By Sreeparna Chakrabarty
Published: 01st May 2016 07:56:52 AM
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to keep track of children across all juvenile homes and adoption centres in the country, the government has decided to make Aadhaar enrollment compulsory for all such juveniles. This will also help in curbing crimes against children, such as trafficking, as it will give them a foolproof identity as well as enable them to avail government schemes.
“We are considering the move as children who come into juvenile homes or correctional facilities just disappear when they leave. To rehabilitate them, we need a very strong identification mechanism,” an official in the Ministry of Women and Child Development told The Sunday Standard.
The move comes in the backdrop of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducting a survey of juvenile homes, which is a precursor to major changes and improvements which the government is planning in them.
“Though the process of providing Aadhaar to juvenile homes has already started, we will begin on a mass footing when the survey is completed,” the official said.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India. It serves as a proof of identity and address anywhere in India.
The government has already made registration of all children’s homes compulsory with the new amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act. Juvenile homes and children’s homes in India have pathetic living conditions, with crimes being committed against children in them.