Context: 

The Union government has decided to provide medical, financial and infrastructure support to victims in cases where the sexual assault results in pregnancies.

About the Scheme 

• Aim of the scheme : To provide shelter, food, daily needs, safe transportation for attending court hearings and legal aid to minor girls who have been abandoned by their family due to forced pregnancy, either due to rape or gang rape, or due to any other reason, and have no other means to support themselves.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Women and Child Development 
• Funding: It would operate under the aegis of the Nirbhaya Fund and an amount of ₹74.1 crore has been allocated.
• Collaborative effort: The government will leverage the administrative structure of Mission Vatsalya, in collaboration with state governments and child care institutions.
• Setting up shelters for victims:  This could be in the nature of standalone shelters, or wards earmarked for such victims in existing child care institutions (CCIs).

About Mission Vatsalya Scheme:

• Objective: 
  • To achieve development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • To support the children through Non-Institutional Care under Private Aided Sponsorship wherein interested sponsors (individuals/ institutions/ company/ banks/ industrial units/ trusts etc.)
  • To emphasise  child rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening of the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto to ‘leave no child behind’. 
• Implementation Framework: 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
• Type of the scheme: Centrally Sponsored Scheme 
• Assistance given: 
  • Vatsalya scheme can provide assistance to children in difficult circumstances. 
  • The District Magistrates take measures to encourage individuals or Public/ Private Sector Organisations to sponsor a child or a group of children or an Institution. 
  • Such arrangements are subject to stipulations as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and Rules thereof.

News Source: The Hindu

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