BUDGET FOR CHILDREN IN - New budget 2018-19

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At 11 AM this morning the Finance Minister presented Union Budget2018-19 to the country. He presented it as the budget for #NewIndia. India’s 37% children (below the age of 18 years) are part of this new India. “Madam, while making the proposals in this year’s Budget, we have been guided by our mission to especially strengthen agriculture, rural development, health, education, employment, MSME and infrastructure sectors of Indian economy. I am sure the New India which we aspire to create now will emerge” Budget Speech by Shri Arun Jaitley As always, the allocations for children are presented in Statement 12 of the Expenditure Budget (this used to be Statement 22 till 2016-17).  Inclusion of new schemes in Statement 12 in 2018-19

It is interesting to see how the number of ministries and the number of schemes that are getting added into the Statement every year. This year’s additions are from the Ministry of Culture and includes:  

·         Central Institute of Buddhist Studies  

·         Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies

·         Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies

·         Promotion of Arts and Culture

·         Zonal Cultural Centres

 How any of them fit into budget for children remains a mystery!

Additionally there is an inclusion from the Ministry of Science and Technology- INSPIRE AWARD (MANAK).  

Fall in share for children despite new schemes included in Statement 12

Despite the inclusion of the new schemes, there is a fall in the over all share for children in 2018-19 budget. In fact, there has been a consistent fall in the share and one of the reasons attributed to this has been the fiscal devolution that puts the onus of allocating budgets for child related schemes to the states.

Sectoral Share for Children in the Union Budget

As always, Education has received the largest share and Protection the least and the share remains the same as last year (0.05%). This despite an almost 12 percent increase in Child Protection Scheme in 2018-19.

The Finance Minister in his speech said- Only Swasthya Bharat (healthy India) can be Sammriddha Bharat (Prosperous India). And yet, the share of allocations for child health in the budget does not reflect that. In fact, the share of child health has only fallen over the years only to increase by one percentage point this year. The share of education sector for children within the Union Budget has also seen a decrease despite the increase in allocations for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan.

Increase in Allocations in the Budget

·         There is an 11.8 % increase in the budget for Ministry of Women and Child Development.  

·         Some of the important schemes for children that have seen a welcome increase are:

·         There is a welcome 100% increase in National Nutrition Mission in the light of the fact that  the World Bank has estimated that India is one of the highest-ranking countries in the world for the number of children suffering from malnutrition. According to the World Bank, the prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the world, and is nearly double that of Sub Saharan Africa. Moreover, the 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) Report ranked India 97th out of 118 countries with a serious hunger situation. Amongst South Asian nations, it ranks third behind only Afghanistan and Pakistan with a GHI score of 29.0 ("serious situation").

·          There is 11.2% increase in the allocation for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan. It would be pertinent· to ask how much of this will come from the increased cess (now 4%) and how much will be from the government’s existing resources?  

·         The small increase in Rashtriya Madhamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) is particularly worrying in the light of the findings of the ASER report this year which has concentrated on the 14- 18year age group and found :  

·         About 25% of this age group still cannot read basic text fluently in their own language.·

·          53% of all 14 year-olds in the sample can read English sentences. For 18 year-old youth, this figure is closer to 60%. Of those who can read English sentences, 79% can say the meaning of the sentence.

·         Even among youth in this age group who have completed eight years of schooling, a significant  proportion still lack foundational skills like reading and math.

·         The enrollment gap between males and females in the formal education system increases with age.

·         There is hardly any difference between boys’ and girls’ enrollment at age 14; but at age 18, 32% females are not enrolled as compared to 28% males.  

·         A substantial proportion of youth in the 14-18 age group are working (42%), regardless of whether they are enrolled in formal education or not. Of those who work, 79% work in agriculture – almost all on their own family’s farm. Also, more than three quarters of all youth do household chores daily – 77 % of males and 89% of females.

·         There is only a very small increase of 5% in Mid-day meal scheme.

·         The 11.9 % increase in the Child Protection Scheme is indeed welcome, especially since child protection continues to receive the least share of the resources.

Some of the schemes that have seen a reduction in allocations:

·         Nirbhaya Fund has received no increase in allocations at all. And this despite the 12.3 %· increase in rapes of women and girls in 2016 over the last year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).  

·         Allocation for Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes has been cut by 10.4%

·         The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana has been cut by 11.1%. Given the large number of adolescent girls who become under age mothers, a cut in the scheme raises concerns.  

Prepared by: HAQ Newdelhi

Wishing a Happy National Girl Child Day 2018

Minor Girl sent by own father for sexual abuse

It is sad how cases of sexual assault and rape are so common these days that they don't really shock us anymore. However, the series of events, the reasons behind the assault, and well, the brutality never ceases to send chills down one's spine.

One such case is that of a minor girl from Kerala, who was reportedly raped by six men!

That's not it.

