Vol2 Issue7 January 2013

Golden Research Thought

Impact Factor:0.1870

Role of Tamil Nadu to the Protection of Children’s Rights 

S. KANIMOZHI

Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University,

 Annamalainagar – 608 002. Tamilnadu. Mobile no:09626516383

“The Child’s is father of the man", says Wordsworth". What he obviously means is that the productiveness of an adult depends on the opportunities he has had to grow and develop as a child. Indira Gandhi says, "Children are a reminder that man is immortal although men may be mortal. A nation realizes its potentialities through children and is judged by what it does for children".  According to Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, "Our children are most important resource and deserve all possible investment for their development".

            The Department of Social Defence in Tamil Nadu is providing services for the development of Children found in difficult circumstances and the girls and women who are in moral danger requiring care and rehabilitation. The Department is also providing institutional and non-institutional services for the rehabilitation of the children entering the institution, besides involving the Non-Governmental organizations in all the programmes to ensure protection  of  the rights of the children and their over all development.  The institutions under the department provide care, training (education & vocational) and rehabilitation to the children who are neglected and children in 

conflict with law.   The department also provides after care service to the boys, girls and women discharged from the institutions.  The Government of India has also gazetted the model rules on 26^th October 2007.  The State of Tamil Nadu is fully committed to the implementation of the J.J. Act and Rules in letter and spirit.  Reiterating this, the following steps are taken.   The State would work towards a child protection policy and take steps that reiterate its commitment to the United Nations Child Convention Rights.¹

            The Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious meal Programme has taken on a new dimension with successful implementation of new and innovative schemes providing necessary funds to the Department of Social Defence.  The Department of Social Defence would work towards convergences of all its units for enabling better implementation of Governmental services for children and women with necessary allocation of funds needed for the units.² In Demand 45, Social Welfare and  Nutritious Meal Programme Department  allotted fund for Directorate of Social Department for the years form 2007 to 2010.

The following Programmes  are being  functioned by the Department of Social Defence

(i)         Juvenile  Justice Boards

            The Juvenile Justice Boards have been constituted in eight  places of Tamil Nadu to deal with cases of children in conflict with law.   A sum of Rs.15.36 Lakhs has been allotted in the budget estimate
2008-2009 for the scheme.³

(ii)        Observation Homes

            There are six government observation homes to receive children in conflict with law to be absorbed for further action.⁴

Financial Performance (Rs. in lakhs) for the Government Observation homes⁵

Observation Home Run by N.G.O's Financial
Performance (Rs. in Lakhs) ⁶

(iii)    Special Home for Boys and Girls

            Children in conflict with law who have been found guilty and committed by the Juvenile Justice Boards are sent to Special Homes  for Care, custody and rehabilitation.⁷

Financial Performance for Children in Special Homes
Under J.J Act 2000⁸

(iv) Child Welfare Committee

            Child Welfare Committees have been constituted in eighteen places of Tamil Nadu to deal with the cases of children in  need of care and protection.  A sum of Rs.17.28 Lakhs has been provided in the budget estimate for the year 2009-2010 for the scheme^.9

 (v) Children Homes for Boys and Girls

            The Children Homes would cater exclusively to the needs of Children who require care and protection as added by the Child Welfare Committees.

                             

Financial Performance for Children Homes¹⁰

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