequent upon enhancement in the minimum ceiling of Pension/Family Pension. (vi) The amount of gratuity to be withheld on retirement of a Government servant towards any dues on account of license fee and damages to the Government accommodation occupied by him/her would now be 10% of the gratuity amount payable to the Government servant. The previous limit in this regard was 10% of the gratuity or rupees one thousand, whichever was less. (vii) The ceiling for payment of ex-gratia lumpsum compensation from all sources to the families of Central Government employees has been removed from 1.1.2006. The earlier ceiling for such payment in each case was Rs.20 lakhs. (viii) On introduction of the New Pension Scheme, among others, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules were amended on December 30, 2003. Under the amended Rules, the benefit of Invalid Pension/Disability Pension and Family Pension/ Extraordinary Family Pension/Liberalized Pensionary Award relief are not available to the Government servants appointed on or after 1-1-2004. Considering the hardship being faced by the employees appointed on or after January 1, 2004 who are discharged on invalidation/disablement and by the families of such employees who have died during service since January 1, 2004, orders have been issued to extend the benefits regarding gratuity, family pension, disability pension, etc. to the Central Civil Government Servants covered by the New Pension Scheme, on provisional basis. The payments made in terms of these orders will be adjusted against the payments to be made in accordance with the rules to be notifed. (ix) Orders were issued to continue mobility of employees of the Central Government, Central Autonomous Organizations, State Government, State autonomous bodies appointed on or before December 31, 2003 and who were governed under the old non-contributory Pension Scheme of their respective Governments/organizations in order to provide for the continuance of pensionary benefits based on the combined service in accordance with CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. (x) Revised Orders allowing modified parity to pensioners/family pensioners drawing pension/family pension as on 1.1.2006 under the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, on the same analogy as was allowed to the pre-1996 pensioners/family pensioners vide Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare's OM dated 11.9.2001, have been issued by the Department on 30.09.2010. Under the Plan Scheme of Pensioners' Portal, a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan, 27 Pensioners' Associations have been identified in connection with the implementation of the Portal. These Associations have been provided grants for utilization towards pensioners' welfare related activities. A training cum workshop was organized on 20th and 23rd August, 2010 for the user

Ministries/Departments to acquaint them with the operational aspects of the Pensioners' Portal, including the Centralized Pension Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS). Besides, Video-Conferencing based training programme was also conducted on 4th and 5th October, 2010 for the benefit of identified Pensioners' Associations across the country. A meeting of the Advisory Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, (Pension, Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances) was held in July, 2010 to review the implementation status of the Portal. The progress of implementation is also being regularly reviewed by an Apex Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. The project has been identified for an impact assessment study by the Department of Information and Technology, the nodal Department for the Mission Mode Projects.

Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA)

A Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) has been set up by the Department under the Chairmanship of MOS (PP) with a view to provide feedback on the implementation of policies/programmes of this Department besides mobilizing voluntary efforts to supplement the Government action. A meeting of SCOVA was held in September, 2010 which was attended by representatives of various Pensioners' Associations and some Ministries/Departments. Many issues concerning pension and other retirement benefits were discussed in the meeting. Dearness Relief to Pensioners/Family Pensioners Rates of Dearness Relief (DR) payable to Pensioners/Family Pensioners have been revised from time to time. The same are payable at the following rates : ===Table begins===* i. 1.1.06 - Nil

ii. 1.7.06 - 2 per cent

iii. 1.1.07 - 6 per cent

iv. 1.7.07 - 9 per cent

v. 1.1.08 - 12 per cent

vi. 1.7.08 - 16 per cent

vii. 1.1.09 - 22 per cent

viii. 1.7.09 - 27 per cent

ix. 1.1.10 - 35 per cent

x. 1.7.10 - 45 per cent ===Table ends===* To enable Pension Disbursing Authorities (i.e. Banks/Treasuries/Post Offices) to speedily disburse the DR, copies of the orders are sent to them and to the Ministries/Department, etc. The orders are also posted on the website of the Department simultaneously for the convenience of all concerned. Handling of various references and Grievance Redressal System The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare, being the Modal Department for pension and pension related matters, receives large number of references from Ministries/Department/PSUs, etc.

The Department gives advice on interpretation of Pension Rules and considers cases referred by Ministries/Departments for relaxation of the provisions of Pension Rules. The Department also receives a large number of grievances directly from the pensioners/family pensioners and majority of these grievances are forwarded to the administrative Ministries/Department concerned for redressal. In this regard, a Centralized Pension Grievance Redressal and Monitoring Mechanism (CPENGRAMS) software has been prepared through which the department is able to redress and monitors grievances.

Anganwadis

2018: 68% have toilets

Ambika Pandit, Only 68% anganwadis have toilets, govt tells RS, December 23, 2018: The Times of India

Even as the government’s flagship Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is steering focus to toilets for poor households and community toilets in slums, the countrywide anganwadi programme under the Integrated Child Development Scheme is lagging far behind on this front.

The ministry of women and child development has informed Parliament that out of the 13,63,300 functional centres for children of up to six years, toilet facility is available in 9,29,339 anganwadis. This comes to just about 68.17% of the total operational anganwadis. Moreover, as many as 1,90,404 anganwadis do not have drinking water facilities.