As per a report in The Times of India, she was sent to alleged abusers by-her own father!

Yes, you read that right. The physically challenged man helped one of the accused (Athira aka Gloria, 24) to take the minor out and the reason is as shocking as his act.

"Athira used to pay the father money to buy alcohol. The dad was aware of Athira's intentions when he took the child from home at night to several places.

He has been remanded," said DYSP Alappuzha, PV Baby, who is investigating the case. The official also added that the father, an alcohol addict was paid a sum of Rs 300 for doing so.

What's also shocking is the fact that two of the other five abusers (Nelson Thomas, 40; SI KG Laiju, 38; Jinumon, 22; and Prince, 28) are government officials! While Thomas happens to be a civil police officer attached to Narcotics Cell, Laiju is a Mararikkulam probationary sub-inspector!

Needless to say, they have been suspended and the accused have been booked under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 363 (Kidnapping), 366A (Procuration of minor girl), 370 (Trafficking) and 34 of the IPC, besides relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"The accused persons were arrested based on the statements of the girl and the main accused Athira. Our search is still on," said the DSP.

However, as per a report in the Deccan Chronicle, members of the Kerala Students' Union (KSU) marched to the DYSP's office on Saturday, alleging that the officials were trying to save the accused high-rank officials. They also demanded that the case should be investigated only by a team led by an IG rank officer.

Minors abused in Ashram

Famous lyricist and poet Vairamuthu alleges that his words have been twisted in regard to the Andal controversy, more abuse has come his way over the last two days. This time however the source of malice is shocking - children who are part of the ‘Swami’ Nithyananda Ashram. 

In multiple videos, doing the rounds on social media, girls and boys are seen using expletives, many sexual in nature, as they question the lyricist's comments on Andal, an Alvar saint. This has generated anger amongst the general public, which has found the use of children in such a manner objectionable. Following this, prominent activist Piyush Manush has written a complaint to the Karnataka police demanding that action be taken under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Nityananda’s main ashram is situated at Bidadi in Ramanagara district of Karnataka.

In a 19 minute video, a teenage girl dressed in saffron says, "I got up and finished puja. So I decided to specially add something on Vairamuthu. A crowd here is waiting to abuse you (Vairamuthu)."

The crowd that she refers to is in fact younger girls who are looking into the camera eagerly. When the teenager pans the phone to show these minors, they begin shouting expletives at the phone.

The teenager then comes back on frame to say, "He (Vairamuthu) has 10,000 mistresses. There are people who don't even have one. I am asking you, you are making 16 year old girls talk like this..."

The minor that she refers to then says, "We should hit their (Vairamuthu's) women in the middle of the road to teach them a lesson."

In another video posted in the second week of January, she introduces herself as the ‘princess’ of Nithyananda ashram and says that she is a 16-year-old.

A video compilation of abuses from his followers shows two young boys using explicit language which is sexual in nature. Someone facing them seems to be further prompting them through the tirade. The young boys say "What if we talk this way about your mother?" before going on to use objectionable language.

Other videos show older disciples taking turns to abuse the lyricist. In his complaint to the Director General of Police (Karnataka) Piyush says, " I am writing this with deep distress after watching a few videos being circulated in the social media widely featuring children and others housed and schooled in Swami Nithyananda ashram, Bidadi, Karnataka. I am attaching a FB link for your good offices to purview the link and examine for yourself the sexually explicit content in which children have put to use to perform in acts that they in their age will never be able to comprehend the effects thereof. Even if it is claimed that it is a willful act of the children the said institution needs to be taken to task as custodians of the young minds."

He has demanded that a case be filed against the ashram and Nithyananda. In addition to this, he has asked the police to also consider the Misuse of Religious institution Act.

"In the publicly circulated material they have attacked individuals and their families, misused their permissions of conducting educational activity, violated laws pertaining to disturbing peace and tranquility amongst communities as they have been asking and inducing people to act against Muslims and Christians etc.. Above all the acts that children have been filmed to be engaged in makes it makes a clear case for the institution of Swami Nithyananda," says the complaint.

An expert TNM spoke to said that making children do such videos is liable for prosecution under Section 23 of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

What is also disturbing are the comments posted by people under these videos uploaded on Face book, YouTube etc. Many have posted sexually loaded comments targeting these minors. In another video, the 16-year-old Nithyananda disciple points out that the reactions to her video can be considered as child sexual abuse.

When TNM contacted BJP sources over their views on this malicious campaign against Vairamuthu, a leader on the condition of anonymity says, "They are lowering the impact of our campaign. The overwhelming majority of people from the BJP are critical about what the Nithyananda disciples are doing. They represent the extreme Hindu fringe groups and bring a bad name to Hinduism. There are so many videos and the intention seems to be to gain some mileage. It is unfortunate and reflects badly on the religion."

Another BJP leader further says, "We don't want anything to do with them and have always kept our distance."

