Kerala yet to implement child protection scheme

KOCHI:The state is yet to implement the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in spite of being one of the first ten states to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union ministry of women and child development.
Among the ten states that signed the MoU in 2009-10, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal and Karnataka have already implemented the child protection scheme.
"The Union ministry had allocated about Rs 100 crore for setting up a state child protection society (SCPS) and district-level societies under the ICPS. Though Kerala agreed to be a part of the child protection scheme, it failed to implement it effectively. It could spend only Rs 22 lakh under the scheme,'' said M P Antoni, director, Rajagiri OutReach, Rajagiri School of Social Sciences, which also coordinates Childline activities in the state. According to the ministry of women and child development, one of the major requirements under the scheme is setting up of dedicated service delivery structures such as SCPS, district-level societies, state project support unit (SPSU) and state adoption resource agency (SARA) to manage and monitor the implementation of the scheme and to ensure convergence with other line departments.
"The biggest advantage of the ICPS is that it will help set up open shelters, observation homes and special homes for children. Since the whole scheme is funded by the Centre and implemented in coordination with the NGOs, it will streamline activities and help us monitor the whole NGO movement,'' said an official at the social welfare department.
"If the ICPS is implemented, it will give a solution to several issues related to rehabilitation homes for rescued kids," said Childline district coordinator Antony Jinoy. "Under the scheme, there is a provision for more homes and this will be a relief to the rescued children as they need special care,'' Jinoy said.
Meanwhile, the state has also failed to set up the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which is expected to have the authority to handle violation of child rights.
In spite of all these failures, Kerala can boast of many child-friendly initiatives such as a child tracking system which helps upload details of missing children on a website and a Childline network which is functioning in 13 districts. The 14{+t} {+h} Childline centre will be inaugurated in Alappuzha soon.
Another initiative on the anvil is the Kerala Children's Act, the draft of which is already under review by the law department, said social welfare minister M K Muneer.
Kochi: Despite being one of the first ten states to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Ministry of Woman and Child Development, Kerala is yet to implement the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) though it has been haunted by several cases of violation of child rights.
Among the ten states that signed the MoU in 2009-10, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal and Karnataka have moved further in implementing the child protection scheme. ''The Union ministry has allocations close to Rs 100 cr for setting up of a State Child Protection Society (SCPS) and district-level societies under the ICPS. But though the state agreed to be a party to the ICPS, it has not been effectively implemented. Only about Rs 22 lakhs have been used under the Central scheme,'' said M P Antoni, Director, Rajagiri OutReach, Rajagiri School of Social Sciences, which also co-ordinates Childline activities in the state.
According to the Ministry of Woman and Child Development, one of the major requirements under the scheme is the provision for setting up dedicated service delivery structures, i.e. SCPS, DCPS, State Project Support Unit (SPSU) and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) to manage and monitor the implementation of the scheme and ensure convergence with other line departments, wherever required.
''One of the biggest advantages of the ICPS is that it will help in setting up open shelters for children in need, observation homes and special homes. Since the whole scheme is funded by the Centre and implemented in coordination with the NGOs, it will streamline the entire network and will help us monitor the whole NGO movement also,'' said an official at the Social Welfare department.
While Kerala does boast of a child tracking system in which details of missing children are given in the website even while the Ministry is still pushing for it in several states, the rising numbers of child sexual abuse cases have hit the national headlines every year.
Yet another programme that has come well is the Childline network which is functioning in 13 of the 14 districts with the Alappuzha unit likely to start functioning by early next year. "If ICPS is implemented then it will give solution to several issues like rehabilitation homes for rescued kids and as well as victims," said Antony Jinoy, District Coordinator, Childline.
With very few government boys homes in the state, travelling to different districts after the trauma of a rescue, the children are often in a very disturbed condition. ''Under the scheme, there is provision for more homes and this will be a relief to these young children. Even in the case of victims of sexual abuse, the girls are often in need of special care which is denied to them,'' Jinoy said.
As yet another Children's day passes by, the children of the state wait for the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights which is mandated to bring in the much needed authority to handle violation of child rights. According to the Social Welfare minister M K Muneer, the state government is proposing to promulgate the Kerala Children's Act and the draft is ready for review with the law department.