The Union Ministry for Women and Child Development (WCD) which has set a target to bring down malnutrition levels and improve the skewed sex ratio has decided to bolster child care in the country by introducing the concept of foster homes and creating awareness about sexual abuse.
Presenting the Ministry’s 100-day report on Wednesday, Union WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said that in collaboration with the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, a project would be undertaken in schools where with the aid of teachers and non-governmental organisations, students would be made aware of “inappropriate touch.”
She was responding to a question on how the Ministry proposed to tackle the growing menace of child sexual abuse.
The Ministry is working on regulations to place children under foster care for short or extended periods. “People will be paid money to foster children at home. It is a practice followed across the world. Foster care will be popularised through films,” she said.
The foster care proposal will cover children below 18, who are either deserted or unable to get care at home. Minors in conflict with the law would also be eligible for foster care services.
To reverse the declining child sex ratio (CSR) across the States, the Minister said 100 critical districts have been identified and efforts would be made to correct the imbalance.
The Child Line (1098), an emergency outreach service for children in need of care and protection, is to be expanded from 282 locations to 343 locations by the end of Financial Year 2014-15.
