Strict Implementation of Juvenile Justice Act

The Section 24 (1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 [JJ Act] provides that whoever, employs or uses any juvenile or the child for the purpose or causes any juvenile to beg shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine. Further, Section 24 (2) of the JJ Act provides that whoever, having the actual charge of, or control over, a juvenile or the child abets the commission of offence punishable under sub-section (1), shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to fine.

The onus of implementation of the JJ Act rests with the State Governments/UT Administrations. To ensure the proper implementation of the JJ Act and to improve the quality of services of children under the Act, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) which provides financial and technical assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations to put in place a range of measures for rehabilitation of such children, including, setting up and maintenance of various types of Homes as well as Open Shelters in Urban and Semi Urban areas for the care and rehabilitation of such children. These Homes and Open Shelters provide inter-alia, shelter, food, education, medical attention, vocational training, counselling etc. to such children so that they can ultimately reintegrate into the mainstream society. The Scheme also provides non-institutional care through Sponsorship to take care of the needs of such children living with families. Besides, emergency outreach service is also provided through 24-hour toll free telephone (1098) to children in distress through Childline India Foundation (CIF), Mumbai which is being assisted by this Ministry.