Tamil Nadu Fails to Implement 2022 Policy for 10674 Street Children

Child rights activists in Chennai have raised concerns over the Tamil Nadu government's failure to implement a national policy designed to protect street children. The Children in Street Situation (CiSS) Policy, framed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) under Mission Vatsalya in 2022, remains unimplemented in the state. This delay leaves an estimated 10,674 street children, including those in Chennai localities like Semmancheri, vulnerable and invisible to the child protection system.

Without the policy's active framework, children living on the streets are deprived of formal education, welfare schemes, identity documents, and healthcare. Many are exposed to begging rackets, drug peddling, and physical or sexual abuse.

Paul Sundar Singh, secretary of the Chennai-based non-profit Karunalaya, stated that the current system only reacts after children are rescued. In contrast, the CiSS policy provides for the proactive identification of street children and the preparation of individual rehabilitation plans. "Without a way to identify children living on streets, many remain invisible to the child protection system," Singh said, adding that children continue to live in danger unless a passerby, resident, NGO, or the police intervenes.

Vanessa Peter, founder of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRDUC), noted that implementing the policy requires seamless coordination among urban local bodies, district administrations, child protection units, police, and various state departments. She highlighted that the lack of coordination currently leads to rescued children being turned away by ill-equipped childcare institutions or returned to unsafe family environments without proper social investigations.

A major barrier for these children is the lack of identity documents like birth certificates or Aadhaar cards, which prevents school enrolment. Additionally, Virgil D’Sami, executive director of Arunodhaya, pointed out that adolescent girls on the streets lack privacy for basic hygiene.

To address educational gaps, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. S. Sameeran stated that the civic body is coordinating with NGOs to reintegrate out-of-school children and planning a socioeconomic survey of urban habitat tenements. While state officials claimed the policy is implemented, they did not provide details on how its provisions have been operationalised.