GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Women and Child Development 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2440

ANSWERED ON JULY 31, 2014 

QUESTION
Separate Ministry for Children 

2440. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

 Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state;

 (a)   whether it is a fact that the report of Government appointed Justice J.S. Verma Committee has found that the child protection schemes have failed to achieve their objectives;

 (b)   if so, the details and status of implementation of its recommendations on the issue of child welfare 

(c)    given that issues relating to women and children are quite different in terms of scope and challenges, whether Government believes that forming a separate Ministry to focus on child welfare is necessary; and ·

 (d)   if not, the reasons therefor? 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI) 

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Committee has noted that Integrated Child Protection Schemes have clearly failed to achieve their avowed objective. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) from 2009-10 with the objective of creating a safe and secure environment for children in conflict with law as well as children in need of care and protection. In order to enhance the quality of services provided under ICPS, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has revised the financial norms of the Scheme with effect from 01.04.2014. Some of the major revisions include enhanced child maintenance grant from Rs. 750/- to Rs. 2000/- per month per child for institutional and non-institutional care, the cost of construction of a new Home has been revised from Rs 600/- per square feet to Rs. 1000/- per square feet as per the schedule of rates or PWD estimates whichever is lower, for a Home of 50 children, a one-time non-recurring grant of Rs. 19.40 lakh for upgradation of accommodation facilities and a recurring grant of Rs. 36.14 lakh per year is being provided. The recurring grant includes child maintenance, bedding, transportation, rent, electricity, water charges and salary of staff in three shifts etc.

 (c) & (d): As the issues relating to women and children such as health, hygiene, development, protection, nutrition etc. are inter linked, the Government is not considering to have a separate Ministry for Child Welfare.