A child-first information and referral resource covering child abuse, POCSO, the Juvenile Justice framework, orphan and abandoned children, and safe institutional care.
Children may face sexual abuse, physical violence, emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, trafficking, unsafe labour, online exploitation, abandonment or other forms of harm. Indian law provides specialised child-protection mechanisms, including the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
Crime-against-children cases registered in India in 2023, according to NCRB’s Crime in India 2023 data.
POCSO cases registered in 2023 under the crime-against-children classification.
Kidnapping and abduction cases involving children registered in 2023.
These are police-recorded cases, not a measure of the total prevalence of abuse. Reporting, classification and investigation affect the recorded figures.
Under the JJ framework and Model Rules, an orphan or abandoned child must be brought before the Child Welfare Committee. Efforts are made to trace parents/guardians; after the prescribed inquiry, a child may be declared legally free for adoption where the statutory conditions are met.
Institutional care is not a substitute for lawful child-protection procedures. A person or organisation should not privately take custody of an abandoned child and bypass the Child Welfare Committee process.
The legal term and regulatory framework are important. Institutions providing institutional care to children in need of care and protection are regulated as Child Care Institutions under the JJ Act and Rules. Registration, standards, inspections, staffing, records, safeguarding and child-care plans apply.
AURA CLARION FOUNDATION should not publicly promise an “orphanage” unless and until all required approvals, registration and safeguarding systems are actually obtained.
Where there is information about an offence covered by POCSO, reporting duties can arise under Section 19. The child’s identity and privacy must be protected. Do not publish the child’s name, photograph, address, school or other identifying details.
Inform the Child Welfare Committee or appropriate child-protection authorities. The JJ Act and Rules provide the lawful route for production, inquiry, interim care, restoration or declaration of legal freedom for adoption.
Record the date, place, basic facts and safe contact details without unnecessarily interviewing the child repeatedly. Preserve relevant messages, documents or digital evidence lawfully and refer the matter to trained professionals.
POCSO awareness, safe/unsafe touch education, online safety, child rights and responsible reporting.
Connection with police, Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units, legal services and qualified counsellors/health professionals as appropriate.
Education continuity, life skills, psychosocial support through qualified providers and family/community reintegration pathways where lawful and appropriate.
If the Trust ever proposes to operate a Child Care Institution, it should first complete the applicable registration, inspection, staffing, safeguarding and statutory requirements.
Research note: statistics shown are from government crime-recording systems and should not be interpreted as prevalence estimates. This page is educational and does not replace statutory child-protection procedures or professional legal advice.
