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Replying to a brief debate on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2010, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said segregation of children suffering from leprosy, sexually transmitted disease, Hepatitis-B, TB and unsound mind is not required.
"In the opinion of experts also, segregation is no more necessary for the treatment of such children," she said.
The minister said the Delhi High Court had also held that there was a need to amend discriminatory legislations and to ensure that persons suffering from leprosy enjoy equal status.
The bill seeks the omission and amendment of certain sections of the original Act, which had provisions for "removal" of such children from the juvenile homes to treatment centres.
She said the segregation of the children from the Home will have adverse impact on their mind and they will feel stigma.
While supporting the amendments, several members expressed concern over pitiable condition of juveniles homes, which lacked basic amenities like sanitation and proper food.
Besides, the members said there were instances of sexual abuse of the children in these Homes by the authorities.
There are no separate courts of these delinquents and they are produced in the normal courts and taken by the police there, the members said, adding it went against the spirit of the Act.
Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP) said the juvenile crime graph is on rise even in the national capital.
He wanted to know as to who will bear the cost of treatment of the juveniles outside the homes as provided in the bill. He stated poverty and illiteracy are the main causes of juvenile delinquency.
Khanna said proper facilities for sports and education should be provided and rued children in homes have to clean their toilets and cook food themselves.
Noting that there is no facility for medical-check up in the homes, his colleague S S Ahlulwalia demanded frequent check-up facilities.
Tirath said the Centre provides Rs 10 lakh to each state having 15 districts and a sum of Rs 20 lakh to those with more districts from the Integrated Child Protection Scheme for health care.
She said constitution of Juvenile Justice Boards is the responsibility of states.
Members, however, reacted saying the amount was inadequate.
Rudra Narayan Pany (BJP) said that the members would provide fund from MPLAD scheme.
R C Singh (CPI) also drew the attention of the House towards rise in juvenile crime graph.
Ganga Charan (BSP) said a committee of local representatives including MPs and MLAs should be constituted to look into irregularities in the running of homes.
Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M), EMS Nachiappan (Congress), Shashi Bhushan Behera (BJD)and Ranjit Singh V Mohite Patil (NCP) also took part in debate.
