New norms for kids’ hostels, amidst parental worries

NEW DELHI: Amidst concerns raised by parents of children staying in hostels, the ministry of women and child development ministry on Wednesday said it is formulating guidelines for children’s hostels, prescribing the minimum standards of care that

WCD MINISTRY HAD NOTIFIED ALL STATES/ UTS TO UNDERTAKE INSPECTION OF ALL CHILD CARE INSTITUTES

should be provided to children. This also comes in the back- drop of government’s crackdown on shelter homes. WCD ministry had notified all states/UTs to undertake inspection of all Child Care Institutes and related facilities and to ensure their registration. Till October, the govt has shut down more than 500 CCIs.

These guidelines will cater to children’s homes not registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.“Children staying at hostels, including those attached to schools, are as vulnerable as children at any other facility like child-care institutions and daycare centres.

Therefore, we decided to formulate a set of gui- delines to ensure adequate safety, minimum standard of living condi- tions and periodic inspections at hostels,” union minister for WCD Maneka Gandhi said.

The ministry has directed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to draft the guidelines in consultation with all stakeholders concerned. It also plans to have these guidelines notified under the Juvenile Justice Act.