Child Protection in India: Assessing Multi-disciplinary Response Mechanisms

Child Protection in India: Assessing Multi-disciplinary Response Mechanisms offers a comprehensive exploration of the institutional, legal, and social frameworks surrounding child protection in India. Anchored in a multidisciplinary approach, the book brings together insights from law, social work, psychology, education, and public policy to examine how various systems interact in addressing the issues related to protection of children from abuse, neglect, trafficking, and exploitation.

This book is intended for researchers, academicians, legal professionals, social workers, policymakers, child rights activists, and students engaged in child welfare and protection studies. It critically analyses existing response mechanisms by stakeholders such as the Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, Child Care Institutions, police, and the judiciary, and the implementation of various laws, including Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, the POCSO Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, while also highlighting challenges in inter-agency coordination.

By combining chapters under four broad themes focusing on empirical research, policy review, and case studies, this volume equips readers with a nuanced understanding of the gaps and strengths in current practices and highlights of best practices around the world. The book aims to foster a rights-based and child-centric approach, encouraging collaboration across disciplines and sectors. It is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to engage meaningfully with child protection frameworks in India and to contribute to more effective, sustainable interventions.

Paromita Chattoraj is Professor of Law at the National Law University Odisha (NLUO).