Strengthening Early Identification of Child Neglect: Evaluating Kerala’s Community-Based Child Protection Framework

Policy Update

Gayathry Sanjay Balram

BACKGROUND

A child born in Kerala today is not always guaranteed a safe and secure start to life. Contrary to common assumptions, the primary concern is not inadequate healthcare or poor infrastructure, but the neglect and abuse that many children face within their own homes.

According to multiple media reports and official police investigations, several children in Kerala have suffered severe physical injuries and emotional trauma due to the neglect or abuse of parents and caregivers.Infants and young children, who are unable to communicate their suffering beyond crying, often become silent victims of prolonged neglect and abuse. Regardless of the underlying reasons, no personal circumstance can justify exposing a child to neglect, violence, or lifelong trauma. Ensuring a child’s safety, care, and well-being must remain a fundamental responsibility of every parent and caregiver.

According to media reports published by The Hindu and The New Indian Express, a recent case in Kerala illustrates the severity of the issue.In May 2026, 18-month-old Arshid from Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, died after enduring prolonged abuse by his mother’s live-in partner, while investigations revealed that the child’s mother was aware of the abuse but failed to intervene. This was not an isolated incident.

According to Kerala Police crime statistics and media reports, Kerala has witnessed several cases of severe child abuse, neglect, and the abandonment of newborns in public places, including garbage disposal sites. Such recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for the state government to strengthen existing child protection mechanisms, improve the early identification of at-risk children, and enhance community-based intervention systems to prevent children from being subjected to prolonged neglect, abuse, and violence. Understanding how Kerala’s child protection framework operates is essential to assessing its effectiveness in identifying vulnerable children before neglect escalates into abuse.

FUNCTIONING

According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Mission Vatsalya Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Kerala’s child protection framework operates through a multi-tiered system that integrates statutory institutions, frontline service providers, and community-based mechanisms. Guided by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and implemented under Mission Vatsalya(2021), the framework aims to identify children at risk of neglect at an early stage while ensuring their protection, rehabilitation, and long-term well-being.

As outlined by the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Kerala, the Department serves as the nodal agency responsible for implementing child protection programmes across the state. At the district level, District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) coordinate child protection activities by working with the police, health and education departments, local self-government institutions, and civil society organisations. They identify vulnerable children, conduct social investigations, organise awareness programmes, and facilitate access to welfare services.

Under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, legal oversight is provided by Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), which are empowered under the Juvenile Justice Act to make decisions regarding children in need of care and protection. Cases may be referred by the police, schools, hospitals, Anganwadi workers, Child Helpline (1098), or members of the community. Based on social investigation reports, CWCs determine appropriate interventions, including counselling, family restoration, foster care, institutional care, or rehabilitation, while prioritising the child’s best interests.

Early identification relies on Kerala’s network of Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, teachers, healthcare professionals, and social workers, who regularly interact with children through schools, health services, nutrition programmes, and home visits. Their routine engagement enables the identification of warning signs such as malnutrition, developmental delays, behavioural changes, domestic violence, and caregiver substance abuse, allowing timely intervention before neglect escalates.

Mission Vatsalya also recognises community participation as an essential component of child protection. Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) and Child Protection Committees (CPCs) promote awareness of child rights, encourage reporting of suspected neglect, identify vulnerable households, and support coordination among different agencies.Kerala currently has 14 District Child Protection Units and 14 Child Welfare Committees, ensuring district-level implementation of child protection services across the state.

Despite having one of India’s most comprehensive child protection systems, gaps in inter-agency coordination, information sharing, reporting practices, and community awareness continue to delay early intervention. Strengthening referral mechanisms and convergence among stakeholders is therefore essential.

PERFORMANCE

Kerala’s child protection framework has strengthened considerably over the years through institutional reforms, improved reporting mechanisms, and enhanced coordination among welfare agencies. However, recent crime statistics indicate that significant challenges remain in preventing child neglect and abuse before they escalate into serious offences.

According to Kerala Police crime statistics, total cognisable crimes against children increased from 3,941 cases in 2020 to 5,903 cases in 2023. Although cases declined to 5,140 in 2024, they rose again to 5,537 in 2025, with 1,886 cases already reported between January and May 2026. These figures indicate that children continue to face substantial risks of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Complementing these statistics, according to the ICAST-CH survey conducted by Kumar, Kar and Kumar (2019), nearly 89.9%.had experienced at least one form of abuse within a year, with emotional abuse being the most prevalent, followed by physical and sexual abuse. Between 2020 and 2025, total cognisable crimes against children increased by approximately 40.5%, while POCSO cases increased by nearly 80.4%, indicating that child sexual abuse remains one of Kerala’s fastest-growing child protection concerns.

