Research on child rights in India faces several significant challenges that impede effective programming and budgeting. Key issues include limited data availability and quality and social and political barriers. Reliable, up-to-date data on various aspects of child rights, particularly for children and youth without parental care, is scarce.
Even when available data is scattered across various governmental and non-governmental agencies, leading to inconsistencies and difficulties in compiling a comprehensive picture. This fragmentation hinders the assessment of the actual situation and progress over time. Additionally, a gap between policy and practice complicates the evaluation of the real impact of these measures. Research in this field often receives limited funding compared to other sectors, affecting research projects’ scope, scale, and quality. The interdisciplinary nature of child rights research, intersecting with law, sociology, psychology, and economics, requires a holistic approach that is often challenging to achieve in practice.
The child protection social workforce is the first line of response for vulnerable and at-risk children, families, individuals, and communities. However, stakeholders often lack the knowledge and skills to use tools and techniques that ensure the well-being of those they serve. This includes providing preventative, responsive, and promotive services to alleviate poverty, reduce discrimination, promote social justice and equity, and prioritize children’s and youth’s well-being.
Udayan Care champions children’s rights in alignment with the Indian Constitution, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through advocacy, research, publications, and training programs. While our child and youth care (CYC) practice is rooted in India, our ART (Advocacy, Research, and Training) efforts have a global impact, promoting CYC approaches and building narratives.
We believe in people-centric advocacy, empowering civil society members and organizations to take responsibility for improving the situation of vulnerable populations. Our work on care leavers has significantly influenced aftercare policy and practice in India.
Udayan Care aims to address research limitations, improve care practices through evidence generation, and promote the mainstream integration of children and young people without parental care. Through our international academic journal, we provide a platform for sharing insights and developing dialogues on law and practice, bringing together practitioners, academicians, and policymakers. We remain dedicated to fostering collaboration and participation to enhance the reach and depth of scientific inquiry and expertise.
In 2017, Udayan Care launched the “Current Aftercare Practices” (CAP) study to ensure that Care Leavers are granted their rights. This pioneering study examined existing aftercare programs and provisions from the perspectives of Care Leavers and key informants. Concluding in April 2019, the study covered Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan and was published as the “Beyond 18” study. The recommendations from various stakeholders have shaped our interventions for care leavers and informed the Vatsalya scheme’s Aftercare policy, including the incorporation of the Individual Aftercare Plan.
Udayan Care has presented numerous papers at international forums, and over 80 research papers have been published. 
Udayan Care has trained over 8,300 functionaries across more than 18 states in India on juvenile justice, independent living, aftercare, case management, and family-based care. As of March 2024, all training follows the KABS methodology, enhancing Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior, and Skills with pre-post analysis to measure outcomes.
We have curated three customized curricula:
The Learning and Development team conducts year-round capacity-building sessions for our in-house workforce, including regular training on PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) and POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace).
