What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Foster Care?
• Model Guidelines for Foster Care 2016
• Need to Revise the Foster Care Guidelines 2016
• Key Changes Introduced by the Revised Guidelines for Foster Care
• Implications of the Revised Guidelines for Foster Care

Why in News?

• The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) recently released revised Model Foster Care Guidelines 2024.
• This has now permitted single individuals to foster a child and adopt after two years, doing away with the rule that limited foster care to married couples.

What is Foster Care?

• Fostering is an arrangement in which a child temporarily lives with either extended family or unrelated individuals.
• In India, children who can be fostered have to be above the age of six years living in child care institutions and having “unfit guardians”.
• Minors who are placed in the category of “hard to place/ children having special needs” can also be fostered.

Model Guidelines for Foster Care 2016:

• These guidelines (brought by the MWCD) detail the procedures, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, along with various aspects related to the implementation of the foster care program in the districts.
• Under the guidelines, children in the age group of 6-18 years,
  • Whose parents are unable to take care of them due to reasons such as mental illness, poverty or imprisonment and
  • Those staying in child care institutions will be placed in foster care.
• Children in the age group 0-6 years will not prefer to be considered for placement in foster care as such small children will be encouraged for adoption under the Regulations Governing Adoption of Children, 2017.

Need to Revise the Foster Care Guidelines 2016:

• The guidelines have been revised in accordance with the amendment to-
  • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2021 and
  • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules 2022.
• The change in guidelines was needed since single individuals were allowed to adopt children, but were not allowed to foster (as per the earlier guidelines).

Key Changes Introduced by the Revised Guidelines for Foster Care:

• Opening up fostering to any person:
  • Irrespective of their marital status (single/ unmarried/ widow/ divorcee/ legally separated) and whether or not they “have biological son or daughter”.
  • However, while a single woman can foster and eventually adopt a child of any gender, a man can only do so for male children.
• Allows the foster parent to adopt a child: After s/he has been in foster care for a minimum of two years, as opposed to five years earlier.
• Guidelines for married couples who want to foster: No child shall be given in foster care to a couple/spouse unless they have had a stable marital relationship of two years.
  • Earlier, there was no such caveat for couples.
• Age of the foster parents:
  • While the 2016 guidelines stated that both spouses must be above the age of 35, the revised guidelines are more specific.
• Registration of the foster parents: The foster parents can now register online through a platform - Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS), which is already being used by prospective adoptive parents for registration.

Implications of the Revised Guidelines for Foster Care:

• The changes might encourage more people to apply for foster care.
  • According to data with the MWCD, there were 1,653 children (as of March, 2024) in foster care in States and UTs, excluding Goa, Haryana, and Lakshadweep.
• It will give more clarity to people who are accepting a child for foster care that foster care is intended to be temporary care for a child (till the biological family is found to be capable for the child to go back to them).
• The changes might encourage more people to apply for child adoption.
  • Between Sept 2022 (when the Model Rules were notified) and July 2024, a total of 23 children in foster care were adopted by the families after two years of care.

Q.1. What is the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (JJA), 2015?

The JJA addresses children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection. The Act fulfils India's commitment as a signatory to the UN Convention on the rights of the child, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (1993), etc.

Q.2. What is the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS)?

CARINGS is an online platform in India, building bridges and creating links through a robust web-based management system designed to bring transparency in the adoption system and also curtailing delays at various levels.

Source: Single parent can now foster children, adopt after 2 years | Vikaspedia

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Godda project
• Bangladesh's need for power imports
• Change in India’s power export rules

Why in News?

Recently, an amendment to India’s power export rules was introduced. This amendment is aimed at mitigating political risks in Bangladesh. The amendment allows Indian power exporters to reroute their electricity output to Indian grids if there are delays in payments from partner countries.

Despite this, Adani Power, which operates a plant in Godda, Jharkhand, that supplies all its generated power to Bangladesh, stated that the amendment would not impact its existing contract and reaffirmed its commitment to supplying electricity to Bangladesh.

Godda project

• About
  • The Godda plant is India's first transnational power project, dedicated entirely to exporting electricity to another country.
  • Adani Power's subsidiary in Jharkhand supplies 1,496 megawatts of power to Bangladesh from its ultra super-critical thermal power plant in Godda.
  • This supply is part of a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) established in November 2017.
• Significance
  • Adani Power highlighted that the power supplied from Godda positively impacts Bangladesh by replacing expensive liquid fuel-based electricity, thereby reducing the overall cost of power in the country.
  • According to BPDB's 2022-23 report, Bangladesh's total installed generation capacity was 24,911 MW as of June 2023, with over 10% (2,656 MW) imported from India.
  • This includes 1,496 MW from the Godda plant, contributing around 6% of the total.
  • India's Ministry of Power emphasized in its 2016 guidelines that electricity exchange across South Asia would foster economic growth and improve the quality of life for all participating nations.
• Criticism
  • Criticisms have arisen regarding the use of coal imported from Australia's Carmichael mine to produce power in India for export to Bangladesh.
  • As per reports, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Adani Power and Bangladesh allowed the company to pass the high costs of importing and transporting coal, as well as transmitting electricity across the border, onto Bangladesh.
  • In February 2023, United News of Bangladesh reported that the BPDB requested a revision of the PPA.
  • It argued that the $400/MT coal price quoted by Adani Power was excessive compared to the less than $250/MT paid for coal at other thermal plants.
  • Additionally, critics highlighted concerns about the high capacity and maintenance charges imposed by Adani Power, which were considered very high by industry standards, even when no electricity was generated.

