12 November 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The Kerala government is planning to introduce a statewide initiative called Family Sustainability Mapping to identify children living in vulnerable family environments and provide them with timely protection, care and rehabilitation. The initiative aims to identify children exposed to risks such as malnutrition, neglect, domestic violence, child labour, school dropout and various forms of exploitation before their situations become more serious.
The decision comes in the wake of the recent death of a two-year-old child in Alappuzha district, reportedly due to suspected malnutrition. The incident has raised concerns about child welfare, family monitoring and the effectiveness of existing child protection mechanisms. Following the incident, the state government organised a meeting to discuss measures to prevent similar tragedies and strengthen the system for identifying children who may be facing unsafe living conditions.
Women and Child Development Minister Bindhu Krishna announced the proposed initiative while addressing a press conference in connection with the announcement of the Ujjwalabalyam Awards 2025. She said the government had decided to introduce a comprehensive mapping system to assess the circumstances of families and children across the state.
Under the proposed initiative, government departments and local institutions will work together to identify children who require special attention and support. The exercise will involve schools, Anganwadi centres, local self-government institutions, District Child Protection Units, healthcare workers and the police. Their combined efforts will help authorities understand the living conditions of children and recognise warning signs that may indicate neglect, abuse or other forms of vulnerability.
The mapping exercise will focus on identifying children facing different forms of risk. These include malnutrition, inadequate healthcare, neglect by family members, domestic violence, child labour, child begging, school dropouts and problems associated with substance abuse. Children who may be exposed to physical or psychological abuse, trafficking and other forms of exploitation will also be included in the assessment.
The government intends to ensure that children identified through the exercise receive appropriate protection and rehabilitation according to their individual circumstances. The initiative is expected to strengthen the existing child welfare system by making it more proactive and focused on prevention rather than responding only after an incident has taken place.
One of the major objectives of Family Sustainability Mapping is to identify vulnerable children at an early stage. In many cases, children living in difficult family circumstances may remain unnoticed until they experience serious health problems, violence or exploitation. Through coordination between educational institutions, healthcare facilities and local authorities, the government hopes to identify such situations before they result in severe consequences.
The Women and Child Development Department will coordinate with the Health Department, Police Department and Local Self-Government Department to implement the initiative. Each department will contribute according to its responsibilities and existing network of services. Schools and Anganwadi workers are expected to play an important role because they regularly interact with children and families and may notice changes in children’s health, attendance, behaviour and general well-being.
Healthcare workers will also be important in identifying children who show signs of malnutrition, poor physical development or inadequate medical care. Similarly, local authorities and child protection officials can help identify families facing difficult circumstances and connect them with appropriate welfare services.
The government also wants to strengthen coordinated action against sexual abuse, physical harassment, mental harassment, human trafficking and online exploitation of children. With the growing use of digital platforms, protecting children from online threats has become an important part of the broader child safety agenda.
Officials and institutions involved in child protection will need to work together to ensure that identified cases receive timely attention. The approach is intended to improve communication between departments and reduce delays in providing assistance to children who may be at risk.
The Alappuzha incident has highlighted the importance of regular monitoring of children’s nutritional health and family circumstances. Malnutrition and neglect can have serious consequences for a child’s physical and mental development. Early identification, medical support, proper nutrition and family-level intervention can help prevent such situations from becoming life-threatening.
The proposed mapping initiative is also expected to improve the use of existing child protection resources. Rather than treating each case as an isolated incident, authorities will be able to assess the wider circumstances affecting a child and determine what kind of support is required. Depending on the situation, this may include healthcare assistance, counselling, protection services, educational support or rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Minister Bindhu Krishna also announced the selection of 52 children from all 14 districts of Kerala for the Ujjwalabalyam Awards 2025. The awards recognise children who have demonstrated exceptional talent and achievements in areas such as arts, sports, literature, science, social work, environmental conservation, information technology, agriculture, waste management, charitable activities, crafts and sculpture.
The awards are intended to encourage children’s creativity, confidence and participation in different fields. They will be presented during the state-level Children’s Day celebrations scheduled for November 14.
With the proposed Family Sustainability Mapping initiative, the Kerala government is seeking to strengthen its approach towards child welfare and protection. The success of the programme will depend on effective coordination among government departments, regular monitoring and timely action whenever a child is found to be living in unsafe or vulnerable conditions.
The broader objective is to ensure that children receive the protection, nutrition, healthcare and educational opportunities necessary for their healthy development. By identifying risks at an early stage, the state hopes to create a safer environment where children can grow without fear of neglect, abuse or exploitation.