Govt lays out road map for child protection, welfare

NEW DELHI: From promoting family-based non-institutional care for children in difficult situations to creation of “Cradle Baby Reception Centres” for receiving abandoned babies vulnerable to trafficking, the new guidelines of the goverment’s ‘Mission Vatsalya’ lays out a roadmap for child protection for future. That includes the role of the district magistrate who will be responsible for ensuring execution of the “mission” at the district level.

The restructuring of the existing helpline for children ‘1098-Childline’ that has been in the works for long in the WCD ministry appears imminent now. While the guidelines make no mention of the existing helpline number and its future, it states in a section on child helpline that “Mission Vatsalya” in partnership with states and districts will execute a 24x7 helpline service for children and it will be integrated with the Emergency Response Support System 112 (ERSS-112) helpline of MHA.

Also, an Integrated Home Complex of child care institutions called Vatsalya Sadan shall be located within single premises for implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Besides this the Mission envisages setting up ‘Cradle Baby Reception Centres’ fully equipped to care for infants in at least one specialised adoption agency (SAA) per district. Their objective shall be to rescue the abandoned children and look after them till they are adopted. Also each SAA shall install one cradle with an alarm bell at the doorstep to receive abandoned babies.

The WCD ministry said the mission seeks to promote family-based non-institutional care of children in difficult circumstances based on the principle of their institutionalisation as a measure of last resort.

The WCD ministry has asked the states and UTs to prepare their financial proposal and plans under the scheme for the year 2022-23.

Focussed on “Juveniles in Conflict with Law” more specifically, the guidelines elaborate on the vision for “Vatsalya Sadan”— an Integrated Home Complex of CCIs (Children Home, Observation Home, Special Home, Place of Safety) along with the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee that shall be located within the same premises.

.