Chandigarh, July 22
The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC), under the chairmanship of Justice Lalit Batra, held a comprehensive review meeting with senior officers of the Women & Child Development Department, Haryana, at the Commission’s office in Sector-33, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. The meeting aimed to review the functioning of Child Care Institutions (CCIs), assess compliance on the agenda points shared earlier by the Commission, and further strengthen the protection of children’s rights across the State.
The agenda for the meeting had been circulated by the Haryana Human Rights Commission in advance, on the basis of which the Department presented a detailed compliance report on each agenda point.
The meeting was attended on behalf of the Haryana Human Rights Commission by Sh. Kuldip Jain, Member (Judicial), Sh. Deep Bhatia, Member, Sh. Ravi Kumar Sondhi, Registrar (Law & Legal), Sh. Sanjay Kumar Khanduja, Registrar (Judicial), Dr. Puneet Arora, Assistant Registrar; Ms. Simmi Nayyar and Ms.SanyaSapra.
Representing the Women & Child Development Department, Haryana were Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi , Commissioner & Secretary, Dr Priyanka Soni, , Director; Smt. Rajbala Katariya, Joint Director; and Dr. Preeti, Programme Manager.
The Department made a detailed presentation on the action taken and compliance with each agenda item.
Budgetary Support and Maintenance Grants
During the meeting, Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson of the Commission, highlighted a major concern repeatedly raised during inspections of Child Care Institutions across various districts. He observed that whenever he or Members of the Commission visit Child Care Institutions, one of the common grievances voiced by almost every institution is the delay in receiving maintenance grants, which adversely affects the care of children and the smooth functioning of the institutions.
Responding to the concern, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi, Commissioner & Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, clarified that grants are being released to Child Care Institutions under Mission Vatsalya in accordance with the financial norms prescribed by the Government of India. At present, a maintenance grant of ₹3,000 per child per month is being provided, while a proposal has also been submitted to the Government of India for an enhancement of ₹1,000 per child per month for Government Child Care Institutions.
Dr. Priyanka Soni, Director, Women & Child Development Department, informed the Commission that the revised financial norms under Mission Vatsalya are expected to be notified by September 2026. She further assured the Commission that each pending case relating to Child Care Institutions would be reviewed individually and every possible effort would be made to remove administrative and technical bottlenecks so that eligible institutions receive grants at the earliest.
Inspection Mechanism
The Department informed the Commission that regular inspections are being conducted by the State and District Level Inspection Committees constituted under the Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Recently, inspections were carried out in Child Care Institutions located in Nuh, Rewari, Ambala, Karnal, Sonipat and Panipat, following which compliance reports were prepared and are being regularly monitored. The Haryana Human Rights Commission is a member of the State Level Inspection Committee and is informed in advance whenever State-level inspections are scheduled.
Infrastructure and Human Resources
Responding to a query raised by Sh. Kuldip Jain, Member (Judicial), the Department informed that 63 Child Care Institutions are presently functional across the State. These institutions have appointed Superintendents, Counsellors, Case Workers, Educators, Medical Personnel and other support staff in accordance with the norms prescribed under Mission Vatsalya. Financial assistance is also being provided for infrastructure upgradation and maintenance.
Identity Documents and After Care
During the meeting, Sh. Deep Bhatia, Member, emphasized that every child residing in Child Care Institutions should necessarily possess an Aadhaar Card, Birth Certificate and Ayushman Bharat Card. He stated that these documents are essential for ensuring that children receive timely benefits under various Central and State Government welfare schemes. He further observed that maintaining updated records would also enable the Government to formulate more effective policies and programmes for children’s welfare.
Sh. Deep Bhatia informed the meeting that similar directions had recently been issued by him during the inspection of SOS Children’s Village, Faridabad.
In response, the Department informed that Aadhaar Cards, Birth Certificates and Ayushman Bharat Cards have already been prepared for the majority of children, while Aadhaar enrolment is initiated immediately after a child’s admission into a Child Care Institution. The Department further stated that eligible young adults are being provided assistance for higher education, skill development and rehabilitation under the After Care Programme.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
The Department informed that Counsellors have been appointed in District Child Protection Units as well as Child Care Institutions. Specialized mental health services are provided through Civil Hospitals wherever required, while regular capacity-building programmes for Counsellors are being conducted in collaboration with national institutions.
Education, Skill Development and Rehabilitation
The Department stated that all eligible Children in Need of Care and Protection have been enrolled in schools. Children are also being provided vocational training through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), opportunities for open and distance learning, as well as regular life skills, yoga and rehabilitation programmes.
Healthcare, Nutrition and Hygiene
The Commission was informed that children undergo periodic health check-ups, specialist medical camps and health screening under the RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK). Hygiene and nutrition standards are regularly monitored in all institutions, while financial assistance has also been provided for sanitation, plantation and deep-cleaning initiatives.
During the meeting, the Haryana Human Rights Commission offered several suggestions for further strengthening child protection mechanisms, enhancing institutional transparency and improving the quality of care, rehabilitation and welfare services in Child Care Institutions.
The meeting concluded with a collective resolve that the Haryana Human Rights Commission and the Women & Child Development Department would continue to work in close coordination to safeguard the rights of children and women, strengthen institutional mechanisms and promote the welfare, dignity and well-being of every child in the State.
