ప్రత్యేక అవసరాల పిల్లలు,సీనియర్ సిటిజన్స్ ను కరోన నుండి రక్షించుటకు ప్రత్యేక ఉత్తర్వులు విడుదల...
ORDER:
In the order 1st read above, in view of COVID-19 situation in the country, the
Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued orders for lockdown for a
period of 21 days w.e.f. 25.03.2020. Accordingly, in compliance to the orders of
Government of India, vide reference 2nd read above, Government of Andhra Pradesh
have issued orders for lockdown of State for 21 days w.e.f. 25.03.2020.
2. In the order 3rd read above, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, has
issued Orders for operation of Homes meant for Children/disables/ senior citizens/
G.O copy
destitute/ Women/ widows, observation homes during the lockdown period.
3. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in its order dated 03.4.2020 in W.P (Civil)
No. 4/2020 issued certain directions to all the functionaries involved in the Juvenile
Justice (JJ) system.
4. In view of the above, the following instructions are hereby issued to the Director,
Juvenile Welfare, Correctional Services & Welfare of Street Children and Director,
Women Development & Child Welfare, District Collectors, Child Welfare Committees
(CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in
consonance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, for strict
compliance .
I. Measures to be taken by Child Welfare Committees:
• Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) are directed to proactively consider steps that
are to be taken in the light of COVID-19, while conducting their inquiries/
inspections and also whether a child or children should be kept in the Child Care
Institution (CCI) considering the best interest, health and safety concerns
• Special online sittings or video sessions may be called to consider measures that
may be taken to prevent children residing in the Children’s Homes, Special
Adoption Agencies (SAAs), and Open Shelters from risk of harm arising out of
COVID- 19
• Gate-keeping or preventive measures need to be considered and families
counseled to ensure that institutionalization is the last resort. Focus should be on
prevention of separation when possible.
• Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) to monitor cases telephonically for children
who have been sent back to their families and coordinate through the District
Child Protection Committees and Foster care and Adoption Committees
(SFCACs) for children in foster care.
As far as possible, online help desks and support systems for queries to be
established at the state level for children and staff in Child Care Institutions
(CCIs).
• It is important to consider that violence, including sexual and gender based
violence may be exacerbated in contexts of anxiety and stress produced by
lockdown and fear of the disease, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) can
monitor regularly through video conferencing, WhatsApp and telephonically to
ensure prevention of all forms of violence.
II. Measures to be taken by Juvenile Justice Boards and Children courts:
Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB) and Children’s Courts are to proactively consider
steps that are to be taken in the light of COVID-19, while conducting their
inquiries/inspections. Online or video sessions can be organized.
• The Juvenile Justice Boards/Children’s Courts may consider measures to
prevent children residing in Observation Homes, Special Homes and Places of
Safety from risk of harm arising out of COVID- 19.
• In this regard, JJBs and Children’s Courts are to proactively consider whether a
child or children should be kept in the Child Care Institution (CCI) considering the
best interest, health and safety concerns. These may include:
- Children alleged to be in conflict with law, residing in Observation Homes,
Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) shall consider taking steps to release all
children on bail, unless there are clear and valid reasons for the
application of the proviso to Section 12, Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
- Video conferencing or online sittings can be held to prevent contact for
speedy disposal of cases.
- Ensure that counselling services are provided for all children in
Observation homes.
It is important to consider that violence, including sexual violence may be
exacerbated in contexts of anxiety and stress produced by lockdown and fear of
the disease. JJBs would need to monitor the situation in the Observation Homes
on a regular basis.
III. Measures to be taken by Director JWCS&WSC and Director, WDCW:
The Director, Juvenile Welfare & Correctional Services & Director, Women
Development and Child Welfare are directed to:
• circulate information to all Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the state about how to
deal with COVID - 19 immediately, with instructions that awareness about
COVID- 19 is spread in a timely and effective manner;
• begin preparing for a disaster/emergency situation that may arise. Work with
Persons in Charge of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and District Child Protection
Units to plan staffing rotations or schedules to reduce in-person interaction by
Child Care Institution (CCI) staff, where feasible. Begin developing a system for
how to organise trained volunteers who could step in to care for children, when
the need arises;
• ensure that all government functionaries perform their duties diligently, and that
strict action would be taken should there be any dereliction of duty. As per Rule
66 (1), Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016, any dereliction of duty, violation of
rules and orders, shall be viewed seriously and strict disciplinary action shall be
taken or recommended by the Person-in-charge against the erring officials;
• make provisions to ensure that counselling is made available, and that there are
monitoring systems in place to prevent violence, abuse, and neglect, including
gender-based violence, which may be exacerbated in contexts of stress
produced by lockdown;
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