Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed integrated unified Mission Vatsalya Portal-PIB

About Mission Vatsalya

• Mission Vatsalya is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by States and Union Territories.
• It supports Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and Children in Conflict with Law (CCL).

Objective

• To ensure the care, protection, rehabilitation and social reintegration of children living in difficult circumstances, including missing, abandoned and vulnerable children.

Key Features

• Promotes family- and community-based care as the preferred approach.
• Provides institutional care where family-based alternatives are unavailable.
• Supports counselling, rehabilitation, emergency outreach and restoration of children to families.
• Offers both institutional and non-institutional services, such as child-care institutions, foster care, sponsorship and aftercare.

Legal Framework

• The scheme operates under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• Section 55 of the Act provides for periodic evaluation of child-protection institutions and authorities.
• The Central Government, State Government or District Magistrate may evaluate:
  • Juvenile Justice Boards
  • Child Welfare Committees
  • Special Juvenile Police Units
  • Registered child-care institutions
  • Recognised fit facilities and fit persons

Nodal Ministry- Ministry of Women and Child Development
Significance - Mission Vatsalya seeks to create a child-friendly protection system that prioritises the best interests of the child, strengthens accountability and enables vulnerable children to grow in a safe, supportive and family-like environment.