Financial Interpretation of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) on Nutrition for Children

Children's experiences of poverty and vulnerability are multidimensional and differ from those of others. Around 170 million or 40% of children in India are vulnerable to or experiencing difficult circumstances (Udayan Care & UNICEF). Children undergo complex physical, psychological and intellectual development as they grow, and are also often more vulnerable to malnutrition, disease, abuse and exploitation (UNICEF). The Government of India recognises all the vulnerable children as "Children in difficult circumstances; characterised by their specific social, economic and geo-political situation". In addition to providing a safe environment for these children, it is vital to ensure that all other children also remain protected. Child protection is integrally linked to every other right of the child, and failure to ensure children's right to protection adversely affects all other rights of the child (MWCD), and failure to protect children has serious consequences on the physical, mental, emotional and social development of a child. These development indicators are also directly linked to the nutritional intake of a child. Under-nutrition of children is a major public health problem and children under five years of age are more vulnerable than others. Children residing in Social Welfare Hostels/orphanages are more prone to malnutrition compared to children staying at home with their parents. This could lead to more morbidity among these children (Bhat & Bangera, 2017). Hence, a proper surveillance of their nutrition status is required to ensure optimum health and nutrition care. Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is based on the principles of'protection of child rights' and 'best interests of the child' and aims to institutionalize services for emergency outreach, family and community based care, counselling and support. ICPS sensitizes functionaries in the system towards child protection and raise public awareness. It seeks to put in place both preventive and curative mechanisms for a child needing protection from exploitation, harassment, health hazards etc. The model adopts Government-Civil Society partnership to ensure child protection and create a safe and healthy environment for the children of India. It was found that due to lack of regular supervision and commitment to implement and monitor standards of child care institutions, lack of maintaining standard care (food, accommodation, sanitation, leisure) in all institutions due to lower funding, staff etc, children do not get adequate food and nutrition, environment for the development of health both physically and psychologically (NIPCCD, 2011; NIPCCD, 2001; MWCD, 2007; IRMED, 2009-10). Though ICPS is a flagship child protection scheme for the development of health and nutrition of children through institutional settings in India where large numbers of children live, hardly any study was found to focus on budget to maintain their health and nutritional needs. Even disaggregated data is also not available about the number of children of different age groups who are staying in institutions due to their vulnerabilities and number of children homes that are running in India. So it is difficult to calculate the amount provided for food and nutrition to normal and sick children. Therefore, this scheme needs to be more focussed, as ICDS scheme is also for better child health and nutrition We must also pay attention to the food and nutrition impact ofthi s programme particularly towards enhancing better health of the children.