In India, the well-being of every child is at the heart of national priorities. Yet many children continue to face vulnerabilities that put them at risk of separation and losing the safe and nurturing environment of their families. To address this, the Government of India introduced the Mission Vatsalya Guidelines to reimagine child protection—placing families and communities at the center of care.

In this spirit, Miracle Foundation India, in collaboration with the District Collectors of Vadodara and Mehsana, Gujarat, launched a pioneering initiative to strengthen child protection and promote family-based care. Anchored in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the effort sought to build stronger systems at district, block, and village levels while placing local communities at the heart of safeguarding children. What unfolded in Desar (Vadodara) and Sakri (Mehsana) was more than a pilot—it became a story of collective action, sustained efforts, and community ownership creating lasting change for children.

(Journey of the Pilot Projects in Mehsana & Vadodara)

 

Learnings from Chhota Udepur pilot project

The journey began with the Chhota Udepur Family Strengthening Project in four tribal villages: Moti Dumali, Nani Dumali, Jaloda, and Gungawada, which had already shown promising results. Inspired by this success, the Miracle Foundation India team envisioned replicating the model across Gujarat. A detailed proposal was prepared—but as with any bold idea, the path was not straightforward. The proposal was shared with government departments and District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) across 11 districts. While the idea resonated, delays in the approval process pushed the team to think differently. Instead of waiting, they engaged directly with district-level officers. This proactive approach paid off—5 districts (Vadodara, Mehsana, Aravalli, Kheda, and Chhota Udepur) welcomed the idea and agreed to take it forward. 

Building Momentum

Securing formal approval was not easy. It required commitment, trust-building, and evidence to back the vision of family-based care. Miracle Foundation India team, along with the DCPOs and State Development Officers (SDOs), carried the lessons from Chhota Udepur into district offices—making presentations, sharing data, and telling stories from the field. Collectors listened carefully. Some questioned the feasibility, others weighed priorities, but gradually, conversations began to shift. The idea of strengthening child protection at the grassroots was no longer abstract—it was real, achievable, and urgently needed.

Among the districts engaged, Vadodara and Mehsana emerged as frontrunners. Their collectors recognized the potential and responded with decisive action, sanctioning pilots in Desar and Sakri village. What had once been a vision on paper now had a mandate for action.

This marked more than just one organizational milestone: it was about government systems embracing innovation, communities stepping into ownership, and children being placed at the heart of policy and practice. The momentum had begun.   

Turning Plans into Action on the Ground

With approvals secured, the vision finally began to take shape at the grassroots. The first step was collaboration—joint meetings with SDOs, DCPOs, and Taluka Development Officers (TDOs) laid the groundwork for coordinated action. The DCPOs took full ownership of the implementation of the project activities in their respective districts.

From there, the focus shifted to the villages. Talatis (Revenue Officers) and Sarpanches were engaged—not merely as informants but as partners—placing local leadership at the center of the effort. Formal letters followed, giving official authorization to move from planning to implementation.

But policy and paperwork alone could not bring about change. The real strength lay in people. In both the villages, capacity-building workshops brought together Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) members, and Talatis. Sessions on Family Strengthening (FS), Family-Based Alternative Care (F-BAC), and Mission Vatsalya gave them the knowledge and tools to anchor the VCPCs—the very groups that would carry the initiative forward.

At the same time, situational analyses were conducted, offering a detailed picture of at-risk families in each village. These insights became the compass for action, ensuring that the interventions should reach those who needed it most. The plans were no longer just on paper—they had become a living process, rooted in systems, owned by communities, and centered on children.  The activation of VCPCs in Vadodara and Mehsana marked the start of a new chapter. What began as an idea in Chhota Udepur has now evolved into a replicable model for strengthening families and protecting children across Gujarat. 

The Current Scenario

Desar and Sakri villages now stand as living examples of what happens when policies meet people and communities take charge of child protection.

In Desar, 61 families are actively engaged, representing 63 children—31 boys and 32 girls—whose well-being is at the center of every effort. An 11-member VCPC is already functional, ensuring local voices guide the process. The Bal Panchayat, however, is yet to be activated, leaving space for children’s leadership to emerge. In Sakri, the story echoes with equal strength. 30 families are working hand in hand with the program, covering 57 children (26 boys and 31 girls). A 15-member VCPC is active, setting the tone for village-led protection. As in Desar, the Bal Panchayat is not yet functional.

Across both villages, strong foundations have been laid. Families are engaged, committees are active, and the system is beginning to breathe with local ownership. The next step is to bring children to the center stage through Bal Panchayats—transforming protection into participation.

Looking Ahead

The pilots in these villages are not endpoints, but launchpads. With every meeting, training, and family strengthened, Gujarat moves closer to a model where child protection is not an external intervention but a shared community responsibility.

The road ahead is clear:

• Strengthen VCPCs as pillars of accountability and action while activating Bal Panchayats to nurture children as leaders in shaping their future.
  
• Implement effective case management, intervention planning, and progress monitoring of families through the Thrive Well app—developed by Miracle Foundation India—to track progress across five well-being domains: education, livelihood, living conditions, health & mental health, and social & family relationships.
  
• Expand learnings from these pilots to more villages, scaling a model that blends government leadership, community participation, and organizational support.

The potential extends beyond Gujarat. This pilot framework can be replicated across other districts and states. In fact, Miracle Foundation India has already adapted and scaled this model successfully in Bihar. The lessons of Desar and Sakri villages affirm that when systems, communities, and families unite, child protection shifts from policy to reality. The vision is simple yet profound: a nation where every child grows up safe, strong, and in a permanent family.

Author: Kunal Patel, Manager-MEL, Miracle Foundation India

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Miracle Foundation India.