Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 302/10

GOVERNMENT SIGNS MOU FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED CHILD PROTECTION SCHEMES (ICPS) IN THE STATE

Shillong, July 6, 2010: The Government of Meghalaya signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development, for implementation of ‘Integrated Child Protection Schemes’ (ICPS) in the State. The State Government was presented by Shri. Arindam Som, Commissioner and Secretary, Social Welfare Department.

This newly Centrally sponsored Scheme has been formulated by the Government of India, with the objectives to provide a safe and secure environment to children in the country who are in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law, contribute to the improvement in the well being of children in different circumstances, reduce vulnerabilities to situation and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation. The intervention includes inter alia, financial support for setting up and maintenance of the existing homes for children in need of care and protection and juvenile in conflict with law, setting up of child protection structure, capacity building, advocacy etc. The Central Government provides substantial financial support to the State Government for implementation of ICPS in the States.

The expenditure sharing ratio between Centre and State Government is 90 percent Central Share and 10 percent State share.

The expected outcomes of the scheme are reduced vulnerabilities of children, better child protection services, increased availability and accessibility of a variety of child protection services, less children in need of care and protection, increase in protection of children in family based non institutional care, increase in the protection of children/young people leaving institutional care who are self sufficient and gainfully engaged in productive activity and information/knowledge base of children and family at risk.

Already twenty two States have signed the Memorandum of Understating.