NGO demands Integrated Child Protection programme

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) Several Non-Governmental Organisations have urged the Government to launch an Integrated Child Protection programme operating from central to state and districts and city levels.

The programmee requires about Rs 1600 crore annual allocation from the government, according to a report ''Protecting Children in India'' The report, a proposal for the 11th five year plan (2007-12) is based on the outcome of the consultations organised by Butterflies and Prayas (NGOs) with 287 other child protection NGOs and Children's Voices.

Besides creating infrastructure and administrative units, this plan has also defined the role of government, professionals, NGOs and children themselves to make it more participative and implementable.

The NGOs also demanded setting up of mandatory statutory bodies and institutions as prescribed in the Juvenile Justice (Care And Protection of Children) Act,2000, strengthening the 24 hr emergency telephone helpline for children in distress and setting up a missing children's website to facilitate early detection and repatriation of missing children.

Promoting community based non-institutional and family focused services, establishing Family And Child Care Centers(FCCC) at district and panchayat levels, Counselling for children affected by disaster, arrangements for night shelters and drop-in centres were the other demands included in the report.

Least attention has been paid to child protection so far.

According to the Annual report of Department of Women and Child Development only 1.98 per cent of the total allocation of the union Budget in 2004-05 was for children. It has further come down to 0.035 per cent in 2005-06.

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