**Policy Summary: Mission Vatsalya Child Protection Program (2024)**
This document summarizes the status and activities of Mission Vatsalya, a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, in 2024. Mission Vatsalya aims to provide comprehensive child protection services through institutional and non-institutional care.
**Key Components:**
* **Implementation:** The scheme is implemented through State/UT governments on a cost-sharing basis between the Central and State governments.
* **Services:**
* **Institutional Care:** Support is provided through Child Care Institutions (CCIs), offering age-appropriate education, vocational training, recreation, healthcare, and counseling.
* **Non-Institutional Care:** Support includes sponsorship, foster care, and aftercare services for children in need of care and protection.
* **Statutory and Service Delivery Structures:**
* State Level: State Child Protection Society (SCPS) and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA).
* District Level: Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), and District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).
* **Operational Statistics (2024):**
* SCPS: 36
* SARA: 35
* DCPU: 764
* CWC: 783
* JJB: 773
* **Community Engagement:** Mission Vatsalya guidelines emphasize community engagement and ownership for the well-being of children. The Ministry issues advisories and conducts online training and capacity-building programs for stakeholders.
* **Adoption by Overseas Citizens of India (OCI):** In 2024, 87 children were adopted by Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for Mission Vatsalya and child protection.
Mission Vatsalya: A centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for child protection.
Child Protection Units: A mechanism for child protection.
Child Welfare Committees: A statutory body established under Mission Vatsalya at the district level to safeguard the rights and interests of children.
Juvenile Justice Board: A statutory body established under Mission Vatsalya at the district level to deal with children in conflict with law.
State Child Protection Society: A state-level body established under Mission Vatsalya to oversee child protection efforts.
State Adoption Resource Agency: A state-level agency established under Mission Vatsalya to regulate and promote adoption.
District Child Protection Unit: A district-level unit established under Mission Vatsalya to implement child protection programs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2253
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
CHILD PROTECTION MECHANISMS
2253 .SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of Mission Vatsalya being run for the purpose of Child protection
through various mechanisms including Child Protection Units, Child Welfare
Committees and Juvenile Justice Board;
(b) the details of efforts made during the year 2024 to involve families and communities
in Child Protection, to promote awareness and encourage communities ownership
for the well-being of Children; and
(c) the number of children adopted by overseas Indians under the said Mission during
the year 2024?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) : Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing Centrally Sponsored
Scheme namely ‘Mission Vatsalya’ through the State/ UT Governments on pre-defined
cost sharing basis between the Centre and the State Governments to deliver various
services for children in difficult circumstances, which include both institutional and non-
institutional care services. The Child Care Institutions (CCIs) established under the
Mission Vatsalya scheme support, inter-alia, age-appropriate education, access to
vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc. Support under non-institutional
care is provided by way of sponsorship, foster care and after care to children in need of
care and protection.
The statutory and service delivery structures established under the Mission Vatsalya
Scheme at the State and District level include the State Child Protection Society (SCPS)
and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) at the State level and Child Welfare
Committee (CWC), Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and District Child Protection Unit (DCPU)
at the district level. Presently 36 SCPS, 35 SARA, 764 DCPU, 783 CWC and 773 JJB are
functioning under the scheme.(b) : Mission Vatsalya guidelines envisage engagement with communities and encourage
them to take ownership and wellbeing of Children in their areas. The Ministry constantly
engages with the States/ UTs from time to time as regards implementation of Mission
Vatsalya Scheme. The Ministry has issued various advisories for supporting on ground
implementation. Online training and capacity building programmes are conducted for the
stakeholders for awareness and better implementation of the scheme.
(c) : During the year 2024-25, total 87 children were adopted by Overseas Citizens of India
(OCI Cardholder foreigners).
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