Media Watch: Govt. makes a meal of ICDS

Media Watch - 23 December 2006

50 p.c fiscal aid provided for children welfare:MP
“government of India provides for 50 per cent of the expenditure requirements of State governments for establishing and maintaining homes under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and up keep of children staying in these homes as per cost norms under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “A Programme for Juvenile Justice” - Minister

Govt makes a meal of ICDS
For the entire Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-07, the government had ear-marked Rs 73.30 crore for providing supplementary nutrition under ICDS scheme. Till 2005-06 fiscal year, the government had been able to spend only 36.16% over four years.

Bill to make child marriages void gets Parliament nod
Chaudhary said every child marriage, whether solemnized before or after the commencement of this Act, would be void at the option of the contracting party.

The employers of children can be Jailed
The employer can be jailed for not less than 3 months but which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than Rupees ten thousand but which may extend to Rupees Twenty thousand or both.

Two-thirds households lose 10 percent of income due to HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS also increases the work load on the elderly and girl children, said Dr. Bery. HIV households spend 400 percent more than non-HIV households on medical expenses and have a lower per-capita outlay on education

Implement Integrated Child Development Scheme: SC to Centre
Coming down heavily upon the 13 states that had failed to submit affidavits to the court in this regard, the apex court directed the Chief Secretaries of these defaulting states to personally appear before it and give reasons for not fulfilling the orders.

Govt for age cap on child labour
The Ministry for Women and Child Development has mooted a proposal to ban the employment of children below 11 years of age in any establishment.

‘Condition of kids a humanitarian emergency’
Prof Amartya Sen said: "The current state of India's children reflects the complete failure of Indian democracy on this front and this constitutes a gross violation of human rights."