Mission Vatsalya (Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services)

The scheme "Mission Vatsalya (Child Protection Services and Child Welfare Services)" is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Government of India, implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The scheme aims to strengthen child protection systems and ensure the overall well-being of children across the country.
Key objectives:

• To prioritise children in all administrative processes, keeping the centrality of the child at the core of all activities and actions undertaken under the Mission.
• To ensure the best interests of the child while designing and delivering projects and programmes, and to take affirmative action to enable children to grow up in a happy family environment supported by a strong social safety net.
• To ensure children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.
• To establish essential services and strengthen emergency outreach, family- and community-based non-institutional care, institutional care, counselling, and support services at the national, regional, state, and district levels.
• To ensure an appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels through coordination and networking with allied systems, promoting convergence for seamless service delivery to children.
• To strengthen child protection at the family and community levels by equipping families and communities to identify risks and vulnerabilities, and by creating and promoting preventive measures to protect children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• To encourage private sector partnerships and interventions within the legal framework to support child welfare initiatives.
• To raise public awareness and educate communities about child rights, vulnerabilities, and government-sponsored protection measures, and to engage communities at all levels as key stakeholders in ensuring the best interests of children.
• To build the capacities of duty bearers and service providers at all levels.
• To monitor progress using objective parameters against clearly defined outputs and outcomes.
• To ensure the participation of Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies at village, ward, and urban cluster levels for sustained assessment, implementation of appropriate interventions, and regular monitoring to develop a robust social safety net for children.

Financial Support for Vulnerable Children

• Children living with biological parents or extended families receive financial assistance to meet their education, nutrition, and healthcare needs, helping prevent separation from families.

Family-Based Foster Care Support

• Children without parental care are placed with biologically unrelated foster families, ensuring a nurturing home environment. Foster parents receive financial assistance to support the child’s care, protection, and rehabilitation.

Legal and Safe Adoption Opportunities

• Children declared legally free for adoption are placed in permanent family settings through Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs), ensuring their long-term emotional and social well-being.

After-Care Support for Independent Living

• Children exiting Child Care Institutions at the age of 18 are provided financial assistance up to 21 years, extendable to 23 years, to support education, skill development, employment, and smooth reintegration into society.

Monthly Financial Assistance

• A monthly grant of ₹4,000 per child is provided to State Governments under Sponsorship, Foster Care, or After-Care to ensure sustained support.

Strengthened Child Protection Systems

• State Governments are encouraged to provide additional grants and proactively identify children in need of care and protection with the support of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies.

Transparent Approval and Monitoring Mechanism

• Every district establishes a Sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee (SFCAC) to review, approve, and sanction assistance, ensuring accountability and timely support.

Compliance with Legal Framework

• All non-institutional care interventions are implemented in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Rules, ensuring legality, safety, and child-centric care.

1. The applicant child must be below 18 years of age for Sponsorship, Foster Care, and Adoption.
2. The applicant child must be 18 years or above for After-Care support (up to 21 years, extendable to 23 years).
3. The applicant caregiver family shall be eligible for financial support if the annual family income is below ₹8 lakh per annum or as prescribed by the Ministry of WCD from time to time.
4. The applicant child must be willing to stay with the foster family.

Offline

Step 1: The State Government/District Administration shall constitute a Selection Committee headed by the District Magistrate for the selection of District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) staff.
Step 2: Vacancies shall be advertised by the District Administration, and eligible candidates shall submit their offline applications with the required documents.
Step 3: Applications shall be screened based on prescribed qualifications and experience. Police background verification shall be mandatory before appointment.
Step 4: Final selection shall be made by the Selection Committee. Appointment shall be subject to performance review, confidentiality norms, and scheme guidelines.