Village-level groups to identify vulnerable children, help create ‘vulnerability map’

“These children will be facilitated under the sponsorship component of the Mission Vatsalya scheme. Sponsorship facilities will be provided to these children as per the recommendations of the Child Welfare Committees and approved by the Sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee. States and UTs will accordingly be requested to extend these facilities,” the official said.

Mission Vatsalya, a scheme that targets development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. It lays emphasis on child rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening of the juvenile justice care and protection system.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 form the basic framework for implementation of the mission. Funds under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme are released according to the requirements and demands made by states and Union Territories.

The support that will be extended to vulnerable children who are in non-institutional care, that is not residing in child care institutions, will include financial support to vulnerable children living with extended families and/or biological relatives for “supporting their education, nutrition, and health needs”.

Financial support will also be provided for children who have been placed in foster care.

The committees will also locate families to adopt, for children who are found legally free for adoption. Specialised adoption agencies will facilitate this programme.

“The ministry is specifically targeting the adoption of older children, who often fall through the cracks and get left behind. Most children up to the age of 6 years get adopted, but adoption for children in the older age range is little. We have launched a programme in Maharashtra and Telangana targeting the adoption of these older children. In these two states, 3,000 such children were analysed, out of which 164 have been identified, who can be adopted,” said the official.

Sixty of the 164 “hard to place” children have been identified in Maharashtra, while 104 belong to Telangana.

The scheme will also look after children who have been living in child care Institutions, but upon attaining the age of 18, have to leave. The scheme provides for financial support to “facilitate the child’s reintegration in mainstream society”, which will be provided till the age of 21 years, but extendable up to 23 years.