KOZHIKODE: Kerala has formed Juvenile Justice Fund under the Juvenile Justice Act (care and protection of children) of 2015.
“Any children under-18 who is in need of help for welfare, rehabilitation and protection can avail the fund,” said women and child development (WCD) department special secretary Biju Prabhakar.
The beneficiaries include children on the street, engaged in child labour, alms seeking and that of poor parents.
The fund could be used for the legal expenses and treatment of POCSO victims and the children of AIDS-afflicted parents and intellectually challenged children.
Finances would be available after the verification of district child welfare committee/JJ board/district child protection officer (DCPO) concerned.
“Up to a lakh rupees could be given for the children who leave the care homes for setting up entrepreneurial ventures. Likewise, children who lost their parents or any of the parents can avail monetary help for their studies for three years,” said Malappuram DCPO, Samir Machingal.
Though the JJ Act of 2000 also envisaged a similar fund, there were not any guidelines for the expenditure.
Companies can donate under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives which enjoy tax exemption. Singer K.S. Chithra is the ambassador of the JJ Fund.
Donations may be sent to: the director, woman and child development department, Thiruvananthapuram, or transferred to SBI Vikas Bhavan branch (Account No 57044156669, IFSC Code SBIN 0070415).