BJP leaders however agree that Nithyananda could be trying to gain some political capital by trying to side with the BJP and other Hindu groups against Vairamuthu.

Prominent writers, actors and several others have, however, openly condemned the activities of the Ashram. 

 In a tweet on Sunday, actor Prasanna said, "Honestly the ones degrading the Hindu religion are the followers of Nithyananda. This is a group that must be destroyed. Sudikodutha sudarkodi (Andal) must burn these people."

Trans national feminist collective working on Shortcomings of Penal Policies

​

Jasmine George <jasmine.lovelygeorge@gmail.com> Jan 14 (3 days ago)

This is really important ! I willing to help with this webinar in any capacity!

Meanwhile sharing a webinar which was conducted by RESURJ : Trans national feminist collective working on Shortcomings of Penal Policies in Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Rights Violations : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sjDkvF-tMw#action=share. I have been working with them on developing more work around this theme! 

Copy of their statement : http://resurj.org/sites/default/files/2017-07/Shortcomings%20of%20Penal%20Policies%20Meeting%20Statement-English.pdf


Jasmine Lovely George
Creator
Hidden Pockets
www.hidden-pockets.com
https://www.facebook.com/hiddenpockets
https://twitter.com/Hidden_Pockets

Andhra Pradesh mulls law to criminalise sex buyers

Andhra Pradesh mulls law to criminalise sex buyers

Monday January 15, 2018 10:23 PM, ummid.com & Agencies

Hyderabad: In a first, Andhra Pradesh is exploring the option to criminalise sex buyers in order to address the core of the problem of sex trafficking.

According to reports, the AP government on Friday appointed a panel of legal experts and campaigners to study anti-trafficking laws that could be applied to buyers of sex, and to make recommendations within 60 days.

"The sex buyer, who generates the demand and is at the core of the problem of sex trafficking, often escapes the law," Times of India reported citing a government order issued by the department of Women and Child Welfare Department.

"AP becomes the first state to explore the option of criminalizing demand for flesh trade," said anti-trafficking activist Sunita Krishnan, who will be on the seven-member advisory group.

"Girls will continue to be sold until buyers are criminalised", she added.

She also appreciated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for "thinking bold" and standing up for the safety of women and children.

Of an estimated 20 million sex workers in India, 16 million women and girls are victims of trafficking, according to a 2013 report called by four non-profit groups, including Dunya and the Omidyar Network, according to Reuters.

Public calls to criminalise those paying to have sex with children have increased recently, and BJP leader Shaina NC set up a change.org petition last month to seek tougher action.

"Children are being preyed upon by men who sometimes pay as little as Rs.100 to have sex with a minor", Shaina says in her petition which so far has been signed by more than 123,000 supporters.

"And these are the men, the customers, who sustain the organised crime of pushing children into prostitution.

"From red light areas to online portals and even private guest houses and apartments, the places where this exploitation takes place keep changing but what has remains constant is the demand.

"As long as there is demands from the customers, this horrific illegal trade will continue.

"I want these men to be arrested so that the society knows their true face and we can safeguard our children against these predators", Shaina NC says in the petition.

In A First, Andhra Pradesh To Criminalise Sex Buyers

There are strict laws against human trafficking, sexual abuse and operating brothels. Pimps, brothel managers and traffickers are often prosecuted. Yet, those who buy sex from people forced to work in brothels, including children, rarely face charges.

All India | Reuters | Updated: January 15, 2018 18:04 IST

MUMBAI:  Andhra Pradesh will become the first state in the country to target people who purchase sex in brothels as part of a crackdown on the sexual slavery of women and children, authorities said.

There are strict laws against human trafficking, sexual abuse and operating brothels. Pimps, brothel managers and traffickers are often prosecuted. Yet, those who buy sex from people forced to work in brothels, including children, rarely face charges.

That needs to change, authorities say.

"People who purchase sex go scot free," said H Arun Kumar, the state government's commissioner for women's development and child welfare.

Andhra Pradesh last week appointed a panel of legal experts and campaigners to study anti-trafficking laws that could be applied to buyers of sex, and to make recommendations within 60 days.

Panel member Sunitha Krishnan pointed to a section of the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, which says charges may be applied to a "person who carries on prostitution and the person with whom such prostitution is carried on".

Campaigners say that anti-trafficking efforts will not work as long as police fail to target people who visit brothels where sexual slavery occurs.

"The buyers are the ones creating the demand," Ms Krishnan said. "Girls will continue to be sold until buyers are criminalised."

Of an estimated 20 million sex workers in India, 16 million women and girls are victims of trafficking, according to a 2013 report called by four non-profit groups, including Dunya and the Omidyar Network.

Public calls to criminalise those paying to have sex with children have increased recently, and a politician from BJP set up a change.org petition last month to seek tougher action.

© Thomson Reuters 2018