The Ministry of Women and Child Development reviewed implementation of Mission Vatsalya, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for children who need care, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The scheme is important for UPSC because it connects welfare policy with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and with the functioning of child-protection institutions at State and Union Territory level.
What Mission Vatsalya covers
Mission Vatsalya supports Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and Children in Conflict with Law (CCL). The scheme covers both institutional and non-institutional care, including support for missing and vulnerable children.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development said it monitors implementation through periodic meetings with States and Union Territories, Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings, review conferences, field visits, and analysis of reports received.
Statutory basis under the Juvenile Justice framework
Mission Vatsalya operates under the statutory framework of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The scheme is therefore not only a welfare intervention but also part of the legal architecture for child protection, restoration, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
Related current affairs
- Mission Vatsalya: JJ Act implementation support, child care institutions, portals for missing children, and emergency services
- Ministry of Women and Child Development develops integrated unified Mission Vatsalya Portal by integrating TrackChild, Khoya-Paya and GHAR
- Annpurna Devi chairs review meeting on Women & Child Development schemes in West Bengal (Kolkata)
- MWCD implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes under Mission Shakti, Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 and Mission Vatsalya
- SMILE scheme: 2,824 children identified, rescued and rehabilitated since Oct 2023
- Mission Poshan 2.0: NITI Aayog/World Bank evaluations and Poshan Tracker to combat malnutrition