Lok Sabha Question No. 120 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Child Welfare and Protection Committees
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy, Shri P V Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO: *120

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026

## CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTION COMMITTEES

- *120.  SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  has  any  data  on  number  of  Village-level  Child  Welfare  and Protection Committees currently operational in the country under Mission Vatsalya, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether any progress has been made in creating the "vulnerability map" at the village level, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  specific  types  of  assistance/financial  support  are  being  provided  to children identified as vulnerable, including those in foster care; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  mechanisms  in  place  to  monitor  the effectiveness of this support?

## 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.120 FOR ANSWER ON 06.02.2026 RAISED BY SHRI  P  V  MIDHUN  REDDY  AND  SHRI  Y  S  AVINASH  REDDY  REGARDING CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTION COMMITTEES

(a)  to  (d):    The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  the  nodal  Ministry  for implementing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act, 2015), which  is  the  primary  legislation  for  ensuring  safety,  security,  dignity  and  well-being  of children. It defines standards of care and protection to secure the best interest of child.

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 reintegration 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.

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.

As per Mission Vatsalya Guidelines, DCPUs are mandated to Undertake local vulnerability mapping of the district for children in difficult circumstances, analyse and monitor trends and patterns.

Under non-institutional care, a monthly grant of Rs. 4000/- per child is provided to the State Government on cost sharing basis for Sponsorship, Foster Care and After Care. The State Governments are encouraged to give additional grants to the State Child Protection Societies (SCPS) under Sponsorship and Foster Care Fund and proactively identify children who need protection with the support of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies. Under the scheme, every district is mandated to constitute a Sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee (SFCAC) to review and sanction Sponsorship and Foster Care fund.

Mission Vatsalya scheme envisages a robust ecosystem through the network of State and Local  Governments  to  ensure  the  safety  and  security  of  children  in  the  country.  These institutions 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 guidelines also envisage 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.

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