Chandigarh, July 22: The Haryana Government has approved a series of major initiatives to further strengthen child protection, healthcare and rehabilitation services under Mission Vatsalya. The State-Level Monitoring Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, approved the proposal to extend Ayushman Bharat health coverage to all eligible children residing in these institutions. The committee also reviewed and approved measures to strengthen specialised healthcare, bridge education, vocational training, adoption services, sports activities, legal support, institutional infrastructure and inter-departmental coordination to ensure holistic care, protection and rehabilitation of vulnerable children across Haryana.
Chairing the meeting, the Chief Secretary said Mission Vatsalya is creating a comprehensive child protection ecosystem that integrates healthcare, education, counselling, rehabilitation, legal assistance and social reintegration for children in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law. He emphasised coordinated action among all stakeholder departments to ensure timely delivery of child welfare services.
To further strengthen healthcare services, the committee decided that Ayushman Bharat cards would be issued to all eligible children residing in Child Care Institutions, ensuring timely access to quality healthcare and financial protection for medical treatment. The committee also decided that specialised quarterly health check-ups under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) will be conducted in all Child Care Institutions, covering dental, ENT, skin and other specialised medical interventions. The Health Department was directed to ensure expeditious preparation of Medical Examination Reports (MERs) to facilitate timely adoption of children, particularly those with special needs.
The committee also emphasised timely issuance of Non-Claimant Certificates (NCCs) by the police and regular updating of child-related information on the Mission Vatsalya portal to expedite adoption procedures and improve monitoring of children requiring care and protection.
Recognising education as an essential pillar of rehabilitation, the committee reviewed measures to strengthen bridge education in Observation Homes, Special Homes and Places of Safety by ensuring the availability of qualified teachers. It also decided to expand skill development and vocational training programmes to equip children with employable skills and improve their future livelihood opportunities. Vocational courses, including CCTV repair and tailoring, are already being conducted for children in institutional care.
A key proposal discussed during the meeting was to collaborate with the State Institute of Mental Health, Haryana, for deploying psychologists in Child Care Institutions across the state. The committee also reviewed measures to strengthen the functioning of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) by ensuring continuity of trained Child Welfare Police Officers and improving support for tracing families of children belonging to other districts and states. It also stressed better coordination among the Home Department, Women and Child Development Department, Police and other agencies for effective implementation of child protection laws.
To strengthen rehabilitation and positive engagement of children in Child Care Institutions, structured and regular sports and physical activities shall also be organised to channelize their energy constructively and promote physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, and emotional well-being.
Reviewing infrastructure development, the Chief Secretary took stock of the Integrated Child Care Complex being developed at Hisar, comprising an Observation Home, Special Home and Place of Safety with a capacity of 50 children in each unit. The committee also reviewed staffing requirements for the new complex and existing institutions to ensure quality care and efficient management.
The meeting further emphasised strengthening free legal aid for children in conflict with law and improving coordination between the Prosecution Department and District Child Protection Units to ensure timely legal assistance and better monitoring of POCSO cases across the state.
Commissioner & Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi informed that Haryana has established a robust institutional framework under Mission Vatsalya with 22 Child Welfare Committees, 22 Juvenile Justice Boards, 56 Child Care Institutions for Children in Need of Care and Protection and seven institutions for Children in Conflict with Law. The state has also organised 641 awareness camps on Mission Vatsalya and the POCSO Act till June 2026, benefiting 37,136 children through awareness programmes on child rights, legal safeguards, online safety and prevention of abuse.
Director, Women & Child Development Department, Dr. Priyanka Soni highlighted the progress of Haryana’s flagship child welfare initiatives, including the Harihar Policy, which provides employment, educational and financial support to eligible abandoned and surrendered children after they attain adulthood, and the Mukhya Mantri Bal Sewa Yojana, which continues to support children who lost parents or guardians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chief Secretary reiterated the Haryana Government’s commitment to building a responsive, inclusive and child-centric protection system by strengthening healthcare, education, counselling, legal support, skill development and institutional infrastructure so that every vulnerable child receives the care, protection and opportunities needed for a secure and dignified future.
