Lok Sabha Question No. 313 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Strengthening of Child Protection and Tracking Mechanisms
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026

## STRENGTHENING OF CHILD PROTECTION AND TRACKING MECHANISMS

## *313. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)    the  current  status  of  integration  between  the  Mission  Vatsalya  Portal  (including TrackChild  and  Khoya-Paya)  and  the  Crime  and  Criminal  Tracking  Network  &  Systems (CCTNS) to ensure real-time data synchronization of missing children reported in January 2026;
- (b)   whether the Ministry has identified any specific States/Union Territories that have failed to  appoint/activate  Nodal  Officers  as  per  recent  judicial  directives,  leading  to  delays  in updating the national database, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the details of the "Individual Care Plans" and rehabilitation measures provided under the said Mission for children rescued during the recent special drives in early 2026; and
- (d)   whether the Government is considering a mandatory "Time-Bound Upload" protocol for Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) to prevent the data lag recently criticized by the Supreme Court and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTs (a) TO (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.313 FOR ANSWER ON 13.03.2026 RAISED BY SHRI K SUDHAKARAN REGARDING STRENGTHENING OF CHILD PROTECTION AND TRACKING MECHANISMS

- (a) :  The Mission Vatsalya Scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which is implemented by the States and Union Territories (UTs) with the aim to support Children in Need of care and  Protection  (CNCP)  and  Children  in  Conflict  with  Law  (CCL).  The  objective  of  the Scheme is for ensuring care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances, including missing and vulnerable children.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed an integrated unified Mission Vatsalya Portal in consultation and coordination with States and UTs. The TrackChild portal for Missing/Found Children, and Khoya-Paya application for Missing/Sighted Children have been  integrated  with  this  unified  Mission  Vatsalya  Portal.  The  TrackChild  portal  is implemented with support and involvement of various stakeholders namely Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Railways, State Governments and UT Administrations, Child Welfare Committees,  Juvenile  Justice  Boards,  National  Legal  Services  Authority,  etc.  Standard operating procedure have been issued in this regard. Advisories have also been issued to all States and UTs including Director General of Police of all States & UTs and other stakeholders regarding implementation of TrackChild. It is also integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking  &  Network  Systems  (CCTNS)  of  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  which  allows interoperability in terms of matching of FIRs of missing children with data base of TrackChild to trace and match missing children by the State and UT police concerned. Further, through Khoya Paya module any citizen can report about any missing or sighted children.

- (b) : This Ministry directed all State and UT Governments to appoint designated nodal officers for Missing children at State Level and District levels. All State and UT Governments have appointed the nodal officers and details of these nodal officers have been uploaded on Mission Vatsalya portal.
- (c) : Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, 2015), preparation of Individual Care Plans (ICPs) is mandated for every child in need of care and protection. The ICP includes assessment of the child's needs and approp riate rehabilitation measures such as family-based care, sponsorship, education, counselling, health care, skill development and other support services. Children rescued during special drives are produced before the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), which assess each case individually and ensure preparation  and  implementation  of  appropriate  rehabilitation  plans  in  accordance  with  the provisions of the JJ Act, 2015.
- (d) : The Ministry has issued guidelines and advisories to States and UTs for timely entry and updating of information on the Mission Vatsalya portal by concerned authorities including Child  Welfare  Committees  (CWCs)  and  Juvenile  Justice  Boards  (JJBs).  Efforts  are continuously being made to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve real-time data reporting  through  digital  platforms  so  as  to  ensure  timely  tracking  and  rehabilitation  of children in need of care and protection.

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