Separate Portals Created For NGOs & Individuals To Give Information About Children In Street Situations : NCPCR Tells Supreme Court

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights ("NCPCR") apprised the Supreme Court, on Monday, that it has developed a separate portal for Non-Government Organisations ("NGOs") and individuals who are interested to assist in the process of identification of the Children in Street Situation ("CiSS"). On the last occasion, a Bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai had asked the NCPCR to involve NGOs and Child Rights Activists to expedite the process of identification. Perturbed by the slow progress in the identification process, on Monday, it observed - "Since all the States are here, the number of children identified as appearing from the web portal is paltry, if we can use that word. We were told last time that there are about 1.5 million children. Only 17000 children have been identified. Ask your officers to be a little vigilant." Additional Solicitor General, Mr. K.M. Nataraj, appearing on behalf of the NCPCR had apprised the Bench that it has come up with a new portal encouraging NGOs and individuals to provide assistance in the process of identification. "We have developed a new portal within a short span. There are broadly two categories. One is for reporting and the other one is for NGOs and organisations who want to assist to identify. It is notified and operational." The link to the concerned portal is https://ncpcr.gov.in/baalswaraj/citizenlogin through which NGOs and individuals can report information about a CiSS and/or register and give information about the services which they are willing to provide. Those who want to report about a CiSS can do so by filling up a form seeking their particulars and that of the child. Once the form is submitted a ticket number would be generated which will be sent to the informant's mobile/email id. The form would be sent to the Baal Swaraj Portal-CiSS account of the concerned District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), who can either accept the form or reject it. If the form is accepted the information will be merged with the existing entries on the Baal Swaraj Portal-CiSS. Individuals and NGOs willing to provide assistance in rescue and rehabilitation of CiSS can register to provide services, such as, Counselling, Medical service, Sponsorship, de-addiction services, education services, legal/paralegal services, volunteering services, student volunteer, identification of hotspot, identification of CiSS and any other assistance. The individuals/NGOs willing to engage in such services have to produce a police verification certificate. The list of such individuals/NGOs will be made available with the DCPO. A detailed flowchart has been provided by the NCPCR in its affidavit dated 22.04.2022. In the said affidavit NCPCR has stated that the Standard Operating Procedure for Care and Protection of Children in Street Situation 2.0 ("SOP 2.0") drafted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights ("NCPCR") with respect to rescue and rehabilitation of Children in Street Situations ("CiSS") acknowledged that the NGOs play a vital role in the process. In the affidavit it has culled out the functions for which the NGOs can be engaged by the concerned authorities. a. Information, Preparation and Reporting of a CiSS - NGOs or individuals having information of a CiSS can produce the child before the concerned Child Welfare Committee (CWC) as per Section 31(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 ("JJ Act") or share their information with Childline -1098.b. If a child is living with family on the street - The child along with the entire family is to be provided counselling by NGOs. Later, the issues gathered from counselling can be addressed by the concerned authorities with the assistance of the NGOs. c. If child is addicted to substances, out of school, child labour, rag picker and victim of offence - These children can be provided with counselling, legal assistance, de-addiction services by the NGOs. In cases of children who are victims of offences, the NGOs must ensure that FIR is lodged and provide financial and medical assistance to the victims. Thereafter, the affidavit suggested ways in which the rehabilitation can be made more effective by involving NGOs : a. CWC can assign a local NGO to provide support and carry out family strengthening programs. b. NGOs can also provide food, education, skill building facilities, and recreation facilities. It also submitted that NCPCR had at every stage involved all stakeholders including NGOs. It had organised meetings wherein NGOs across the country had participated. Their suggestions were highlighted in the affidavit as under - a. Identifying hotspot areas where the issue of CiSS is prevalent; taking preventive measures; linking the families living on the streets with relevant schemes, making sure that children go to school and creating livelihood...

Separate Portals Created For NGOs & Individuals To Give Information About Children In Street Situations : NCPCR Tells Supreme Court

Sohini Chowdhury

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