Engagement with Government
Through the last 15 years, Bal Raksha Bharat has a positive and collaborative relationship with the Government of India. BRB has collaborated closely with national, state and local governments and their agencies to address the most pressing issues of children. The nature of partnership includes influencing critical policies on child rights, providing technical expertise and creating spaces for children’s participation. We have stood shoulder to shoulder with the government and have been the first to reach and last to leave in times of humanitarian crises. To illustrate our programme and policy interventions to strengthen the nutritional and health status of children, adolescents and women, preventing childhood diseases and improving WASH practices have contributed to the implementation of Government’s Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 besides PM’s Swachh Bharat Mission. Our work on protecting children from harm also seamlessly aligns with the objectives of both Mission Vatsalya and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao of the Government.
Bal Raksha Bharat has played an active role during India’s ongoing G20 presidency. BRB was among the select group of Civil Society Organizations that were invited to be a part of the Civil 20 engagement group. BRB contributed to the ‘Working group on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment’ of Civil 20. BRB’s white paper on Women Economic Empowerment via education got published in the thematic book of the C20 working group. We were also part of the Education & Digital Transformation Working Group of Civil20. Bal Raksha Bharat has actively contributed to the Y20 Working Group on ‘Future of Work- Industry 4.0, Innovation and 21st Century Skills.
Some of the key government engagements, especially around policies for children, can be listed as follows:
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Integrated Child Protection
Scheme (ICPS), 2010As Bal Raksha Bharat we were proactively engaged in influencing the design of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). By the end of the first year, we had formed and strengthened CPCs, supported rehabilitation of 2,500 children from work to enrol into schools
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POCSO Act, 2012
The national study on child abuse published in 2007, which we conducted in partnership with MWCD, UNICEF and Prayas formed, which formed the base for further engagement with the government and contributed to The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
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Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
Our continuous engagement with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir was instrumental in passing of the Jammu & Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care and protection) Act, 2013 that brought the Juvenile Justice Act of Jammu & Kashmir in 2013 at par to the Juvenile Justice Act of India. Two key recommendations, submitted in non-paper to MWCD, were included in the amendment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2021.
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The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, (CALPRA) 1986
Bal Raksha Bharat was nominated by Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) to be part of a Central Advisory Board (CAB) on Child and Adolescent Labour where we were able to present technical input and recommendations on child labour. The amendment to the CALPRA was passed in the Parliament, and we welcomed the inclusion of the 15–18-year age group within its ambit.Our recommendations were also included in National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) guidelines “Prevention of Child trafficking due to COVID-19”
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SOP on Street Children, 2017 and 2020
Taking forward Bal Raksha Bharat’s research that mapped policies for children in street situations (CiSS) on the street, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), a first of its kind policy document that elaborates the process of care, protection, and restoration of children in street situations, was developed with NCPCR
In 2020 the SOP (2.0) for CiSS was developed in collaboration with NCPCR. The SoP was shared with PMO, as requested, to ensure interventions to address child protection issues in 50 religious’ towns of India. We also secured partnerships with WCD departments of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi and UP for identification of CISS (as per Supreme Court directive) to ensure effective implementation of the SOP 2.0 -
RMNCH coalition (Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health) Secretariat, 2012
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2012 constituted RMNCH coalition for improved reproductive maternal new-born and child health outcomes in India. The coalition was headed by ASMD, NRHM along with Joint Secretary and Deputy Commission from MoHFW. We were appointed to hold the secretariat of this national coalition. While revival of the RMNCH coalition in 2018, Bal Raksha Bharat was selected by MoHFW to convene the Urban Health working within the coalition.
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India Newborn Action Plan (INAP), 2014
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched India Newborn Action Plan in 2014. This was a remarkable step by GoI toward bringing down the Neonatal mortality rate and achieving the SDG goals by 2030. We contributed to and supported MoHFW in the development of ‘India Newborn Action Plan’. MoHFW has acknowledged and appreciated the technical support extended by Bal Raksha Bharat.
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Support to SAANS Campaign & IDCF Guidelines development & roll out, 2019
BRB with UNICEF and CHAI was the lead partner to support MoHFW in drafting and rolling out SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia successfully) guidelines and supporting the rollout of the same since 2019. In addition, we have been supporting IDCF (Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight) campaign since 2014.
