OECD Policy Evaluation of Child Protection Schemes: Evidence from Odisha, India.

Abstract

Using OECD evaluation criteria, we analysed the child protection schemes of Odisha to understand whether legal commitments on child protection are translated into fiscal commitments. The intergovernmental fiscal transfers and State specific specifically targeted programmes for the children in need of care and protection (CNCP) and children in conflict of law (CCL) are evaluated using the OECD criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. Using the theory of change, various fiscal interventions for child protection are analysed with activities, outputs, intended outcomes and impacts. The analysis revealed that in the post pandemic fiscal strategy of Odisha, various programmes have been designed by the government to tackle the capability deprivation, hardships and vulnerabilities faced by the children within the budgetary frameworks and these programmes are made fiscally sustainable through public expenditure convergence within the classification of budgetary transactions. However, the low utilisation ratios of the funds and the institutional constraints are identified as the challenges in the effective implementation of child protection programmes in Odisha.