Nagaland receives INR 90.77 crore for child care institutions

NAGALAND  — The Central Government has released a total of INR 90.77 crore to support Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in Nagaland under the Mission Vatsalya scheme from 2023 up to July 21, 2026, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

According to a written reply by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, the fund allocation over the financial years includes INR 29.28 crore in FY 2023–24, INR 33.92 crore in FY 2024–25, INR 25.66 crore in FY 2025–26, and INR 1.91 crore in FY 2026–27 (up to July 21, 2026).

The minister stated that under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Child Care Institutions are established, managed and monitored by the respective state governments and union territory administrations.

She further noted that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016 require every child care institution to ensure access to education and skill development for children under its care.

Rule 37 also mandates that CCIs provide vocational training and skill-based education suited to a child's age, aptitude, interests and abilities to improve employability and facilitate certification wherever applicable.

Thakur said the Ministry of Women and Child Development supplements the efforts of states and union territories through the Mission Vatsalya centrally sponsored scheme.

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The scheme also provides aftercare support for eligible young adults aged 18 years and above who are leaving child care institutions, in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the Mission Vatsalya guidelines.

The data presented in the Lok Sabha showed that 62 child care institutions in Nagaland were supported under the Mission Vatsalya scheme during FY 2025–26.