State Child Protection Society, West Bengal

Keeping in line with the guiding principles of ICPS, the aim of sponsorship is preserving families and encouraging parents to fulfil their responsibilities towards the growth and development of their children.

Under ICPS, two types of Sponsorship are provided :

• REHABILITATIVE-Children placed into institutions by families as a poverty coping measure to reunite them with their families
• PREVENTIVE–Support to families living in extreme conditions of deprivation or exploitation to enable the child to remain in his/her family

Sponsorship has been defined under JJA 2015, and individual, group and community sponsorship have been mentioned.Section 45 of JJA 2015 mentions sponsorship. Primary focus of sponsorship is on deinstitutionalization of children already residing in CCIs. Priority is given to children restored to families and who have either both or at least one parent alive. In certain cases, children staying with the grandparents may be included. The State Guidelines for Sponsorship was developed through consultation with NGOs and experts prior to this notification

Department of CD,WD & SW has passed order for formation of Sponsorship Approval Committee (SFCAC) in each district vide Memo No. 2296 (19)-SW/JJA 2014 dated 11.07.14.

The composition of SFCAC is as follows:

         District Child Protection Officer-Chairperson

         Protection Officer (Non-Institutional Care)-Member

         Protection officer (Institutional Care)-Member

         Chairperson/Member, Child Welfare Committee- Member

         Representative of SAA-Member

         Representative of a Voluntary Organization (working in the area of Child Protection with experience in restoration and family reunification)

Children up to 18 years of age

Children staying in child care institutions for more than six months continuously, who can be restored to their families, with financial support.

Physically disabled children who are school drop out because of financial reasons.

The total income of the family should not be more than Rs.24, 000 per year.

Priority shall be given to :

• Children of a single mother/widow/ grandparents.
• Children affected and infected with HIV AIDS.
• Children of Leprosy patients/HIV infected children.
• Children who are residing in Government homes.
• Vulnerable children who are residing in institutions which are declared as “fit institutions”.
• Children whose parent/bread earner is in a correctional home
• (Children of)Parents suffering from chronic ailments and from terminal diseases.
• (Children of)Parents who are disabled and incapacitated to work.
• Vulnerable children and the families from the community who are the victims of child marriage, child trafficking and child labor.