**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the centrally sponsored Mission Vatsalya Scheme across all States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, to support children in difficult circumstances. The scheme focuses on child protection, care, and development through institutional and non-institutional services. Financial assistance and support are provided to Tamil Nadu, with the scheme emphasizing child rights, advocacy, and aligning with Sustainable Development Goals.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Mission Vatsalya Scheme Overview:**
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented in all States/UTs, including Tamil Nadu, on a cost-sharing basis.
* Aims to provide services for children in difficult circumstances, including institutional and non-institutional care.
* Ensures the best interests of children are prioritized in project and program design.
* **Objectives and Components:**
* Establishes essential and emergency outreach services for children.
* Strengthens institutional and non-institutional care services.
* Sets up statutory and service delivery structures at State and District levels.
* **Implementation Structure:**
* State Child Protection Society (SCPS) and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) established in every State/UT.
* Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board, and District Child Protection Unit established in districts.
* **Support Services:**
* Child Care Institutions (CCIs) provide age-appropriate education, vocational training, recreation, healthcare, and counseling.
* Non-institutional care includes sponsorship, foster care, and aftercare for children in need of care and protection.
* **Strategic Alignment:**
* Roadmap to achieve priorities of child development and child protection, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.
* Emphasizes child rights, advocacy, awareness, and strengthening the juvenile justice care and protection system.
* **Financial Assistance to Tamil Nadu (in Crore INR):**
* 2022-23: 51.03
* 2023-24: 128.70
* 2024-25: 122.82
* 2025-26 (as of 17.07.2025): 0
* **Children Benefited in Tamil Nadu:**
| | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| -------------------- | ------- | ------- | ------- |
| Institutional Care | 7785 | 10118 | 12438 |
| Non-Institutional Care | 2975 | 5411 | 8116 |
* District-wise data not maintained centrally.
* **Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs) in Tamil Nadu:**
| Type of Institution | Number |
| ------------------------------- | ------ |
| Children Home | 266 |
| Open Shelter | 11 |
| Specialised Adoption Agency | 2 |
| Observation Home | 19 |
| Special Home | 0 |
| Special Observation Homecum Safety | 11 |
| Place of Safety | 4 |
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Children in Difficult Circumstances:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from improved care, protection, and development services through institutional and non-institutional support.
* *Action Required:* Access available services and support through established channels.
* **State Government (Tamil Nadu):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and managing the Mission Vatsalya Scheme within the state, utilizing allocated funds for child welfare.
* *Action Required:* Effectively utilize allocated funds, establish necessary infrastructure, and ensure proper implementation of the scheme.
* **Ministry of Women and Child Development:**
* *Impact:* Oversees the implementation of the Mission Vatsalya Scheme across all States/UTs, including fund allocation and monitoring progress.
* *Action Required:* Continue to provide financial and technical support to States/UTs, monitor implementation, and ensure alignment with scheme objectives.
* **Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs):**
* *Impact:* Receive support to provide better care, education, and rehabilitation services to children.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to scheme guidelines, maintain standards of care, and effectively utilize available resources.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Vatsalya Scheme: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for the welfare and rehabilitation of children in difficult circumstances.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for implementing the Mission Vatsalya Scheme.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where the Mission Vatsalya Scheme is being implemented.
State Child Protection Society (SCPS): A statutory body set up at the State level under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme.
State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA): A statutory body set up at the State level under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme for adoption related activities.
Child Welfare Committee: A statutory body at the district level under Mission Vatsalya, responsible for child welfare.
Juvenile Justice Board: A statutory body at the district level under Mission Vatsalya, dealing with cases of children in conflict with the law.
District Child Protection Unit: A unit at the district level under Mission Vatsalya for child protection.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 937
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
MISSION VATSALYA SCHEME
937. SHRI SELVAM G:
SHRI C N ANNADURAI:
SHRI NAVASKANI K:
SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing the Mission Vatsalya Scheme for the welfare
and rehabilitation of children in difficult circumstances across the country including
Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the objectives/key components of the Mission Vatsalya Scheme indicating the
manner in which it aligns with the vision of ensuring child protection, care and
development;
(c) whether any strategy/ roadmap has been formulated to give priority to child protection
under Mission Vatsalya, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the financial assistance allocated/released to the said State under the
said scheme during the last three years and the current year;
(e) the number of children benefited under the scheme in the said State, district-wise,
during the said period; and
(f) the number and types of Child Care Institutions and Specialized Adoption Agencies
supported under Mission Vatsalya in the said State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (c) : Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme namely ‘Mission Vatsalya’ in all States/ UTs including Tamil Nadu onpredefined cost sharing basis between the Central and the State Governments to deliver
various services for children in difficult circumstances which include institutional care and
non-institutional care services.
The objective of Mission Vatsalya is to ensure that the best interests of children are always
taken care of while designing the projects/ programmes. It includes establishing essential
services, emergency outreach services for children and include strengthening of
institutional and non-institutional care services.
Mission Vatsalya Scheme provides for setting up of statutory and service delivery
structures at State and District level for achieving goals for children living in difficult
conditions. Under Mission Vatsalya Scheme, namely State Child Protection Society
(SCPS) and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) are set up in every States/ UTs and
Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board and District Child Protection Unit in the
districts.
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.
Mission Vatsalya Scheme is a roadmap to achieve priorities of child development and
child protection aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. It lays emphasis on child
rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening of the juvenile justice care and
protection system.
(d) : The details of funds released under Mission Vatsalya Scheme during the last three
years and current year to the State of Tamil Nadu are as follows :
(Rs. in Crore)
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
(As on 17.07.2025)
51.03 128.70 122.82 0
(e) : Number of children supported under Mission Vatsalya scheme for the State of Tamil
Nadu under Institutional and Non-Institutional Care services during last three years is as
follows :
Children supported under Children supported under
Institutional Care Non-Institutional Care (Sponsorship/Foster
Care/ After Care)
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
7785 10118 12438 2975 5411 8116
(As on 31.03.2025)District-wise number of children is not maintained centrally.
(f) : Number and types of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and Specialized Adoption
Agencies (SAAs) in State of Tamil Nadu supported under Mission Vatsalya are as follows:
Children Open Specialised Observation Special Observation Place of
Home Shelter Adoption Home Home Home-cum- Safety
Agency Special Home
266 11 19 11 4 0 2
(As on 31.03.2025)
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