Mission Vatsalya
Let’s begin with a fundamental idea from the philosophy of governance — that the true strength of a nation lies in how it treats its children. If children are safe, healthy, and educated, the nation’s future is secure.
Recognising this, the Government of India launched Mission Vatsalya in 2021 to provide care, protection, and holistic development for children, especially those in vulnerable and conflict-ridden circumstances.
🧾 Quick Facts at a Glance
| Feature | Description |
| Name | Mission Vatsalya |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Time Frame | 2021–22 to 2025–26 |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) |
| Approval Authority | Mission Vatsalya Project Approval Board (PAB) under WCD Secretary |
| Target Group | Children in need of care and protection; children in conflict with law |
🎯 Core Objectives
Mission Vatsalya aims to ensure that every child enjoys the right to survival, development, protection, and participation, as enshrined in the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). Specifically, the mission strives to:
- Secure a healthy and happy childhood for all children
- Engage the community and local governance institutions as active stakeholders
- Encourage private sector participation and innovation in child welfare
- Build institutional capacities of service providers, duty-bearers, and law enforcement
🏛️ Background: Legacy of Child Protection Services (CPS)
- Mission Vatsalya subsumes the erstwhile CPS scheme, incorporating child welfare services under a broader vision.
- It emphasizes not just rescue and rehabilitation but child rights advocacy, institutional care, and non-institutional alternatives.
- The guiding motto is: “Leave No Child Behind.”
⚖️ Legislative Foundation
Mission Vatsalya operates under the mandates of:
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
🧩 Key Components of the Scheme
1️⃣ Institutional Services: For Both Protection and Rehabilitation
| Category | Types of Institutions |
| Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) | Children’s Homes, Open Shelters, Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA), Cradle Baby Reception Centres |
| Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) | Observation Homes, Special Homes, Places of Safety |
| Unified Setup | Vatsalya Sadan – integrating Child Care Institutions, Juvenile Justice Board, and Child Welfare Committee under one roof |
🧼 Swachhata Action Plan (SAP): Each State/UT must formulate a plan for hygiene and sanitation standards in Child Care Institutions.
2️⃣ Non-Institutional Care Services: Community-Based Alternatives
- Sponsorship: Financial assistance for vulnerable children living with extended or biological families
- Foster Care: Placement with unrelated families with State-supported funding
- Adoption: Coordinated through SAAs and CARA
- After-Care: Support for children exiting institutional care at age 18, extendable up to 23 years
3️⃣ Financial Structure
| Region | Funding Pattern (Centre : State) |
| States & UTs with Legislature | 60:40 |
| NE & Himalayan States (HP, Uttarakhand) | 90:10 |
| UTs without Legislature | 100% Centre-funded |
4️⃣ Children under PM CARES for Children Scheme
| Category | Financial Support |
| Non-Institutional Care | ₹4,000/month to guardian’s account per child |
| Institutional Care | ₹3,000/month maintenance grant to CCIs |
Additional support may be given under relevant State schemes.
🏢 Institutional Framework for Implementation
To ensure ground-level execution, a multi-tiered administrative mechanism is in place:
| Level | Institution/Committee | Role |
| State Level | State Child Protection Society (SCPS) | Mapping, planning, and implementing Mission Vatsalya |
| State Child Welfare and Protection Committee | Supervisory role; works with SCPS | |
| State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) | Coordinates with CARA for domestic & inter-country adoption | |
| District Level | District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) | Operational arm of the scheme under the District Magistrate |
| District Child Welfare and Protection Committee | Chaired by the DM; ensures convergence and performance | |
| Child Welfare Committee (CWC) | Legal authority to decide CNCP cases | |
| Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) | Adjudicates CCL cases; Centre provides financial assistance | |
| Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) | Trained police officers and social workers handle child-related cases | |
| Local Level | Child Welfare & Protection Committees at Panchayat/ULB Level | Integrated with existing social justice or child welfare committees |
💻 Mission Vatsalya Portal: Digital Backbone
An integrated digital platform to track and monitor child protection cases and services.
Includes:
- TrackChild: Real-time tracking of missing/found children
- CARINGS: Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System
- ICPS Portal: Scheme management
- Khoya-Paya: Citizen-centric interface for reporting missing/sighted children
- Child Helpline (24×7): In partnership with states, a 24-hour helpline under JJ Act norms
📌 Important Condition for States
To access central assistance, states must retain the official name — “Mission Vatsalya” as provided by the Centre. Any deviation could result in funding restrictions.
📝 Conclusion: Why Is Mission Vatsalya Important for UPSC?
Mission Vatsalya is a flagship social welfare scheme, deeply relevant to GS-II (Governance, Social Justice, Vulnerable Sections), GS-IV (Ethics: Empathy, Responsibility, Human Rights), and Essay topics.
It reflects a rights-based, child-centric approach in public policy, integrating legal protection, institutional support, and community participation.
In essence, it embodies the Indian state’s constitutional and ethical commitment to “bal sarthi – the protectors and enablers of children.”