Children’s Issues
Missing/Trafficked/Runaway Children
Khoya-Paya Portal: In order to bring citizen participation for protecting children, a new
citizen based portal Khoya-Paya was launched in 2015 which enables posting of information of
missing and sighted children. It also provides facility for matching the two databases - missing
and sighted children. Between June 2015 and March, 2017, 7671 missing/sighted children cases
were closed on the portal. The railway stations are to have NGOs/Child Help Groups/ Childline
Units working with them for restoration of children to their parents/ guardians or their
rehabilitation in the absence of parents/guardians.
Awareness campaign via posters in railway coaches was launched in 2015. One lakh posters
have been put in trains in the first phase.
Expansion of Childline: This Childline is a nation-wide initiative for rescuing and assisting
children in distress conditions. Over the years, Childline (1098 helpline number) has been
extended to 412 locations from 316 cities and will be expanded to another 100 cities soon.
POCSO e-Box
Children are often unable to complain about sexual abuse because it is usually done by
someone known to them. In order to provide them with a safe and anonymous mode of making a
complaint, an internet based facility, e-Box, has been provided. Here, a child or anyone on
his/her behalf can file a complaint with minimal details. As soon as the complaint is filed, a
trained counsellor immediately contacts the child and provides assistance. The counsellor also
registers a formal complaint on behalf of the child wherever required. POCSO e-box launched in
2016, has received and handled 300 complaints.
Juvenile Justice
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016 (JJ Model Rules,
2016) was notified thereby repealing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)
Rules, 2007 (JJ Rules, 2007). The JJ Model Rules, 2016 are based on the philosophy that
children need to be reformed and reintegrated into society. The Rules are appreciative of the
developmental needs of children and therefore the best interest of the child is the primary
consideration. Child friendly procedures are incorporated across the board. The JJ Model Rules,
2016 prescribe detailed child friendly procedures for the police, Juvenile Justice Board and
children’s court. Some of these procedures include: no child to be sent to jail or lock-up, no child
to be handcuffed, a child to be provided appropriate medical assistance, parent/guardian to be
informed about legal aid, etc. The Juvenile Justice Board and the Children’s Court are required
to put the child at ease and to encourage him/her to state the facts and circumstances without any
fear, after understanding the questions put across in a language understood by the child.
Various new forms have been added in the JJ Model Rules, 2016 to review the progress of
children in Juvenile Justice System and to ensure adequate rehabilitation and restoration services
for them. Some of the new forms are case monitoring sheet, detailed individual child care plan,
application for registration of child care institutions, certificate for registration, quarterly report
by Juvenile Justice Board/ Child Welfare Committee, etc. Further, monitoring provisions have
been strengthened.