Schemes for Development, Protection and Welfare of Children
Ministry: Of Women and Child Development
Various schemes for the development, protection and welfare of children
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
- Anganwadi Services, under umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme which provides a package of six services including Supplementary Nutrition (SNP) to children in the age group of 0-6 years.
- The scheme is implemented through a network of approx. 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across the country.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)
- Centrally-Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes I-VIII of Government, Government-Aided Schools, Special Training Centres etc. supported under Samagra Shiksha programme.
- Objectives of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme
- Improving the nutritional status of children in Classes I-VIII.
- Encouraging poor children to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
- Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.
Environment Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) scheme
- Aims: To promote environmental awareness and mobilize student’s participation for environment conservation.
- Objectives of the scheme are achieved through three programmes
- National Green Corps (NGC) – “Ecoclub” Programme
- National Nature Camping Programme (NNCP)
- Capacity Building Activities (CBA).
- National Green Corps (NGC)
- About 1.6 lakh schools and colleges have been identified as Eco-clubs and nearly forty lakh students are participating in awareness programmes on various environmental issues like pollution, waste management, etc.
- The activities include celebration of important environmental days, organizing plantation drives, cleanliness drives.
- Convergence with POSHAN Abhiyaan, instructions have been given to Eco-clubs to promote herbal/ nutri-gardens, kitchen garden, plantation of medicinal plants, etc. within the school/ college campuses and neighbourhoods.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
- Objective: To prohibit child marriages rather than only restraining them.
- The Act prohibits the solemnization of child marriages where a person who, if a female has not completed 18 years of age and if a male has not completed 21 years of age.
- According to the Act, child marriage is a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme
- CPS Scheme is Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Objective: To create a safe and secure environment for overall development of children who are in need of care and protection.
- CPS Scheme includes orphan/abandoned/surrendered children.
- Under the scheme, institutional care is provided through Child Care Institutes (CCIs) as a rehabilitative measure.
- The programmes and activities include, inter-alia, age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc.
- Under the non-institutional care component, support is extended for adoption, foster care and sponsorship.
Source: PIB
