Lok Sabha Question No. 3178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-13
Subject: Village  Level Child Protection Committee
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3178 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2024

## VILLAGE LEVEL CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

## 3178.  SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the villages that have successfully established Village Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPCs), State/UT-wise especially Telangana;
- (b) the details of successful awareness campaigns initiated by Village Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPCs) in all the villages, State-wise and year-wise;
- (c) whether any assessments have been conducted by Government to evaluate the impact of child protection initiatives implemented by VLCPCs on reducing cases of child marriage, trafficking and school dropouts, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  data  regarding  improvements  in  child protection  outcomes  since  the  formation  of  VLCPCs  and  Block  Level  Child Protection Committees (BLCPCs), if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (e): Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely 'Mission Vatsalya', through the State/ UT Governments on pre-defined cost sharing basis between the Central and the State Governments to deliver various services for children in difficult circumstances which include both institutional care and non-institutional care services. The scheme provides services to the Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) as well as Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) for their rehabilitation and social re-integration into the mainstream of  the  society.  The  Child  Care  Institutions  (CCIs)  established  under  the  Mission Vatsalya scheme support, inter-alia, age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc. Support under non-institutional care is provided by way of sponsorship, foster care and after care to children in need of care and protection.

Mission Vatsalya envisages a robust ecosystem through the network of State and Local  Governments to  ensure  the  safety  and  security  of  children  in  the  country. These Local Bodies are required to reach out to children, engage with communities and encourage them to take ownership of the wellbeing of Children in their areas.

Mission  Vatsalya  also  envisages  assigning  of  the  functions  of  child  welfare  and protection issues to the existing committees of the Panchayati Raj Institution/ Gram Panchayat/ Urban Local Body which deal with the issues of social justice/ welfare of children.

The details  of  the  villages  that  have  successfully  established  Village  Level  Child Protection Committees  (VLCPCs)  are  not maintained centrally. Further, no assessments have been conducted under Mission Vatsalya scheme to evaluate the impact of child protection initiatives implemented by VLCPCs on reducing cases of child marriage, trafficking and school dropouts

Under Sections 27-30 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Child Welfare Committees have been empowered to take decisions with regard to the children in need of care and protection, keeping their best interest in mind. They are also mandated to monitor the functioning of the CCIs. The JJ Act, 2015 (Section 109) provides for the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights at national level and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights at State level respectively to monitor the implementation of the Act.

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