Introduction:
The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) has significantly contributed to the realization of Government/State responsibility for creating a system that will efficiently and effectively protect children. Based on cardinal principles of “protection of child rights” and “best interest of the child”, ICPS is achieving its objectives to contribute to the improvements in the well being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as to the reduction of vulnerabilities to situations and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from their families.
District Child Protection Unit functions under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme. The Objective of this scheme is to provide protection to needy Children. Integrated Child Protection Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme and it is implemented with the participation of State Government. Department of Social Defence is implementing this scheme. District Child Protection Unit is functioning under the Chairmanship of the District Collector.
Objectives:
- To institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures for emergency outreach, institutional care, family and community based care, counseling and support services at the national, regional, state and district levels;
- To enhance capacities at all levels, of all functionaries including, administrators and service providers, members of allied systems including, local bodies, police, judiciary and other concerned departments of State Governments to undertake responsibilities under the ICPS;
- To create child protection services, including MIS and child tracking system in the country for effective implementation and monitoring of child protection services;
- Undertake research and documentation;
- To strengthen child protection at family and community level, create and promote preventive measures to protect children from situations of vulnerability, risk and abuse;
- To ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels, coordinate and network with all allied systems;
- To raise public awareness, educate public on child rights and protection on situation and vulnerabilities of children and families, on available child protection services, schemes and structures at all levels.
Organization Chart:
Functions of District Child Protection Unit (DCPU):
The DCPU shall coordinate and implement all child rights and protection activities at district level. Specific functions of the DCPU shall be to:
- Contribute to effective implementation of child protection legislations, schemes and achievement of child protection goals laid out in the National Plan of Action for Children. In doing so, the DCPU will follow national and state priorities, rules and guidelines.
- Ensure that for each child in need of care there is an individual care plan and that the plan is regularly reviewed. Monitor the implementation of the plan.
- Identify families at risk and children in need of care and protection through effective networking and linkages with the ICDS functionaries, Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA), NGOs dealing with child protection issues and local bodies, viz. PRIs and Urban Local Bodies, etc.
- Assess the number of children in difficult circumstances and create district- specific databases to monitor trends and patterns of children in difficult circumstances.
- Map all child related service providers and services at district for creating a resource directory.
- Identify and support credible voluntary organizations to implement program components of the ICPS.
- Support implementation of family based non-institutional services including sponsorship, foster care, adoption and after care.
- Ensure effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and its Amendment Act, 2006 at district/city levels by supporting creation of adequate infrastructure, viz. setting up JJBs, CWCs, SJPUs in each districts and homes in a cluster of districts as required.
- Ensure setting up of District, Block and Village level Child Protection Committees for effective implementation of programs, as well as discharge of its functions.
- Facilitate transfer of children at all levels for either restoration to their families or placing the child in long or short-term rehabilitation through sponsorship, kinship care, in country adoption, foster care, inter-country adoption and placement in institutions.
- Facilitate effective implementation of other legislations for child protection in the district, Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA) 1956; Guardians and Wards Act (GAWA) 1890; Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986; Child Marriage and Restraint Act 1979 and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1986, Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act 1994, Protection of children from Sexual Offence Act,2012, CPCRC Act,2005 etc. and any other Act that comes into force for protecting child rights.
- Network and coordinate with all government departments to build inter-sectoral linkages on child protection issues, including Departments of Health, Education, Social Welfare, Urban Basic Services, Backward Classes & Minorities, Youth Services, Police, Judiciary, Labour, State AIDS Control Society, among others.
- Network and coordinate with voluntary and civil society organizations working in the field of child rights and protection.
- Develop parameters and tools for effective monitoring and supervision of ICPS in the district.
- Supervise and monitor all institutions/agencies providing residential facilities to children in district.
- Train and build capacity of all personnel (Government and Non-government) working under child protection system to provide effective services to children.
- Encourage voluntary youth participation in child protection programs at district, block and community levels;
- Organize quarterly meeting with all stakeholders at district level including Childline Services, SAA, superintendents of homes, NGOs and members of public to review the progress and achievement of child protection activities.
- Liaison with the SCPS, SARA and DCPUs of other districts.
- Provide secretarial support to the DCPC.
- Maintain a database of all children in institutional care and non-institutional care at the district level. This Data Management System will ultimately be uploaded onto a comprehensive, integrated, live database for children in care and in need of care in the country- the ‘TrackChild’.
Registration and Monitoring of Children Homes
In Nilgiris District there are 24 Children Homes run by Volunteer NGO Organizations and 1 Children Home by Government. All Homes are registered Under Section 41 of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2015.
Schemes:
Sponsorship and Foster Care Program:
The main objective of this scheme is to deinstitutionalize the Children and help them live in a family environment by providing financial assistant.
Sponsorship and Foster Care assistance is not only cost effective in comparison to institutional care but it also:
- Prevents child destitution and offers holistic child protection;
- Provides conditional assistance to ensure that the child continues his/her education;
- Supports and supervises financial assistance to families and group foster homes;
- Offers child care within the family setting;
- Preserves families and encourages parents to fulfill their responsibilities;
Contact Details:-
District Child Protection Officer,
No: 24, Additional Collectorate Building,
2nd Block, Finger Post,
Udhagamandalam-643 006.
Office Phone Number:- 0423 – 2445529
Email-id:- dcps[dot]nilgiris[at]gmail[dot]com
RTI Contact:-
District Child Protection Officer,
No: 24 Additional Collectorate Building
2nd Block
Finger Post
Udhagamandalam-643 006.