Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances: Right to Protection and Participation

Abstract

This chapter introduces all the categories of children in India who are in difficult circumstances. A brief description of the categories included are homeless children, migrant children, orphaned children, child workers, bonded children, street children, child beggars, child sex workers, children affected by AIDS, abused children, children in conflict with law and children with disabilities. Concept of child protection is put forth, followed by a discussion on child protection mechanism offered by the Government of India, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is deliberated. The reader also learns about the child line service. A brief overview of legislations for children like the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance act 1956, Juvenile Justice act 1986 and 2000, Prevention of Children against Sexual Offences act 2012, Prenatal Diagnostic Technique act 1994, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) act 1956, Child Marriage Restraint act 1929 and 2006, are some of the many acts introduced in this chapter.\rKeywords