Delhi gets Rs 6.63 crore under Mission Vatsalya this fiscal, Centre tells Rajya Sabha

The Centre has informed the Rajya Sabha that Delhi has received Rs 6.63 crore under the Mission Vatsalya scheme during the current financial year (2025-26), down from ₹7.62 crore released in 2024-25 for strengthening child protection services and awareness programmes.

The information was shared by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur in response to an unstarred question on the safety of children in educational institutions.

The minister said the Centre has taken note of incidents involving violence, sexual abuse and other forms of abuse against children in schools and educational institutions and has strengthened coordination with states and Union Territories to ensure the safety and protection of children.

According to the reply, the Department of School Education and Literacy has issued comprehensive School Safety and Security Guidelines, which prescribe a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse, define the responsibilities of school managements, principals, teachers and parents, and lay down procedures for reporting incidents, counselling victims and taking corrective action. The guidelines have been circulated to all states and Union Territories for adoption.

The government also said the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has circulated a Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools and operates a grievance redressal mechanism through which complaints are forwarded to the concerned authorities and monitored through follow-ups and review meetings.

On implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the minister said mandatory reporting provisions are being strictly enforced. School authorities are legally required to report offences to the police, while failure to do so attracts penal provisions. Schools have also been directed to constitute grievance committees on child sexual abuse every academic year.

The reply further said the Act provides for child-friendly investigation and trial procedures, support persons, emergency medical aid, interim compensation, and rehabilitation measures for victims. The government is also supporting Fast Track Special Courts for expeditious disposal of POCSO cases.

The minister added that under Mission Vatsalya, states and Union Territories receive financial assistance for child protection services, awareness campaigns and capacity-building programmes. In 2025-26, the NCPCR conducted 202 awareness programmes, including 30 virtual sessions, besides developing IEC material on the POCSO Act and online child sexual abuse.