code. In other words, they are arrested by the police because they have committed/ are accused of a crime. The Act provides for a special approach towards the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and provides a framework for the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of children. It relates to ‘juveniles in conflict with law’ and ‘children in need of care and protection’, by providing for proper care, protection and treatment, by catering to their development needs, and by adopting a child-friendly approach in the adjudication and disposition of matters in the best interest of children and for their ultimate rehabilitation through various institutions.
This Act is in compliance with the Child Rights Convention and the identified children in need of care and protection are those: who are without any home or settled place or abode or without any means of sustenance. This includes abandoned children, street children, runaway children and missing children; who live with a person (guardian or not) who is unfit to exercise control over the child or where there is a chance of the child being killed, abused or neglected by the person; who are mentally or physically challenged, ill or suffering from terminal illness or incurable disease and have no one who can support or look after them; who are abused, tortured or exploited for purpose of sexual abuse or illegal acts; who are vulnerable to being inducted into drug abuse or trafficking; who are victims of armed conflict, civil commotion, or natural calamity; who are likely to be abused for unconscionable gain. These include abandoned, orphaned, trafficked minors rescued from red-light area, child labourers rescued from factories, lost, runaways, special needs children and children of prisoners. Institutions, Programmes and Initiatives for Children There are several programmes and services operating in the country to meet the needs of vulnerable children.
Here we shall briefly describe some significant initiatives and efforts in order to acquaint you with the various activities carried out by the government and the non-governmental organisations. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) of the Government of India. It is the world’s largest early childhood