Parliament Question: Implementation status of Mission Vatsalya

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4316 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF MISSION VATSALYA 4316. SHRI S NIRANJAN REDDY: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) the current status of implementation of Mission Vatsalya across States and Union Territories; (b) the number of Child Care Institutions (CCIs), District Child Protection Units and Vatsalya Sadans supported under the scheme during the last three years; (c) whether Government has received reports regarding gaps in implementation, including shortage of trained personnel and monitoring challenges and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken or proposed to strengthen implementation and monitoring of Mission Vatsalya across the country? 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 States and 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 scheme is being implemented in all 36 states and Union territories. (b): The number of Child Care Institutions (CCIs), District Child Protection Units and Vatsalya Sadans supported under Mission Vatsalya during the last three years is as under: S. Financial Child Care Institutions District Child Protection Vatsalya No. Year (CCIs) Unit (DCPU) Sadans* 1 2024-25 2559 764 25 2 2023-24 2450 762 14 3 2022-23 2305 763 21 *These are approved number of Vatsalya Sadans by the Ministry.(c) & (d): The Ministry of women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry for the administration of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, 2015) which is the primary legislation for ensuring safety, security, dignity and well-being of children and is implemented by the States and UTs. The Act creates statutory structures at the State and District levels which include State Child Protection Society, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), District Child Protection Units. It also provides for establishment of Child Care Institutions (CCIs). Under the JJ Act 2015 (Sections 27-30), the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) have been empowered to take decisions with regard to the children in need of care and protection, keeping their best interest in mind. They are also mandated to monitor the function of the Child Care Institutions (CCIs). At the national and state level, the JJ Act provides the National/State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights to monitor the implementation of the Act (Section 109). Further, as per Section 106 of the JJ Act 2015, the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Act lies with the State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. Inspection Committees are mandated under section 54 of JJ Act, 2015 to visit such facilities housing children. District Magistrate is the nodal authority in the district for children in need of care and protection and to take action on the findings of the report submitted by the Inspection Committees. The Ministry regularly follows up with the State and Union Territory Governments and various advisories have been issued so as to ensure the effective implementation of Mission Vatsalya Scheme. Under Mission Vatsalya, the District Child Protection Unit functions under the overall supervision of District Magistrate to ensure review, monitoring and inspection of the service delivery institutions i.e. Child Care Institutions and the care provided. To address the issues and gaps in scheme implementation, the Ministry in collaboration with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie has developed an online training module on Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection for Children) Act, 2015 for capacity building of multiple stakeholders such as State Governments and UT Administrations, district authorities and others. The Ministry has issued various guidelines and advisories from time to time for strengthening implementation of Mission Vatsalya by the States and UTs. These include Mission Vatsalya Guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures for Child Helpline & Model Foster Care Guidelines 2024. The Ministry also regularly engages with the States and UTs with regards to implementation of the scheme. It has held zonal conferences and sensitization/ dissemination workshops since launch of Mission Vatsalya Scheme to promote and implement the scheme effectively. *****