STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A proposal worth Rs 27.92 crore for funding Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) has been accepted by Project Approval Board (PAB) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI, which has also agreed to release a non-recurring grant of Rs 3 crore for financial year 2015-16.
At the request of the State Government, the Central Government has also approved the establishment of Homes for Children with Special Needs at Srinagar and Jammu and has also agreed to consider upgrading the existing Bal Ashrams and Children Homes managed by the State in different Districts and bringing them at par with ICPS norms in terms of staff and infrastructure.
Sanjiv Verma, Secretary Social Welfare, attended the meeting of the Governemnt of India Project Approval Board (PAB) which met at Delhi on 4th March, 2016.
It may be recalled that Governor N.N Vohra, through a personal letter, had requested Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister for Women & Child Development, for release of the grant due in 2015-16 for implementation of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in the State and to also accord approval for establishing two new Homes for Children with special needs in J and K.
The implementation of ICPS in J and K will bring a transformative shift in addressing the felt and unmet requirements of children who are in need of care and protection and as also those in conflict with the law. This is to be accomplished by creation of an enabling architecture in the Districts and State. To meet these objectives, ICPS embodies a number of interventions, which are executed by well equipped District Child protection units, Juvenile Justice Boards and Adoption resource agencies-with an overall supervision by State Child Protection Societies.
Consequent to the Government of India’s sanction the Governor has directed that time-bound action should be taken on all fronts, particularly for setting up the Homes for Children with Special Needs, both at Srinagar and Jammu, and progress reports sent to him every month, beginning 15-3-16.
