Appoint nodal officers to trace missing children: SC, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court directed the Union government to appoint nodal officers in all States and Union Territories to handle cases of missing children.
• The order mandates that names and contact details of these officers be published on the Mission Vatsalya portal.
• This directive came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan, highlighting the increasing number of untraced missing children.
• The court has granted the Union government four weeks to collect and upload the details of the nodal officers on the Mission Vatsalya portal.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court emphasized the need for prompt action in tracing missing children, identifying perpetrators, and registering complaints.
• The Mission Vatsalya portal integrates previous platforms like TrackChild and Khoya-Paya, with 14 stakeholders currently participating in the initiative.
• The court observed a lack of information dissemination among stakeholders despite the existence of the Mission Vatsalya portal, stressing cooperation between the State and the Centre.
• The appointed nodal officers are required to establish a coordinated network across districts, States, and Union Territories for efficient information dissemination.
• The PIL highlighted a surge in cases of child abduction and trafficking, with concerns raised about the timely and effective action by authorities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mission Vatsalya: A scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for the welfare and rehabilitation of children.
• Nodal Officer: A designated official responsible for coordinating efforts and serving as a point of contact for a specific task or issue.
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL): A legal action initiated in a court of law for the enforcement of public interest or general welfare.