Integrated Programme for Street Children

The Integrated Programme for Street Children was started as initiatives to help children living on the street fulfil their rights. The programme provides for shelter, nutrition, health care, education, recreation facilities to street children, and seeks to protect them against abuse and exploitation. The programme aims at building society's awareness of the rights of the child enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. This can be achieved though capacities building of the government organisations, NGOs and the larger community these children live in.

The target group of this programme is children without homes and family ties i.e., street children and children especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation such as children of sex workers and children of pavement dwellers. This scheme does not include children who live with families and in slum areas. State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, Local Bodies, Educational Institutions and Voluntary Organisations are eligible for financial assistance under this programme. Up to 90% of the cost of the project is provided by the Government of India and remaining has to be borne by the Organisation/Institution concerned.

Under this integrated programme projects can receive up to Rs 1.5 million per annum. Programmes that can receive funding under this scheme are as follows:

City level surveys;
Documentation of existing facilities and preparation of city level plan of action;
Contact programmes offering counselling, guidance and referral services;
Establishment of 24 hours drop-in shelters;
Non-formal education programmes;
Programmes for reintegration of children with their families and placement of destitute children in foster care homes/hostels and residential schools;
Programmes for enrolment in schools;
Programme for vocational training;
Programmes for occupational placement;
Programmes for mobilizing preventive health services;
Programmes aimed at reducing the incidence of drug and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS etc;
Post ICDS/Aganwadi programmes for children beyond six years of age;
Programmes for capacity building and for advocacy and awareness building on child rights;