Minister for Social Welfare, ARI & Trainings and Science & Technology, Sajad Gani Lone today informed that Juvenile Justice Boards will be constituted soon in the State.
Replying to a question of Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, the Minister informed that setting up of these Boards is under process as it is closely linked with release of funds under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICPS) and nominations of various Government/Non- Governmental nominees.
Lone informed that Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has approved a financial proposal of Rs 27.92 crore and released Rs 1.13 Crore in March 2016 for establishment of important infrastructure like Shelter Home , Children Home, Observation Home etc and constitution of various bodies like State Child Protection Society , Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) and District Child Protection Units .
The Minister informed that the previous Government enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act in 2013 and thereafter, entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of India in 2014 to commit contribution of 10 percent of State share to the Integrated Child protection Scheme (ICPS) under which funding is available from Union Government for implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care and protection) Act and rules thereto.
Lone informed that 603 children including 265 males and 338 females have been enrolled and are seeking education under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in the state.
The Minister informed that to check the child labour in the State, the Department conducts regular inspections and prosecutions are launched against the defaulters, besides steps have been initiated for recovery of penalty where the cases have been proved.
He said the department conducted 10500 inspections during the past three years, while as, 65 prosecutions were initiated.
