Centre for Child Rights, NUSRL

India has one of the largest child populations in the world. According to demographic estimates, there are approximately 472 million children below 18 years of age in India, constituting about 39 percent of the country’s total population. This significant demographic share underscores both the opportunity and responsibility to protect and promote children’s rights and well-being.

In the state of Jharkhand, child protection continues to be a key priority for the Government due to multiple and interlinked vulnerabilities affecting children. Issues such as child trafficking, child labour, child marriage, sexual abuse, neglect, violence, school dropouts, and emerging mental health and psychosocial concerns remain significant challenges. Factors such as poverty, migration, family disruption, substance abuse, and exposure to violence have a direct impact on children’s emotional well-being, behaviour, and development. Evidence from child protection and welfare systems indicates that children from socio-economically disadvantaged communities, tribal populations, children with disabilities, migrant families, and hard to reach areas are particularly vulnerable. These realities underscore the need for a comprehensive child protection framework that integrates mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with preventive, protective, and rehabilitative interventions, supported by strong institutional coordination and well-capacitated frontline functionaries.