588 children rescued from violence & risk this fiscal year

KATHMANDU: The Government has rescued 588 children who were victims of violence or exposed to various risks during the current fiscal year, according to the Economic Survey 2082/83 released on Thursday.

The survey states that, by mid-March of the current fiscal year, the government had provided relief, protection, psychosocial counseling, and other support services to a total of 7,462 children, including the 588 children rescued from violence and risk.

In the previous fiscal year (2081/82), authorities had carried out the immediate rescue of 1,055 children facing violence or other risks.

Under the government’s “Street Child-Free Nepal” campaign, a total of 2,658 street children—2,258 boys and 400 girls—have been rescued, protected, and rehabilitated between April 2016 and mid-March 2026.

To strengthen child protection, the government has approved and implemented the National Strategy and Action Plan to End Child Marriage, 2082 and the Child-Responsive Budget Coding Procedure, 2082.

The survey further reveals that 1,176 children in conflict with the law are currently being accommodated in 10 juvenile correction homes across the country.

During the current fiscal year, a new juvenile correction facility for boys above the age of 18 came into operation at the Central Prison in Nuwakot.

Efforts to locate missing children have also shown significant progress. During the current fiscal year, authorities searched for 5,361 missing children, including 1,388 boys and 3,973 girls. Of these, 4,929 children—1,289 boys and 3,640 girls—were successfully located and reunited with their families.

In fiscal year 2081/82, authorities searched for 8,189 missing children nationwide and successfully reunited 7,604 of them with their families.

Similarly, of the 409 abandoned children found across the country during the previous fiscal year, 298 were reunited with their families after successful tracing efforts.

The remaining 111 children were placed in child care homes and temporary protection centers for care, protection, and rehabilitation.

The government has also expanded child rights institutions at the local level. With the coordination and support of the National Child Rights Council, Local Child Rights Committees have been formed and are operational in 394 of Nepal’s 753 local governments.

In addition, 490 local governments have appointed Child Welfare Officers, 310 have established Local Child Funds, and 442 have developed and implemented integrated procedures for the protection, promotion, and respect of child rights.