Context:
The Supreme Court of India directed the Union Government to submit six years of nationwide data on missing children and to appoint a dedicated nodal officer in the Union Home Ministry for coordination under Mission Vatsalya. The directions were issued while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting the alarming number of untraced children across States and Union Territories.
Key Highlights:
- Supreme Court Directions:
- The Centre must furnish pan-India data on missing children for the last six years.
- A dedicated nodal officer is to be appointed in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to coordinate with States and UTs.
- Background of the Case:
- The order came during the hearing of a PIL filed by Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan.
- The PIL flagged concerns over rising cases of missing and untraced children.
- Earlier Court Instructions:
- States and UTs were earlier directed to appoint dedicated officers.
- Authorities were instructed to upload details of missing children on the Mission Vatsalya portal.
- Administrative Lapses Highlighted:
- The Court noted the absence of a nodal officer at the Union level, affecting coordination and data consolidation.
- Emphasis was laid on effective dissemination and platform-based coordination.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue & Causes:
- Increasing incidents of missing children due to trafficking, migration, poverty, and weak tracking systems.
- Fragmented data collection and lack of centralized coordination.
- Government Initiatives:
- Mission Vatsalya under the Ministry of Women and Child Development for child protection services.
- Benefits:
- Centralized data improves tracing, rescue, and rehabilitation of missing children.
- Strengthens inter-State coordination.
- Challenges:
- Inconsistent data reporting by States.
- Limited accountability due to absence of nodal mechanisms.
- Impact:
- Enhances child safety, law enforcement efficiency, and policy formulation.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Definitions:
- Public Interest Litigation (PIL): Judicial remedy to address issues affecting large sections of society.
- Mission Vatsalya: Umbrella scheme for child protection, supporting children in difficult circumstances.
- Nodal Officer: Designated authority for coordination, monitoring, and information flow.
- Governance & Social Justice Dimensions:
- Missing children issue intersects with child rights, human trafficking, and law and order.
- Highlights gaps in cooperative federalism and administrative accountability.
- Institutional Challenges:
- Poor integration between Home Ministry, WCD Ministry, and State police systems.
- Underutilization of digital platforms despite judicial directions.
- Way Forward:
- Appointment of empowered nodal officers at Union and State levels.
- Mandatory, real-time data upload and verification on Mission Vatsalya portal.
- Capacity building of police and child welfare authorities.
- Stronger inter-ministerial and inter-State coordination mechanisms.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS Paper II: Social Justice – Child rights, vulnerable sections
- GS Paper II: Governance – Judicial intervention, administrative coordination
- Prelims: Mission Vatsalya, PIL, Nodal Officer
- Mains: Child protection frameworks, role of judiciary in governance