The response of the WCD ministry came to a question in the Rajya Sabha on availability of facilities like toilet and water in anganwadis. Minister of state in the WCD ministry Dr Virendra Kumar said in his reply that there are 14 lakh anganwadis sanctioned in the country out of which 13.63 lakh are operational as on June 30.

Crèches

2017-18: sharp decline in number of crèches

Ambika Pandit, Why the number of creches has dropped sharply since 2017, January 31, 2019: The Times of India

Crèches in India, 2015-19
From: Ambika Pandit, Why the number of creches has dropped sharply since 2017, January 31, 2019: The Times of India

Child Sex Abuse May Rise As Safe Spaces For Kids Of Poor Women Shrink

In 2015, there were over 23,000 centrally run creches for the poor in India. Then, in 2017, the government tweaked the way these creches were funded. Now, there are a little over 7,000. With their numbers so drastically reduced there is a serious worry facing parents who work as daily wagers and have nowhere to keep their kids aged between six months and six years old.

Till the end of 2016, the Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme (RGNCS) was essentially centrally run. The Centre bore 90% of the cost while the NGO running the creche contributed 10%. But all that changed in January 2017.

A revised cost-sharing formula makes it a 60:40 deal between the Centre and the states; for the Northeast and Himalayan states it is 90:10; for UTs without a legislature, however, it’s fully centrally funded. The states were also required to implement the programme.

But now with only 7,316 operational creches, the ministry of women and child development (WCD) claims it has found little support in implementing the rechristened National Creche Scheme. The target was to have reached 23,555 creches by April 2018.

While the WCD ministry has no clear answer as to why states are not coming forward to proactively take up these creches, the brass admits that the creche programme is in the lurch. They say they have been writing to states on the matter. According to officials, most of the creches (around 21,000) under RGNCS were run through a voluntary organisation — Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) — till December 2016.

However, the ministry dissociated itself from ICCW, which is under high court scanner over what the ministry termed “financial integrity” issues. While Gita Sidhartha of ICCW has denied the allegations, the dissociation resulted in a sudden decline in the number of governmentrun creches. WCD officials claimed there were cases where creches run by ICCW were found to be bogus. WCD earlier this month registered an FIR against ICCW in the creche funding related matter.

With the main implementing NGO, that is, ICCW, out of the picture, and the funding model revamped, the response since then has been far from encouraging, officials said.

In times of rising child sexual abuse, these creches were especially needed for poor families in slums.

2019/ Why Delhi’s poor need a crèche framework

Ambika Pandit, City needs a creche framework for its poor, February 3, 2019: The Times of India

2019/ Why Delhi’s poor need a crèche framework
From: Ambika Pandit, City needs a creche framework for its poor, February 3, 2019: The Times of India

With Sexual Predators Around And Hungry Mouths To Feed, Daily Wager Moms Need Creche Safety For Their Children

Gyanwati has one son and six daughters. The youngest girl, Mohini, is one and half year old. Gyanwati works as a daily wager, and with nowhere to leave her baby while at work, her other daughters, aged 13 and 10, are forced to stay at home. They go to school on alternate days, taking turns to look after their sister. The family worked out this arrangement because financial needs meant Gyanwati no longer had the option of staying home.

When TOI spoke to the mother of seven, she said she was helpless but only too happy to have found a way out for the sake of the family. She informed the municipal school about her circumstances and got special permission for her daughters to miss classes every other day.

This is one of the many case studies in the ground-mapping exercise carried out by voluntary organisation Mobile Creches in north-west Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy. The survey revealed that working women leave their children in the care of older siblings or with neighbours because, as the survey in A Block of this slum settlement showed, there are no day care centres or creches there, though child sexual abuse remains a concern.

In many cases, parents leave their children unattended to at home. Geeta Devi, domestic help, and her husband put their daughter, Nandini, to sleep and even lock her in the house if their work timings do not allow either of them to be at home. By managing their timings, the girl is alone at home only for a short time. Geeta no longer works in the afternoon to be able to look after her daughter. Nandini is nine months old and Devi worries that soon it may not be possible to continue with this routine.

These cases underline the necessity of a creche framework at the state level. TOI reported on Thursday how the number of facilities under the National Creche Scheme has drastically declined between 2015 and now, with the figure for creches coming down from over 23,000 to 7,000. With a large workforce of women in the unorganised sector across states, there is a growing demand for daycare facilities, especially in the poorer settlements.

It is clear from the data of Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights that Shahbad Dairy isn’t a safe place to have children alone at home. The cases of missing children logged at the local police station were 124, 134 and 162 in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Census 2011 shows that in north-west Delhi’s population of 36,51,261 there were 4,43,195 children aged 6 and under, which is 12% of the district’s population, and the highest for this particular demographic among all Delhi district.

Sumitra Mishra, executive director, Mobile Creches, said that the facts emerging from the Shahbad Dairy study are significant indicators of how creches can help ensure the safety of children. These findings will form part of a ground report on need for creches being done by Mobile Creches for DCPCR.

Since the NGO also runs creches under the National Creche Scheme, Mishra is aware of the challenges. “The resources assigned to each creche in the existing scheme is very low,” she said. “There is no provision for training the caregiver at creches on early childhood care. Also the wages paid to the creche worker and helper are lower than the minimum wages. These are critical concerns that deter NGOs from stepping forward to take up the operation of creches.”