Child Protection Policy 2014

Child Protection is any measure or initiative that addresses or prevents children from situations of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It refers to protecting children from or against any perceived or real danger or risk. It helps to reduce their vulnerability in harmful situations. It also means protecting children against social, psychological, and emotional insecurity and distress. Child Protection must ensure that no child falls out of the social security and safety net and those who do, receive necessary care and protection to be brought back into the safety net. While protection is a right of every child, some children like street children, children with disabilities, children of commercial sex workers, child laborers, etc. are more vulnerable than others and need special attention. Child Protection is relevant for all settings-home, school, neighborhood, community, and institutional/ residential care.

Importance of Sports for Students and Children

The State is committed to taking affirmative measures to promote and safeguard the rights of all children, to live and develop with justice, non-discrimination, equity, dignity, security, and freedom, especially for those who are marginalized or disadvantaged, to ensure that all children will have equal opportunities and that no custom, tradition, cultural or religious practice is allowed to violate or restrict or prevent children from enjoying their rights. The Child Policy 2014 reiterates the commitment of the Government of Maharashtra towards the children in the State.

Introduction

1) Adopting that-

    1. Childhood is an integral part of life and a child has her/his own identity.
    2. Any person below the age of eighteen years is a child.
    3. Children have different needs and groups and hence need differential responses, based on the vulnerabilities, experienced, especially by children in difficult circumstances.
    4. A rights-based, sustainable, multi-sectoral, integrated, inclusive, and long-term approach is necessary for the overall and harmonious development and protection of children.

2) Reaffirming that-

    1. Every child is unique and a supremely important part of the State.
    2. Positive measures and affirmative action shall be taken to eliminate situations that cause injustice, discrimination, and inequality in society.
    3. Every child shall be provided an opportunity to have the right to grow in a nurturing family environment, in an atmosphere of care, protection, love, and affection.
    4. Families shall be supported and strengthened through social protection and services, for nurturing and caring for their children.
    5. Every child shall be provided equal opportunities and protection and to provide the children quality education, positive outlook, ideals, skills, and social values so that they can grow up as adults who can preserve the social values and helping in the social, economic, and cultural development of the society.
    6. This policy shall act as a reservoir for every legislation, rule, scheme, and program in the State and shall guide the same.
    7. At the local, district, regional, and state level, all actions and initiatives shall be governed under the provisions of this Policy.

3) The Vision

To ensure that every child in the state shall have equal opportunity to develop her/his potential within a protected environment.

4) The Mission

The state shall endeavor, for providing access, to quality services such as health, nutrition, personal hygiene and sanitation, safe and sustained drinking water, quality and value-based education, play, and recreation, sports, protection against abuse, exploitation, and neglect as well as opportunity to participate in the decision-making process related to her/his life.

5) Definition of a child

As decided by the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), this policy recognizes all persons up to 18 years as children. All children in this age group either permanently residing or having a domicile, place of birth, or come under the category of migrant, tourist, shall be covered under the provision of this policy in the State, including natives, migrants, and tourists.

6) Directive Principles of Policy

    1. Child rights are universal, inalienable, interrelated, interdependent, and indivisible and shall be respected by the State.
    2. All types of rights shall be recognized equally by the state.
    3. Principles of equity, justice, and non-discrimination shall guide all actions concerning the child, whether undertaken by a person, an authority, or an institution.
    4. Any type of discrimination based on age, caste, class, gender, language,  
    5. ethnicity, religion, or economic background shall not be tolerated.
    6. The safety of all children shall be of prime importance and they shall be protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
    7. The State shall take pro-active measures for the inclusion of all children in accessing their rights, especially those marginalized or disadvantaged; to ensure that all children have equal opportunities; and that no custom, tradition, cultural and religious practice is allowed to violate or restrict or prevent children from enjoying their rights.
    8. The responsibility of protecting children’s rights shall not be limited to one Department of Government only but will be shared by the Governmental, Semi-Governmental and Voluntary Agencies.
    9. All programs, conventions, and activities designed for children shall be conducted in the best interest of the child.
    10. Consultation and participation of children, in an age-appropriate manner,
    11. in all matters affecting them, is an inalienable right of the child. Consent of
    12. the child shall be taken before any interventions, impacting her/him.
    13. Children are a part of the family and shall not be looked at in isolation. Governments shall commit to developing programs and schemes to protect the needs of the family as a whole and enhance the family environment.
    14. A family environment is most conducive to the all-round development of children and institutionalization being the last resort shall be provided in a need-based manner, for those who do not have a favorable family environment.
    15. The confidentiality of children needing protection shall be respected at all times.
    16. Individuality, group appropriateness, and recognition of special needs and vulnerability would set the direction for all programs and interventions related to children.
    17. All the concerned Departments would like to converge to provide integrated services to children.
    18. Taking positive measures for the promotion and protection of the rights of all children shall be the primary responsibility of the state. The state shall seek the cooperation of all non-state actors towards this end.
    19. Measures shall be taken to build respect for one another and eliminate discrimination related to disability and vulnerability.

7) Key Priorities

Survival, health, nutrition, care, clean and safe environment, development, education, recreation, fearless atmosphere, protection, rehabilitation, and participation are the undeniable rights of every child and are the key priorities of this Policy.