IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

GHAR Portal

12th December, 2022 Social Issues

Copyright infringement not intended

 

About

  • The Union Minister for Women and Child Development informed the Lok Sabha that the Union Government with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has launched a web portal “GHAR - Go Home and Re-Unite” for digital tracking and monitoring of children who need protection and have to be repatriated to another country, state or district.
  • The portal will provide information on children from every district to smoothen the process of their repatriation and restoration, other important features of the portal:
    • Tracking and monitoring of children who are in the Juvenile Justice system and have to be repatriated to another Country/State/District.
    • Transfer of cases of children to the concerned Juvenile Justice Board/Child Welfare Committee of the State for speedy repatriation of children.
    • A list of Government implemented schemes will be provided so that at the time of restoration the Child Welfare Committees can link the child with the schemes to strengthen the family and ensure that child remains with his/her family.
  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development is administering the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, 2015) (as amended in 2021) and the Rules thereunder, for ensuring the safety, security, dignity and well-being of the children.
    • The Act provides for the protection of children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with the law by catering to their basic needs through care, protection, development, treatment and social reintegration.

 

 Juvenile Justice Act, 2015

  • In 2015, the Indian Parliament has passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
  • It replaced the Juvenile Delinquency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act) 2000.
  • The Act introduced the provisions to allow trials of juveniles in the age group of 16-18 years as an adult who were found to be indulged in heinous crimes.
  • It replaced the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act of 1956 and the Guardians of the ward Act of 1890 with a more universally accessible adoption law.
  • It made the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) the statutory body for adoption-related matters.

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Amendment Act 2021

  • Crimes against children that allow imprisonment between 3 to and 7 years will be considered “non-cognisable”.
    • A cognizable offence is an offence in which the police officer can arrest the convict without a warrant and can start an investigation without the authorization of the court.
    • Cognizable offences are serious such as kidnapping, theft, dowry death, rape, murder etc.
  • It strengthened the provision of protection and adoption of children.
  • Adoption power was transferred to the district magistrate.

​Copyright infringement not intended

 

 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

  • The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
  • It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
  • Under the act, a Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
  • It aims to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in harmony with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • Composition: This commission has a chairperson and six members of which at least two should be women.
    • All of them are appointed by the Central Government for 3 years.
    • The maximum age to serve in the commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for members.
  • The salary and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of, the Chairperson and Members, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

 

Functions of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights;

  • Examine and review the safeguards provided for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation.
  • Inquire into child rights violations and recommend initiating proceedings in such cases.
  • Examine all factors that curb the enjoyment of rights of children affected by terrorism, communal violence, riots, natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
  • Look into the matters relating to the children in need of special care and protection including children in distress, marginalized and disadvantaged children, children without families and children of prisoners and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
  • Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical reviews of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation in the best interest of children.
  • Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights.
  • Spread child rights literacy among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means.
  • Inspect or cause to be inspected any juvenile's custodial home, or any other place of residence or institution meant for children, under the control of the Central Government or any State Government or any other authority.
  • Inquire into complaints and take suo moto notice of matters relating to:
    • Deprivation and violation of child rights.
    • Non-implementation of laws providing for the protection and development of children.
    • Non-compliance with policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships and ensuring the welfare of the children and providing relief to such children.
  • Such other functions may consider necessary for the promotion of Child Rights.
  • The Commission shall not enquire into any matter pending before a State Commission or any other Commission duly constituted under any law for the time being in force.
  • Present an annual report to the Central Government and at such other intervals as the Commission may deem fit.
  • Compile and analyze data on children.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1882217

https://t.me/+hJqMV1O0se03Njk9