KOCHI: As many as 73 un-registered childcare institutions (CCI) including orphanages are functioning in Ernakulam while the total number of registered and unregistered institutions is 153, the highest in the state. The state has a total 1163 child care institutions. As per the Supreme Court directive issued in May, 2017 the state governments have to ensure that all CCIs, whether run by a state government or by voluntary organisations or NGOs, for housing children in need of care and protection shall be registered as per the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.
The apex court specified December 31, 2017 as the deadline to comply with the norm. The Supreme Court issued the directive while considering a PIL from Tamil Nadu. “The State government has issued an order in this regard and we have convened a meeting of representatives of CCIs on December 18. However, only 80 institutions have made the registration. Though the state government has proposed to extend the deadline to March, we are yet to get any formal communication in this regard,” said sources with Social Justice Department.
There are several CCIs providing care and protection to children from economically poor families who are not orphans. Many institutions are reluctant to register under JJ Act 2015 which sets minimum standards of care. As per the Act, the government can close down the CCIs which fail to comply with the norms. “Even the apex court made the remark that registration under JJ Act has been poor in Kerala compared to other states. Though a district level programme was convened for representatives of CCIs to create awareness on the significance of registration under JJ Act, only 80 institutions submitted the application for registration,” sources added. The childcare institutions in the state have been functioning as per the Orphanage Control Act 1960.
