Executive Summary:
The document addresses a Lok Sabha question regarding reservations for orphan children and the social security measures in place for their well-being. It states that there is no current proposal for job reservations for orphans under consideration by the Government of India. However, the Ministry of Women and Child Development implements the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Mission Vatsalya to ensure the care, protection, and development of children in need, including orphans.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Job Reservation:** There is no proposal under consideration to reserve government jobs for orphans.
* **Legislative Framework:** The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2021) is the primary legislation for ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of children in need of care and protection, and children in conflict with the law.
* It addresses basic needs, care, protection, development, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
* It establishes statutory structures like State Child Protection Societies, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), and District Child Protection Units.
* It provides for the establishment of Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
* **Child Welfare Committees (CWCs):** Sections 27-30 of the JJ Act, 2015 empower CWCs to make decisions regarding children in need of care and protection, including orphans, abandoned, and surrendered children, always keeping their best interests in mind. CWCs also monitor the functioning of CCIs.
* **Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs):** Sections 4-9 of the JJ Act, 2015 empower JJBs to make decisions for the welfare of children in conflict with the law.
* **Mission Vatsalya:** The Ministry implements Mission Vatsalya, a centrally sponsored scheme, in all States/UTs to provide various services for children in difficult circumstances, including orphans.
* The scheme provides institutional care, non-institutional care, and outreach services.
* Child Care Institutions (CCIs) under Mission Vatsalya offer age-appropriate education, vocational training, recreation, healthcare, and counselling.
* **Child Care Institutions Statistics:** As of FY 2024-25, there are 2559 Child Care Institutions supporting 76882 children under Mission Vatsalya across States and Union Territories.
Impact Analysis:
* **Orphan Children:**
* *Impact:* Not directly receiving job reservations. However, they are provided care, protection, and development through the Juvenile Justice Act and Mission Vatsalya.
* *Action Required:* Access available support systems and services provided under the JJ Act and Mission Vatsalya.
* **State Governments/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the Juvenile Justice Act and Mission Vatsalya.
* *Action Required:* Ensure effective implementation of the JJ Act and Mission Vatsalya, including establishing and supporting CWCs, JJBs, and CCIs.
* **Ministry of Women and Child Development:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for administering the Juvenile Justice Act and implementing Mission Vatsalya.
* *Action Required:* Continue administering the JJ Act and providing support for Mission Vatsalya, monitoring its effectiveness, and addressing any gaps in service delivery.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act, 2015: Indian legislation ensuring the safety, security, dignity, and well-being of children in need of care and protection, as well as children in conflict with the law.
Mission Vatsalya: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in all States and Union Territories to support children in difficult circumstances, including orphans.
Child Welfare Committees: Statutory bodies at the State and District levels empowered to make decisions regarding children in need of care and protection.
Juvenile Justice Boards: Statutory bodies empowered to take decisions for the welfare of children in conflict with law.
Child Care Institutions: Institutions established under the Mission Vatsalya scheme providing care, education, vocational training, and other services to children.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where Child Care Institutions are present.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where Child Care Institutions are present.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3402
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
RESERVATION FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN
3402: THIRU THANGA TAMILSELVAN:
DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has any proposal to reserve 5% job Reservation of
Posts in Government Establishments to Orphans, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government provides social security to all orphan children to
ensure healthy upbringing at par with children with biological parents, if so,
the details thereof;
(c) the details of the protection from exploitation and ill treatment to ensure
peaceful life and make them respectable contributing adult of the society;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) : Presently there is no such proposal under consideration of the Government.
(b) to (e) : The Ministry of Women and Child Development administers the Juvenile
Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, 2015), as amended in
2021, which is the primary legislation for ensuring safety, security, dignity and well-
being of children in Need of Care and Protection as well as Children in Conflict with
Law. It caters to their basic needs, care, protection, development, treatment,
rehabilitation and social re-integration. The Act creates statutory structures at the
State and District levels which include State Child Protection Society, Child Welfare
Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, District Child Protection Units. It also provides
for establishment of Child Care Institutions.Sections 27-30 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
(as amended in 2021) provide for the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) which are
empowered to take decisions with regard to the children in need of care and
protection, keeping their best interest in mind including orphan, abandoned and
surrendered children. CWCs are also mandated to monitor the functioning of the
CCIs.
Sections 04-09 of the JJ Act, 2015 provide for the Juvenile Justice Boards which are
empowered to take decisions for the welfare of children in conflict with law.
Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme namely ‘Mission Vatsalya’ in all States/ UTs on predefined cost sharing
basis between the Central and the State Governments to deliver various services for
children in difficult circumstances including orphan children. The scheme provides
institutional care, non-institutional care and outreach services. Child Care Institutions
(CCIs) established under the Mission Vatsalya scheme provide, inter-alia, age-
appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care,
counselling etc. State-wise number of Child Care Institutions and children supported
under Mission Vatsalya Scheme during FY 2024-25 is at Annexure.
*****ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTs (b) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UN-STARRED
QUESTION NO.3402 FOR ANSWER ON 08.08.2025 BY THIRU THANGA TAMILSELVAN AND
DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P. REGARDING RESERVATION FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN
STATE-WISE NUMBER OF CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS AND CHILDREN SUPPORTED UNDER
MISSION VATSALYA SCHEME DURING FY 2024-25
S. State/UT No. of Child Care Institutions No. of Children supported
No. funded during 2024-25 during 2024-25
1 Andhra Pradesh 98 2152
2 Arunachal Pradesh 11 420
3 Assam 58 1615
4 Bihar 91 2958
5 Chhattisgarh 105 1876
6 Goa 23 519
7 Gujarat 81 2393
8 Haryana 31 946
9 Himachal Pradesh 48 1390
10 Jammu and Kashmir 62 1385
11 Jharkhand 46 1995
12 Karnataka 127 4587
13 Kerala 45 1345
14 Madhya Pradesh 102 2303
15 Maharashtra 107 3667
16 Manipur 87 2296
17 Meghalaya 53 990
18 Mizoram 66 1348
19 Nagaland 57 621
20 Odisha 142 4627
21 Punjab 26 506
22 Rajasthan 140 3958
23 Sikkim 27 660
24 Tamil Nadu 313 12438
25 Telangana 67 2485
26 Tripura 31 1085
27 Uttar Pradesh 164 5420
28 Uttarakhand 44 868
29 West Bengal 207 7615
30 Andaman & Nicobar 10 263
31 Chandigarh 9 344
32 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 4 64
Daman & Diu
33 Ladakh 9 77
34 Lakshadweep 0 0
35 National Capital Territory of 39 1012
Delhi
36 Puducherry 29 654
Total 2559 76882