Budget Allocated For Child Welfare Has Significantly Increased: Union Minister Smriti Irani

New Delhi [India]: Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani attended the ‘National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on Child Protection’ event organised by the Supreme Court Committee on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion Smriti Irani said that from 2014 to 2023, the Government of India, through Child Care Institutions (CCI), have managed to provide assistance to over 7,00,000 children.

“I can proudly share with you that when you look at the budget allocated by the government for child welfare, it increased from 60 crores, as was given in the year 2009-10, to 1472 crores just as of last year. We also are mindful of the fact that not one department, but the government as a whole, needs to look at children in need of protection and in need of welfare” the Union Minister said

Speaking on the Ministry using the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan for effective planning of locations of Anganwadi Centres, Smriti Irani said that over 3286 childcare institutions had been registered and tracked.

“We used to fund close to 500 institutions in 2009-10, today our benefits reach over 3000 CCIs in the country. Childline which was functional only in 80 districts is now functional in close to 560 districts and we now with the Ministry of Home Affairs are ensuring that every district now has added capacity building for childline” she said.

The Union Minister further said that during the pandemic, there was an international hue and cry that many children in India have been orphaned and are in need of support because they are in distress.

She said, “That’s when not only the government stepped up but also the Supreme Court where directions were given to people across the nation that if you find a child in need of support that child should be immediately brought to authorities so that the state can provide care for such children.”

She said that over 45,000 children in CCIs were not only vaccinated but also supported and due diligence was taken by the Supreme Court.

“The PM was insistent that those children who have been orphaned need to come under the care of the PM Office and the PM care for children’s schemes where a child orphaned during Covid would be provided academic, financial and support for their mental health along with medical health. 4345 such children today are in the care of PM’s office,” she added.

Smriti Irani added that under the Nirbhaya fund close to 415 POCSO courts have been set up.

“We have allocated 80 crores for police officers and the victims who seek the attention of the court. Today 5534 CCIs are effectively monitored under the act and also have ensured that their registration is as per the law. Today close to 2600 children have been adopted in only one year,” she said.

The Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare in partnership with UNICEF India is organising a two-day national consultation on best practices followed in states and the way forward to strengthen justice systems for children in conflict with the law.