By IANS,
New Delhi : A total 17,205 children benefited from open shelters provided under a government scheme in nine states last year, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said Monday.
The recently introduced Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) provides open shelters for children in need of care including street kids in urban and semi-urban areas, the minister informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
“During 2009-10, 17,205 children were benefited under the Open Shelter component of ICPS in nine states,” Tirath said.
“Such shelters provide space for children where they can play, use their time productively, engage in creative activities… It also provides for fulfilling their basic requirements of food, nutrition and health. Provisions have also been made for bridge education and vocational training for such children,” she added.
The ministry has allocated Rs.300 crore to the ICPS for the 2010-2011 financial year.
Tirath said that since the scheme was started in the last financial year, it was “not ripe” for evaluation.