Bangladesh's need for power imports

• Bangladesh's need for power imports stems from the underutilisation of its power plants.
• Despite significant progress in expanding electricity access, particularly in rural areas, the country faces fuel and gas supply constraints, leading to underutilisation of its power generation capacity.
• This situation was exacerbated by the global energy crisis following Russia's actions in Ukraine, prompting Bangladesh to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July 2022.
• The country experienced severe blackouts, sometimes lasting up to 13 hours a day, due to difficulties in sourcing enough diesel and gas to meet demand.
• Additionally, Bangladesh-based activists highlight the issue of overcapacity in the country's power sector.
  • As of June 30, 2023, Bangladesh had a total power generation capacity of 28,098 MW, but the highest generation recorded was only 16,477 MW, leaving an unutilised capacity of about 11,621 MW.

Change in India’s power export rules

• The recent regulatory change in India’s power export rules offers greater flexibility to power exporters by allowing them to access the domestic market.
• This will reduce reliance on external markets, and help mitigate risks from instability or economic challenges in neighboring countries.
• The delays in payments have been common due to an internal vetting process within the BPDB, which involves evaluating coal prices and other expenditures before finalizing payments.
• Regarding the potential impact on Bangladesh from this regulatory change, experts highlighted that even if the power supply from India were suddenly halted, the effects would be temporary, lasting only 2 to 3 days, without significant long-term consequences.

Q.1. What are the recent changes in India's power export rules?

India amended its power export rules to allow rerouting electricity to domestic grids if payments from partner countries are delayed. This aims to mitigate risks in politically unstable regions like Bangladesh.

Q.2. How does the Godda project impact Bangladesh's energy needs?

Adani Power’s Godda project supplies 1,496 MW to Bangladesh, helping reduce reliance on expensive liquid fuel-based electricity and lowering overall power costs in the country.

Source: A change in India’s power export rules | Explaine

The Ladki Bahin Yojana, also known as the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, is a flagship welfare scheme launched by the Government of Maharashtra. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to women from economically weaker sections of the state, promoting their self-reliance and socio-economic development.

Ladki Bahin Yojana Objectives

The primary objective of the Ladki Bahin Yojana is to empower women by providing them with a monthly financial stipend. This support is intended to help women meet their basic needs, enhance their quality of life, and promote gender equality. The scheme is also designed to encourage women’s participation in various socio-economic activities, thereby fostering their overall development.

Ladki Bahin Yojana Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Ladki Bahin Yojana, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Residency: The applicant must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra.
• Income: The annual family income should be less than ₹2.5 lakh.
• Employment: Women who are employed in government jobs or who pay income tax are not eligible for this scheme.

Ladki Bahin Yojana Age Limit

The scheme is applicable to women aged between 21 and 65 years. This age range ensures that a broad spectrum of women, including young adults and senior citizens, can benefit from the financial support provided by the scheme.

Ladki Bahin Yojana Benefits

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a scheme launched by the Maharashtra government to support women in the state. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Monthly Financial Assistance: Eligible women receive ₹1,500 every month.
2. Free LPG Cylinders: Three free LPG gas cylinders are provided annually.
3. Educational Support: Fee waivers for poor girls belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) for higher education admissions in colleges.
4. Eligibility: The scheme is available to women aged 21 to 65, including married, widowed, divorced, abandoned, and destitute women. 

Documents Required for Ladki Bahin Yojana Maharashtra

To apply for the Ladki Bahin Yojana, you’ll need the following documents:

1. Aadhaar Card: For identity verification.
2. Bank Account Details: The account should be linked with Aadhaar.
3. Age Proof: Birth certificate or any other valid document.
4. Ration Card: For family details and income proof.
5. Residence Certificate: To prove you are a resident of Maharashtra.
6. Income Certificate: To verify that the annual family income is below ₹2.5 lakh.
7. Caste Certificate: If applicable.
8. Passport Size Photograph: Recent photo for the application form.

These documents ensure that the benefits reach the eligible women effectively.

How to Apply for the Ladki Bahin Yojana Scheme?

Women can apply for the Ladki Bahin Yojana through the following steps:

1. Online Application: Eligible women can apply online via the official website or the Nari Shakti Dhoot app.
2. Assistance from Local Officials: For those unable to apply online, local administration officials such as anganwadi workers and gram sevaks are available to assist with the application process.
3. Required Documents: Applicants need to submit essential documents such as Aadhar card, bank passbook, and proof of residence.

The Ladki Bahin Yojana is a significant step towards empowering women in Maharashtra, providing them with the necessary financial support to lead independent and dignified lives.

Ladki Bahin Yojana FAQs

Q1. Who are eligible for Ladki Bahin Yojana?

Ans. Women aged 21 to 65, including married, widowed, divorced, abandoned, and destitute women.

Q2. Who is eligible for Ladli Behna Yojana?

Ans. Women aged 23 to 60 years with an annual family income below ₹2.5 lakh.

Q3. What are the benefits of Mazi Ladki Bahin?

Ans. Monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500, three free LPG cylinders annually, and educational fee waivers for poor girls.

Q4. What is the income limit for Ladki Bahin in Maharashtra?

Ans. The annual family income should be below ₹2.5 lakh.

Q5. What documents are required for Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana?

Ans. Aadhaar card, bank account details, age proof, ration card, residence certificate, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), and a passport-size photograph.

Q6. Can an unmarried girl apply for Ladli Behna Yojana in Maharashtra?

Ans. Yes, unmarried girls are eligible to apply for Ladli Behna Yojana in Maharashtra