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Statement of Intent (SoI) signed with NITI Aayog 2019
BRB had a signed Statement of Intent with NITI Aayog for Aspirational District Programme (ADP) in 3 Aspirational Districts in Jharkhand and Bihar. We have also closely worked with NITI Aayog and district administrations for policy engagement. We were invited to be part of NITI-CSO Working (Standing) Committee, and were member of thematic sub-groups: Health, Nutrition & Sanitation; Access to Justice; Education and later on the subgroup on Child Rights & Child Protection.
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New Education Policy, 2020
Three recommendations submitted by BRB were included in New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 released by Ministry of Education. Strategic partnership was established with National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) under the Ministry of Home Affairs to institutionalize training on Education in Emergency and develop state specific EIE roadmap.
-
Integrated Child Protection
Scheme (ICPS), 2010As Bal Raksha Bharat we were proactively engaged in influencing the design of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). By the end of the first year, we had formed and strengthened CPCs, supported rehabilitation of 2,500 children from work to enrol into schools
-
POCSO Act, 2012
The national study on child abuse published in 2007, which we conducted in partnership with MWCD, UNICEF and Prayas formed, which formed the base for further engagement with the government and contributed to The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
-
Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
Our continuous engagement with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir was instrumental in passing of the Jammu & Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care and protection) Act, 2013 that brought the Juvenile Justice Act of Jammu & Kashmir in 2013 at par to the Juvenile Justice Act of India. Two key recommendations, submitted in non-paper to MWCD, were included in the amendment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2021.
-
The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, (CALPRA) 1986
Bal Raksha Bharat was nominated by Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E) to be part of a Central Advisory Board (CAB) on Child and Adolescent Labour where we were able to present technical input and recommendations on child labour. The amendment to the CALPRA was passed in the Parliament, and we welcomed the inclusion of the 15–18-year age group within its ambit.Our recommendations were also included in National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) guidelines “Prevention of Child trafficking due to COVID-19”
-
SOP on Street Children, 2017 and 2020
Taking forward Bal Raksha Bharat’s research that mapped policies for children in street situations (CiSS) on the street, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), a first of its kind policy document that elaborates the process of care, protection, and restoration of children in street situations, was developed with NCPCR
In 2020 the SOP (2.0) for CiSS was developed in collaboration with NCPCR. The SoP was shared with PMO, as requested, to ensure interventions to address child protection issues in 50 religious’ towns of India. We also secured partnerships with WCD departments of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi and UP for identification of CISS (as per Supreme Court directive) to ensure effective implementation of the SOP 2.0
-
RMNCH coalition (Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health) Secretariat, 2012
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2012 constituted RMNCH coalition for improved reproductive maternal new-born and child health outcomes in India. The coalition was headed by ASMD, NRHM along with Joint Secretary and Deputy Commission from MoHFW. We were appointed to hold the secretariat of this national coalition. While revival of the RMNCH coalition in 2018, Bal Raksha Bharat was selected by MoHFW to convene the Urban Health working within the coalition.
-
India Newborn Action Plan (INAP), 2014
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched India Newborn Action Plan in 2014. This was a remarkable step by GoI toward bringing down the Neonatal mortality rate and achieving the SDG goals by 2030. We contributed to and supported MoHFW in the development of ‘India Newborn Action Plan’. MoHFW has acknowledged and appreciated the technical support extended by Bal Raksha Bharat.
-
Support to SAANS Campaign & IDCF Guidelines development & roll out, 2019
BRB with UNICEF and CHAI was the lead partner to support MoHFW in drafting and rolling out SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia successfully) guidelines and supporting the rollout of the same since 2019. In addition, we have been supporting IDCF (Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight) campaign since 2014.
-
Statement of Intent (SoI) signed with NITI Aayog for supporting Aspirational District Programming around in 3 districts of Bihar & Jharkhand, 2019
BRB had a signed Statement of Intent with NITI Aayog for Aspirational District Programme (ADP) in 3 Aspirational Districts in Jharkhand and Bihar. We have also closely worked with NITI Aayog and district administrations for policy engagement. We were invited to be part of NITI-CSO Working (Standing) Committee, and were member of thematic sub-groups: Health, Nutrition & Sanitation; Access to Justice; Education and later on the subgroup on Child Rights & Child Protection.
-
New Education Policy, 2020
Three recommendations submitted by BRB were included in New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 released by Ministry of Education. Strategic partnership was established with National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) under the Ministry of Home Affairs to institutionalize training on Education in Emergency and develop state specific EIE roadmap.