Government releases Rs.10 crores for the welfare of street children

The Ministry of Women and Child Development released financial support of Rs. 10.16 crores for the welfare of street children during 2006-07. The Ministry is implementing a scheme ‘An Integrated Programme for Street Children’ with the aim of preventing destitution and withdrawal of children from a life on the street and their placement into the national mainstream. Number of beneficiary street children during the period was 32,931.

The goal of the Scheme is to achieve full and wholesome development of children without homes and family ties. The programme components include:

Establishment of 24 hours drop-in shelters with facilities for night stay, safe drinking water, bathing, latrines, first-aid and recreation.

Non-formal education programmes

Programmes providing facilities for training in meaningful vocations, trades and skills to earning capacity

Programmes for reintegration of children with their families and placement of destitute and children in foster care homes/hostels and residential schools and their maintenance.

Grant-in-aid is released to NGOs who are running street children and childline projects.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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