Child Protection: Many Milestones on an Estranged Path

Abstract

India’s law, policy and programme framework for child protection includes 49 special and local laws, 78 legal provisions in the criminal law, 9 policy documents, 98 central government’s budgeted schemes, a National Commission and 25 State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights, backed by a strong Constitution and international commitments contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These are some of the gains made since the 1990s, which has also been a period of remarkable economic growth. Yet, the reality of children remains disturbing as more and more children fall out of the social security and protective jurisdiction. Even today, 20 % children do not have their births registered and are denied their basic right to name and nationality and the protection measures that ensue. Investment in child protection has been abysmally low, reflecting a clear lack of political will. On an average, between 2001–2002 and 2011–2012, out of every 100 Rupee spent by the Central Government, the share of child protection remained 3 paisa. Even after 10 years of implementation, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), viewed as the answer to all child protection concerns remains unaccomplished. The innumerable laws seem to be in a state of orphan hood, as all pleas to back up laws with a financial memorandum have gone unheard. Convergence and coordination between the Ministries and the Departments remain only on paper. Unless child protection becomes an indicator for national development, both children and the national economy are bound to suffer a devastating set back.