Parliament Question: Safety of children in Child Care Institutions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4319 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS 4319. SMT. RAJANI ASHOKRAO PATIL: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has reviewed the functioning and safety of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across the country; (b) the number of inspections conducted in Government-run and private Child Care Institutions, including State-wise details thereof; (c) the number and nature of cases of abuse, neglect or violations reported in such institutions; (d) the monitoring and oversight mechanisms enforced, including compliance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and other statutory guidelines; and (e) whether weak enforcement and oversight continue to expose children to serious risks and the corrective measures proposed to ensure their safety, protection and well-being? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR) (a) to (e): 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. Section 41 of the JJ Act, 2015 empowers States and UT Governments to cancel or withhold registration of Child Care Institutions which fail to provide rehabilitation and reintegration services as specified in section 53 of the Act. The Ministry has issued various guidelines and advisories from time to time for strengthening implementation of Mission Vatsalya by the States and UTs. The Ministry also regularly engages with the States and UTs with regards to implementation of the scheme. It has been holding zonal conferences and sensitization/ dissemination workshops since launch of Mission Vatsalya Scheme to promote and implement the scheme effectively. *****