Village-level Child Welfare and Protection Committees have been entrusted with the responsibility of identifying vulnerable children, including orphans and street children. This initiative aims to create a “vulnerability map” that will facilitate the efficient provision of necessary support. The identified children will receive assistance through the sponsorship component of the Mission Vatsalya scheme.
Identifying Vulnerable Children: Creating a Vulnerability Map
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has initiated the process of identifying vulnerable children through village-level Child Welfare and Protection Committees. These committees, affiliated with the panchayats, will identify children who are in vulnerable situations. By mapping these areas and children, the Ministry aims to provide assistance more efficiently and swiftly, wherever it is required.
Assistance under the Sponsorship Component
The children identified as vulnerable will be provided with sponsorship facilities under the Mission Vatsalya scheme. The recommendations of the Child Welfare Committees, approved by the Sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee, will determine the extent of support to be provided. The Ministry will request the respective States and Union Territories to extend these sponsorship facilities to ensure comprehensive support for the identified children.
Overview of the Mission Vatsalya Scheme
The Mission Vatsalya scheme, launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, serves as a roadmap to achieve development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The scheme places emphasis on child rights, advocacy, and awareness, while strengthening the juvenile justice care and protection system. Its motto is to “leave no child behind.”
Core Principles and Components
The scheme promotes family-based non-institutional care for children facing difficult circumstances, considering institutionalization as a measure of last resort. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 [JJ Act] and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 [POCSO Act] form the foundation for implementing the Mission Vatsalya scheme.
Key components of the scheme include:
- Improve Functioning of Statutory Bodies: Strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of statutory bodies involved in child welfare and protection.
- Strengthen Service Delivery Structures: Enhancing the quality and accessibility of services provided to children in need.
- Upscale Institutional Care and Services: Ensuring the availability of high-quality institutional care for children when non-institutional care options are not feasible.
- Encourage Non-Institutional Community-Based Care: Promoting community-based care and support systems for children, such as foster care and sponsorship programs.
- Emergency Outreach Services: Developing specialized outreach services to address immediate and urgent needs of children in crisis situations.
- Training and Capacity Building: Enhancing the skills and knowledge of professionals and caregivers involved in child welfare and protection.
Implementation and Partnership
The Mission Vatsalya scheme is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in collaboration with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. This partnership aims to universalize access to services and improve their quality across the country. By working closely with state-level authorities, the scheme strives to create a comprehensive and effective child protection system.