Ministry of Women and Child Development issues Guidelines for Mission Vatsalya Scheme

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Women and Child Development issues Guidelines for Mission Vatsalya Scheme” published in PIB on 7th July 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued Guidelines for Mission Vatsalya Scheme.

What is Mission Vatsalya?

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development 

Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme

Erstwhile Scheme: This scheme replaces the Child Protection Services(CPS) Scheme implemented since 2009-10.

Objectives: 1) To secure a healthy and happy childhood for each and every child in India, 2) To ensure opportunities to enable them to discover their full potential, 3) To assist States/UTs in delivering the mandate of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and achieve the SDG goals and 4) To promote family-based non-institutional care of children in difficult circumstances.

Components: 1) Improve the functioning of statutory bodies, 2) Strengthen service delivery structures, 3) Upscale institutional care/services, 4) Encourage non-institutional community-based care, 5) emergency outreach services and 6) Training and capacity building.

Funding: Funds to states will be approved through the Mission Vatsalya Project Approval Board (PAB) which will be chaired by the Ministry of Women and Child Development Secretary.

Monitoring Mechanism: At the state level, there will be a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to monitor, review and promote convergence in the implementation of the scheme. There will also be a district-level committee.

Key Activities under the Mission: The Mission in partnership with states and districts will execute a 24×7 helpline service for children as defined under Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

It will support State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARA), which will further support the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) in promoting in-country adoption and regulating inter-country adoption.

The Mission also plans to establish cradle baby reception centres in at least one specialized adoption agency in each area for receiving abandoned and trafficked children.