The National Children’s Fund (NCF) was set up by the Government of India during the year 1979. The National Policy for Children, announced in the year 1974 recognises children of the Nation as a ‘Supremely important asset’. Their nurture and development are the responsibility of the nation. In order to help and promote various welfare and development programmes for children, the Government of India, in the International Year of the Child (1979), created National Children’s Fund (NCF) with a corpus fund of rupees one lakh under the Charitable Endowment Act 1890. The Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development is the Chairperson of Board of Management of NCF. The Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development is its Working Chairperson.

The objectives of NCF are to raise funds from individuals, institutions, Corporates and others, to promote and fund the various programmes for children who are affected by natural calamities, disasters, distress and in difficult circumstances through voluntary agencies and State Governments in unserved and underserved areas including tribal and remote areas (as per the National Charter for Children, 2003) and children of prisoners, children affected by riots, aggression, trafficking and children of prostitutes, and to implement various programmes. The secretariat of the fund is located in National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), an autonomous body under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The funds raised in the NCF on account of accrued interest and donations received during each of the last three years and the current year are as under:

          (Apr-Nov.13)

This was stated by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister for Women and Child Development, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

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MV