Parliament on Monday approved a bill to prevent separation of children suffering from diseases like leprosy and TB from rest of the occupants in juvenile homes.

These provisions were part of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2010 which was approved by the lok sabha by voice vote. It was passed by Rajya Sabha earlier in the month.

Moving the bill for consideration in absence of women and child development minister Krishna Tirath, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the amendments were being carried out to remove stigma associated with such children and restore their dignity.

Later replying on the debate before the passage of the Bill, Bansal said the amendments define children in two categories - one who are in conflict of the law and others who need care and protection.

He said the amendment aims at rehabilitation and reintegration of such children through a "child friendly" approach.

The minister lamented that the society has not been sensitised towards care and protection of children and in the past departments and others too have not shown concern and feeling of empathy towards such children.

Bansal said lack of data available to government agencies has led to a situation where "we have not been able to do what we should have done."

The bill seeks the omission and amendment of certain sections of the 2000 Act, which had provisions for "removal" of such children from juvenile homes to treatment centres.