'Mission Vatsalya' scheme for rape victims minor girls

Tags: Government Schemes

The Central Government has started a new relief scheme under the 'Mission Vatsalya' scheme in relation to the abandonment of the families of minor girls who are victims of rape when they become pregnant.

An Overview of the news:

• Under this, arrangements have been made to provide shelter, food and legal aid to those minors.
• According to Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, the new scheme launched under the aegis of 'Nirbhaya Yojana' aims to ensure institutional and financial support to pregnant minor victims who have no means to take care of themselves.

Main Initiatives of the Scheme:

• Under this, the administrative structure of 'Mission Vatsalya' has also been used in collaboration with state governments and child care institutions to provide help to minor victims at the grassroots level.
• This additional assistance under the scheme will be available at the level of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) for girls up to 18 years of age and care centers for young women up to 23 years of age.
• Along with legal aid, the victim will also be provided safe transportation to attend court hearings.
• To facilitate access to justice for minor victims, the Center has set up 415 POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) fast track courts in the country.

Mission Vatsalya:

• There is an umbrella scheme for women and child protection services in the country.
• Scheme launched: in 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Implementation of the scheme: 1 April 2022
• Objective: To ensure a healthy and happy childhood for the children of the country.
• Through this, a National Human Milk Bank was established in the capital Delhi.
• Through Mission Vatsalya Yojana 2023, women are encouraged to breastfeed.
• A breastfeeding counseling center has also been formed through this scheme.
• Mission Vatsalya is brought for the better health of babies and women.
• Mission Vatsalya was allocated Rs 900 crore in the budget for the financial year 2021-2022.
• Efforts are being made to reduce the infant mortality rate through this scheme.

Historical Perspective:

• Prior to the year 2009, the Ministry of Women and Child Development implemented three schemes for children in need of protection:-
  • Juvenile Justice Programme, 
  • Integrated Program and 
  • Child Home Support Scheme.
• In the year 2010, these were merged into the 'Integrated Child Protection Scheme'.
• In the year 2017 it was renamed as "Child Protection Service Scheme" and again in the year 2021 it was renamed as Mission Vatsalya.