Standard Operating Procedure for Care and Protection of Children in street situations

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Care and Protection of Children in street situations was created by NCPCR in 2020. NCPCR is the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. It was created based on the learning experiences shared by Save the Children.

About the SOP

The SOP streamlines the interventions and processes regarding children in the street. It aims to converge different institutions and functionaries, Government schemes for a more holistic approach to address the issues of children in street situation. The SOP was first issued in 2016-17. Later, the SOP 2.0 was released in 2020.

How does the SOP operate?

The NCPCR in 1994 defined “street child” as a boy or girl for whom the street has become a habitual source of livelihood. According to the SOP, the first and foremost work of the stakeholders is to recognise and categorise the children in street situation. This is to be done based on the JJ Act, 2015. The act defines the child in need of care and protections as

• One who is found without home
• A child who works as labour
• A mentally ill child
• Child who is abused or tortured
• Who does not have parents or guardians
• Who has a parent but he or she is incapacitated to take care of the child
• Vulnerable to drugs
• Affected by armed conflict

After identifying the children in street situation, he or she is categorised. There are three main categories. They are as follows:

• Children without support and are living in the streets all alone
• The Children staying in the street during day and return to their respective homes in the night to their families living in slum or huts
• Children living in the streets with their families

After categorising, they are produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The CWC lists the needs of the child like health care, education, etc. Also, it makes a thorough inquiry about the child. The committee then provides proper solution. This includes providing Aadhar to the child, temporary shelter, counselling, enrolment of the child in Anganwadi centre, individual care plan, social investigation of the family, etc.

Need for the SOP

According to Save the Children, there are two lakh children in the streets of ten cities in four states of India. These states are Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. These children suffer from several vulnerabilities such as forced labour, deprivation of adult protection, work in unhealthy occupations, begging, rag picking, etc. They are subjected to sexual exploitation and physical abuse, inadequate nutrition, poor sanitary conditions, exposure to drug, and different range of psycho-social stresses. Also, they have no access to medical care and education. India has the largest child population in the world. Therefore, it is essential to take good care of them, especially during COVID times when hundreds are orphaned every day.