Kozhikode: The deadline is December 31, but only 369 of the 1,147 child care centres had registered under the mandatory Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection), of 2015 in the state. Nearly 30,000 children are in these care homes functioning as per the Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes (Supervision and Control) Act of 1960.
The Supreme Court had made it clear that all child care centres in the country should register with the JJ Act by this year. According to the officials at the social justice department, the fear of losing the control of the institution is the primary reason behind the reluctance. “Till now, there is no monitoring of the government at these institutions which are largely run by religious groups. Though the government is providing Rs 1000 per month for each child, no officials can enter these institutions for any inspection,” said an official at SJ department.
Each centre that comes under the JJ Act would have a board comprising government officials, experts in the field of child rights and the parents. Reacting to the inadequate response, Malappuram district child protection officer Samir Machingal said that 60 percent of them had registered in the district.
“Hopefully, more will come up as the deadline approaches,” he said. The Association of Orphanages and charitable institutions secretary T.K. Pareekutty said they did not welcome JJ Act. “We cannot allow mixing the children found in streets with those of us as the former will have criminal past,” he told DC. The Association is waiting for a High Court ruling nn this aspect.
