Mission Vatsalya- the vehicle for implementing Juvenile Justice
The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal Ministry for ensuring welfare of children. This is envisaged to be accomplished by way of legislation, policy& schematic interventions along with coordination with other Ministries and Organizations. The National Children Policy, (as revised in 2013), and the National Plan of Action for Children, 2016 laid down the policy framework for child welfare and protection. The Indian Parliament has passed several landmark legislations in favor of children like the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Right to Education Act 2009. India is also a signatory to important international treaties i.e., the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child and the Hague convention on Adoption of children which mandate systemic development and strengthening of juvenile justice system in the country.
Mission Vatsalya is a roadmap to prioritize “Protection of the child” and to reach overall development of the child emphasizing mainly on Rehabilitation of Children in Need of Care & Protection and Children in Conflict with Law. It provides the goals/guidance to achieve the development and child protection priorities aligned with the SDGs. It lays emphasis on child rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto to ‘leave no child behind’.
Mission Vatsalya is the main scheme which provides the financial resources for implementing various child protection laws, including the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme-90:10.
Importance of Mission Vatsalya
India is home to 47.2 crore children up to the age of 18 years and comprise 39 per cent of the country’s population. The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the Nodal Ministry for ensuring Welfare of Children. This is envisaged to be accomplished by way of legislation, policy and schematic interventions along with coordination with other ministries and organisations.
The National Children Policy, (as revised in 2013), and the National Plan of Action for Children, 2016 laid down the policy framework for child welfare and protection.
The Indian Parliament has passed several landmark legislations in favor of children like:
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012
- Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
- Right to Education Act, 2009.
India is also a signatory to important international treaties like the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child and the Hague convention on Adoption of children which mandate systemic development and strengthening of juvenile justice system in the country.
Prior to 2009-10, there were three schemes being implemented under the ministry namely:
- Programme for juvenile justice for children in need of care and protection, and children in conflict with law.
- Integrated programme for street children.
- Scheme for assistance to homes for children (Shishu Greh). All the three schemes were incorporated in a single centrally sponsored scheme called the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). The ICPS was implemented by the ministry from 2009-2010. The scheme was then renamed as “Child Protection Services” Scheme in 2017. The CPS Scheme has been now subsumed under Mission Vatsalya from 2021-22 onwards.
Mission Vatsalya is a roadmap to achieve development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It lays emphasis on child rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening of the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto to ‘leave no child behind’. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provisions and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 form the basic framework for implementation of the Mission.
Mission Vatsalya is implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme as per prescribed cost sharing ratio between the Centre and state/UT governments.