Sexual offences remain a major concern. Cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act increased from 1,243 in 2020 to 2,242 in 2025, highlighting both the persistence of child sexual abuse and improved reporting of such crimes. According to the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Annual Report (2022–23), of the 4,582 POCSO cases reported in 2022, 1,004 incidents occurred in the survivor’s own home, making it the most common place of abuse.

Another 722 cases occurred in the homes of the accused, while schools, vehicles, hotels, religious institutions, and hospitals accounted for smaller proportions. The report further noted that most survivors were girls and that perpetrators were often individuals known to the child, including neighbours, relatives, family members, teachers, and intimate acquaintances. These findings underscore that abuse frequently occurs within familiar and trusted environments, making early detection through community vigilance and frontline workers particularly challenging yet essential.

The category of “Other Crimes against Children” also remained consistently high, increasing from 2,445 cases in 2020 to 3,131 cases in 2025, indicating continued exposure to violence, neglect, and exploitation.

Kerala has also strengthened rescue operations. Under Operation Nanhe Farishte, the Railway Protection Force rescued more than 360 children annually between 2021 and 2024, with another 226 rescued in 2025. These interventions reflect the growing effectiveness of coordinated rescue operations and institutional response mechanisms for children found in vulnerable situations.

While reported cases of exposure and abandonment declined from 13 cases in 2020 to 2 cases in 2025, recent incidents involving abandoned newborns and severe parental neglect demonstrate that under-reporting and delayed identification remain significant concerns. Similarly, the decline in child murders from 41 cases in 2021 to 20 cases in 2025 represents a positive trend, but each case reflects a failure of early identification and preventive intervention.

Overall, official crime statistics and child protection reports suggest that, Kerala’s child protection system has improved access to reporting, rescue, and institutional response. However, its preventive capacity remains limited, with recurring cases of abuse indicating gaps in early detection, community reporting, and inter-agency coordination. Strengthening community awareness, enhancing frontline capacity, improving information sharing, and ensuring timely intervention are essential to protecting vulnerable children before irreversible harm occurs.

Source: Compiled by the author from Kerala Police, Crime Against Children Statistics (2020–2025).

Source: Compiled by the author from Kerala Police, Crime Against Children Statistics (2020–2025); Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Annual Report (2022–23); Ministry of Railways/Railway Protection Force (RPF) data on Operation Nanhe Farishte; and academic surveys on adolescent abuse prevalence published in Child Abuse & Neglect.

IMPACT

 According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Kerala,  child protection initiatives have had a significant impact by shifting the state’s approach from a purely reactive response to a more comprehensive, child-centred model of prevention, protection, and rehabilitation. Programmes such as Mission Vatsalya(2021), the Balasuraksha Protocol(2019), and KAVAL Plus(2024) have strengthened institutional coordination and promoted multidisciplinary interventions involving the District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), police, healthcare professionals, schools, legal service authorities, and civil society organisations.

This integrated framework has improved the identification, rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term support of children in need of care and protection. For example, the KAVAL Plus programme has documented multiple instances where coordinated interventions involving mental health professionals, schools, child protection officials, and families enabled child survivors of abuse to return to school, improve psychological well-being, and reintegrate safely into their communities.

A notable impact of these initiatives has been the increased emphasis on psychosocial rehabilitation. The KAVAL Plus programme recognises that survivors of child abuse require sustained support beyond legal intervention. Through comprehensive psychosocial assessments, individual care plans, family counselling, educational support, mental healthcare, life-skills training, and regular follow-up, the programme addresses the emotional, educational, and social consequences of abuse. The multidisciplinary model strengthens coordination among government departments and civil society organisations to support children’s recovery and reintegration. The programme’s case documentation demonstrates improvements in treatment adherence, emotional regulation, family relationships, educational continuity, and resilience among children receiving sustained multidisciplinary care.

The programme further demonstrates that early intervention and continuous support can produce positive outcomes. For instance, one documented KAVAL Plus case involved a child survivor of repeated sexual abuse who initially exhibited severe trauma symptoms and school disengagement. Following psychiatric care, counselling, educational support, and regular follow-up by multiple agencies, the child gradually resumed schooling, showed improved mental health, and re-established stable family relationships. At the same time, the programme highlights that children experiencing severe abuse often require long-term monitoring and multidisciplinary care before meaningful recovery can be achieved, reinforcing the importance of identifying risks at the earliest possible stage.

