Nearly 10,000 children in immediate need of care and protection: Bal Swaraj Portal

Nearly 10,000 children in immediate need of care and protection: Bal Swaraj Portal

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II – Policies and interventions 

In news

• According to Bal Swaraj Portal, nearly 10,000 children in India are in immediate need of care and protection. 
• They include children aged between zero and 17 orphaned or abandoned during the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.

Important value additions 

Bal Swaraj Portal

• Created by: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) 
• Significance: NCPCR has developed it as part of its role of a monitoring authority under section 109 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and to address the growing problem of Children being affected by COVID-19. 
• Objective: 
  • Online tracking and 
  • Real-time monitoring of Children who have lost both parents/either of the parents during COVID-19 and are in need of care and protection
• Working: It will track children affected by COVID-19 right from the production of children before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to the restoration of the children to their parent/guardian/relative and its subsequent follow-up.
  • The data will be filled in the portal by the District officers and State officers for each child.

Why does the news matter? 

• These children are at high risk of being pushed into trafficking and flesh trade. 
• The Commission had already received several complaints of government authorities illegally transferring details of children to private entities and NGOs.
• These are vulnerable sections of society devastated by COVID-19