Maharashtra Cabinet approved Rs.2 crore annual fund for juvenile homes in the state

The Maharashtra state cabinet approved a Juvenile Justice Fund for the welfare and rehabilitation of children in juvenile homes across the state on 12 February 2020. The cabinet also approved a proposal to make an Rs.2 crore annual budgetary provision for the fund. The fund will be used for the welfare of more than 21,178 children in over 560 juvenile homes across the state.

Juvenile Justice Fund:

♦ As per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the setting up of Juvenile Justice Fund for children in institutional care is mandatory. 

♦ A similar provision in the Maharashtra State Juvenile Justice Rules, 2018 states that a fund must be set up under the Women and Child Welfare Commissionerate, which accepts funds from individuals, trusts and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 

♦ The new fund will enable the government to provide finances for the children in juvenile homes. 

♦ The fund will be used to implement programmes that are not covered under any state or central government scheme.