Alternative Care in India: Issues and Prospects

Abstract

The international human rights law and policy makers establish the primacyof family for a child and accord a high priority to the continuum of care.India has recently been advocating for a transition from institutionalisationto the deinstitutionalisation of children in need of care and protection.Prevailing legislation and guidelines in India including the Juvenile JusticeAt (JJ Act) 2015, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), theNew Adoption Guidelines 2016 and Regulations 2017, the ModelGuidelines for Foster Care 2016, and Supreme Court rulings advocate forthe same. Although non-institutional alternative care is considered to be
in the best interests of the child, its acceptance is limited.