Every child must get family care, Aditi Tatkare tells Delhi summit; Maharashtra cites orphan quota gains
Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said family and community-based care must take precedence over institutional care, as she outlined Maharashtra's initiatives.
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The Maharashtra government wants every child to have a safe family, love and proper care, and is stressing the need to strengthen the state's child protection system. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said family and community-based options must be given priority over institutional care. She said foster care, the adoption process and after-care need to be made more effective.
Tatkare made the remarks at a two-day regional summit in New Delhi organised by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, where she presented Maharashtra's initiatives.
A one per cent horizontal reservation in government jobs is in force for orphaned children. According to the minister, 1,060 children had got government jobs under this quota as of September 2026. They include 4 candidates in Class I, 68 in Class II, 974 in Class III and 14 in Class IV.
About 12,443 orphan certificates have been issued in the state so far. The state government is also bearing the entire cost of higher education, technical education and examination fees for orphaned children. More than 99 students have benefited from the decision taken on July 17, 2025.
Under the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Bal Sangopan Yojana, about two lakh children are getting financial assistance of Rs 2,250 a month. A pilot initiative called "Firte Pathak" was run for children living in slums and on the streets. In 2024-25 it reached about 10,000 children.
Of these, 3,000 children were enrolled in regular schools. The initiative is now being extended to more than 39 municipal corporations in the state. Funds earmarked for women and child development under the District Annual Plan are being used for basic facilities, anganwadis and child welfare work.
About 20,000 to 25,000 applicants are registered for adoption. Yet most parents prefer to adopt a child younger than one to two years, which delays the adoption of older children.
The main challenges are delays in legally declaring children free for adoption, a shortage of foster families, and the support children need after the age of 18 for education, employment, housing and skill development.
Tatkare suggested some solutions. Coordination between the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and Mission Vatsalya must be improved, pending cases must be followed up, and planning for after-care and self-reliance must begin at least 12 months before a child turns 18.
She also said that if powers are decentralised and local-level officials are empowered, it will help the benefits of schemes reach the last section of society.
