New Delhi

The Delhi government has directed all district child protection units and associated agencies to ensure accurate, complete, and real-time updating of data on adoption, foster care, sponsorship, institutional and non-institutional care, child helpline services, and missing children on the Mission Vatsalya portal.

The advisory, issued by the Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), instructs officers and institutions to strengthen reporting across all components of Mission Vatsalya, the centrally sponsored flagship scheme aimed at safeguarding, rehabilitating, and promoting the overall well-being of children.

The portal serves as the primary platform for monitoring child-related interventions, guiding policy formulation, reporting to the Centre, and reviewing the effectiveness of child welfare initiatives.

According to the advisory, a recent review of Delhi’s data revealed variations in district-level reporting, instances of nil or under-reporting in certain components, delays in data entry, and the need for stronger coordination among agencies.

District officers have been instructed to focus particularly on family-based care models such as sponsorship, foster care, and adoption, ensuring all interventions are promptly reflected on the portal. "Districts reporting zero cases under components like foster care and aftercare must critically examine the reasons and document them for review," the advisory stated.

The directive also emphasised regular coordination among district child protection units, childcare institutions, specialised adoption agencies, open shelters, child helpline agencies, the police, and child welfare committees, to ensure that field-level actions are accurately mirrored in the portal.

Data on child helpline services and missing and found children must be periodically cross-verified with relevant agencies to maintain accuracy and uniformity. Weekly and monthly reports highlighting updates, gaps, and corrective measures will be submitted to senior officials, with district child protection officers held personally accountable for validating and completing data entries.

The district child protection unit (HQ) and the State Child Protection Society have been tasked with providing technical guidance and support to districts facing operational or system-related challenges.

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The DWCD director will oversee implementation, with periodic departmental reviews and corrective actions for non-compliance, delays, or discrepancies. The advisory underscores that timely, accurate, and credible reporting is crucial for protecting child rights and achieving the objectives of Mission Vatsalya.