Despite these achievements, the persistence of severe child abuse and neglect cases indicates that the impact of Kerala’s child protection framework remains uneven. According to Kerala Police crime statistics, crimes against children increased from 3,941 cases in 2020 to 5,903 in 2023, before declining to 5,140 in 2024 and rising again to 5,537 in 2025. These figures suggest that although institutional response and rehabilitation mechanisms have strengthened, preventive outcomes continue to depend on timely community reporting, effective inter-agency coordination, and the ability of frontline workers to recognise early signs of neglect. Strengthening these preventive dimensions is essential to ensure that children receive protection before they are exposed to irreversible physical, psychological, or emotional harm

EMERGING ISSUES

Despite Kerala’s well-developed child protection framework, several emerging challenges continue to undermine its effectiveness in preventing child neglect and abuse. A significant concern is the shortage of adequately trained personnel across Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), and other frontline agencies. High caseloads, recurring vacancies, and limited specialised training often delay the identification, investigation, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection.

Administrative and governance challenges further weaken the framework. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Report No. 5 of 2025 highlighted deficiencies in monitoring, institutional coordination, and programme implementation, indicating the need for stronger accountability and convergence among agencies. Financial constraints have also affected the effective implementation of Mission Vatsalya, limiting investments in infrastructure, capacity building, and rehabilitation services.

Another emerging concern is the continued underreporting of child neglect and abuse. Since many cases occur within families or involve individuals known to the child, fear, social stigma, and limited community awareness often discourage timely reporting. At the same time, new challenges such as online exploitation, cyber grooming, and increasing mental health concerns among children require the child protection system to adapt continuously. Addressing these institutional and societal gaps is essential to transform Kerala’s child protection framework from a reactive mechanism into a preventive, community-centred system capable of safeguarding children before irreversible harm occurs. 

WAY FORWARD

Strengthening Kerala’s child protection framework requires a fundamental shift from a predominantly reactive system to one centred on prevention, early identification, and community-based intervention. The State Government should introduce a Universal Child Health and Protection Monitoring System, under which every newborn is assigned a unique Child Protection Identification Number linked to health, nutrition, education, and welfare records.

Each child should also be assigned a designated paediatrician within the public health system and an ASHA worker who is responsible for conducting regular developmental assessments, monitoring family well-being, and facilitating timely referrals when signs of neglect or abuse are suspected. Periodic health check-ups, particularly during the first five years of life, should be systematically recorded through an integrated digital platform to ensure continuous monitoring and accountability.

Capacity building must be prioritised by providing regular training to Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, teachers, healthcare professionals, and police personnel on recognising behavioural, psychological, and physical indicators of child neglect. Simultaneously, stronger convergence among District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), healthcare institutions, schools, and Local Self-Government Institutions should be ensured through standardised referral protocols, integrated case management systems, and periodic inter-agency review meetings.

Community awareness on child rights, positive parenting, and mandatory reporting should be strengthened alongside improved staffing, monitoring, and implementation of CAG recommendations. Greater emphasis should also be placed on family-based care, mental health services, and long-term rehabilitation. By prioritising early identification and coordinated intervention, Kerala can transform its child protection framework into a truly preventive system capable of safeguarding children before irreversible harm occurs.

REFERENCES

Women and Child Development Department, Government of Kerala.(2021). KAVAL: Community- Based Child Protection Programme. Women and Child Development, Government of Kerala

Kerala Police.(2026). Crime against children in Kerala. Kerala Police Records

Kumar,M.T., Kar, N.,& Kumar, S. (2019). Prevalence of child abuse in Kerala, India: An ICAST-CH bases survey. Child Abuse& Neglect (Elsevier). Child abuse and Neglect (Elsevier)

John, Haritha. (2022). Kerala’s ‘politically corrupt’ Child Welfare Committees need an urgent revamp. The News Minute

Comptroller and Auditor General of India. (2025). Report No. 5 of 2025 – Compliance Audit Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (Government of Kerala). Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. (2016). Draft Model Rules, 2016 under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

About the contributor

Gayathry Sanjay Balaram is a research and editorial intern at IMPRI. She is currently pursuing MA Dual Degree Program in Public Policy and International Relations from Tata Institute of Social Science. She completed her undergraduate studies from Banaras Hindu University in Political Science honors.

Acknowledgements

The author extends sincere gratitude to the IMPRI – Impact and Policy Research Institute team for their guidance. The author also extends heartfelt thanks to Shreya Dixit and Ameya Sushilchandra Satam for their constructive reviews and valuable feedback.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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