National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

Why in news?

• The Supreme Court sought a response from the country’s apex child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), to its request to eight States to “produce” children living in care homes before the local child welfare committees for their “immediate repatriation” with their families.

About the commission:

• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body established under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.

Under which Ministry?

• Works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

Mandates

• To ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.

Members

• The commission consists of a chairperson and six other members; out of which at least two are woman.
• All are appointed by the Central Government for three years.

Activities:

• Take up specific complaints that come up before it, take up suo moto cases, summon the violators of child rights and recommend to the Government or the Judiciary, action based on an inquiry.
• Proper research and documentation on the rights of children.
• Look at the gaps in the policy framework and the legal framework to see that rights-based perspective is adhered to.

Additional responsibilities:

• Right to Education Act 2009 allows NCPCR to examine the safeguards for rights provided under this Act, inquire into complaints and take necessary steps.
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 also allows NCPCR to monitor the implementation and provisions of POSCO Act.

About Child Welfare Committee:

• The Child Welfare Committee is an autonomous body declared as a competent authority to deal with children in need of care and protection.
• Section 27 of Chapter V of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 talks about the Child Welfare Committee.
• It is mandatory to form one or more Child Welfare Committees in every district for exercising power and to discharge the duties conferred in relation to children in need of care and protection.
• This committee consists of a Chairperson and other four members who according to the State Government are fit to be appointed, at least one of whom should be a woman and the other should preferably be an expert on matters that are concerning the children.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): 
1.It is a statutory Body.
2.It works under the control of ministry of social justice.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims Question