The Ministry of Women and Child Development provided an update on the monitoring and implementation of Mission Vatsalya Scheme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by States and Union Territories to support Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and Children in Conflict with Law (CCL). The scheme operates under the statutory framework of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, with the objective of ensuring care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances, including missing and vulnerable children.
The Ministry continuously monitors implementation through periodic meetings with States and UTs, Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings, review conferences, field visits, and analysis of reports received from States and UTs. The scheme provides both institutional and non-institutional care and support services for children in difficult circumstances.
Section 55 of the JJ Act, 2015 provides for evaluation of service delivery structures, allowing the Central Government, State Government, or District Magistrate to independently evaluate the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, Special Juvenile Police Units, registered institutions, and recognised fit facilities or persons. Section 41 mandates compulsory registration of all Child Care Institutions (CCIs), whether run by State Government or voluntary/non-governmental organizations, with Section 42 providing penal action for non-registration. The responsibility for registration, inspection, monitoring, and regulation of CCIs rests with respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
The JJ Act, 2015 provides a comprehensive framework for rehabilitation, restoration and repatriation of children. Section 39 stipulates that rehabilitation and social reintegration shall be undertaken based on an Individual Care Plan, preferably through family-based care including restoration to family or guardian, adoption, foster care or sponsorship. Section 40 establishes that restoration and protection of a child is the primary responsibility of Child Care Institutions, empowering Child Welfare Committees to restore children to parents, guardians or fit persons after due inquiry.
The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog evaluated and published a report in 2025 on 'Evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes' and recommended that Mission Vatsalya Scheme should continue based on high relevance and efficiency across components of the Scheme.
Under Mission Vatsalya, financial assistance is provided to States and Union Territories for strengthening statutory bodies and service delivery structures including Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), State Child Protection Societies (SCPSs), State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs) and Child Care Institutions. Filling vacancies in these institutions is the responsibility of respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, with the Ministry regularly reviewing status and issuing advisories to ensure timely filling of vacancies and strengthening rehabilitation services.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question on July 22, 2026.