The Government of India has launched a scheme to provide support to pregnant girl child victims of sexual offenses under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. However, the scheme has several oversights and inconsistencies that need to be addressed. These include:
– The scheme’s name does not accurately reflect its intended purpose.
– The scheme has not been redrafted to reflect the inclusion of all pregnant girl victims under POCSO Act, leading to confusion.
– The scheme does not specify whether benefits will be provided to victims who opt for an MTP or have a miscarriage.
– The scheme requires all pregnant girls to be considered as Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP), which is contrary to prevailing legislations.
– The scheme provides for the placement of newborns in designated homes until the girl child victim attains the age of 18 years, which is contrary to the Adoption Regulations.
– The financial implications of the scheme are likely to be significant, given the high prevalence of child marriages and teenage pregnancies in India.