Abstract
The aim of this module from the book Rights-based Integrated Child Protection Service Delivery Systems is to review the service delivery systems for welfare, protection and justice for children in India. It starts with recapitulation of the cycle of problems in childhood and then examines the conceptual framework of service delivery for welfare, protection and justice for children having problems. It then reviews the history of service delivery approaches for welfare, protection and justice for children in India with reference to the institutional child welfare phase, the non-institutional child welfare and development phase, and the child rights and protection phase. The module reviews the Juvenile Justice Act in India with reference to the history, aim and approach, target groups, general principles, role of the police and the Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards and children’s institutions, and Rehabilitation and Social Re-Integration Services. It concludes that the residual approach to children in India has led to labelling of children by problems, fragmentation of services, focus on institutional services and neglect of family preservation services, neglect of recovery and rehabilitation, lack of universal availability and the retributive approach of the justice systems. This approach therefore does not help to break the recurring cycle of problems in childhood.