Globally, the child rights discourse is witnessing a profound transformation. International conventions and summits, from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to recent UNICEF-UNICEF-backed consultations, unanimously recognize that children flourish when raised in stable, family like settings rather than sprawling residential institutions. Studies from Europe, Latin America, and Asia have repeatedly shown that institutional care, however well-intentioned, often leaves children emotionally adrift, undermines their development, and yields poor long-term outcomes in education, mental health, and economic self-sufficiency.
Despite this growing consensus, millions of children worldwide continue to grow up without permanent family support, a reality that demands urgent action. India, home to a vast and diverse childhood population, is at the forefront of this global shift. With an estimated 3 crore or more children classified as Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP), the challenge is massive and requires urgent attention. However, the current childcare architecture covers only a fraction of them.
Official data indicate that approximately 2.56 lakh children live in registered Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across India. (Catalysts For Social Action) Even though the number of CCIs exceeds 7,000, suggesting a large scale, institutional care remains distant from the ideal of a “child-centred, family-oriented” upbringing. Simultaneously, the number of children benefiting from non-institutional care modalities, such as foster care, sponsorship, and aftercare, remains painfully low. In 2021-22, fewer than 30,000 children received such care; by 2023-24, the number rose to roughly 1.22 lakh — an encouraging trend, but still infinitesimal compared to the magnitude of the need. (The Economic Times)
Meanwhile, the nation’s flagship child welfare scheme, Mission Vatsalya, has been allocated ₹1,500 crore in the 2025–26 Union Budget. Yet, even this budget, substantial in appearance, amounts to barely ₹2–3 per child per day when extended to the entire CNCP population. The economic logic is thus incontrovertible: underfunded institutions and underutilized family based systems cannot hope to secure the basic rights every child deserves.
Beyond the moral imperative, there is a strong economic argument: children raised in institutional care frequently grow into “care leavers” — individuals with disrupted schooling, limited life skills and fragile social networks. Research shows that nearly half of these care-leavers struggle to secure regular employment, and those who do often earn modest incomes (some just ₹7,500–8,500 per month), undermining their long-term potential for self-sufficiency. (In contrast, children brought up in family based or small-group foster environments have far higher chances of achieving stable education, acquiring marketable skills, and contributing meaningfully to the economy.
Given these realities — a vast unresolved child-welfare burden, fragile institutional systems, inadequate funding, and poor outcomes for institutional care leavers — the time has come for a systemic shift. India urgently needs a nationwide, well-equipped movement to transition from institutional to family- and community-based care. This means strengthening foster care, kinship care, small-group homes, adoption, and aftercare support — not as isolated experiments, but as the core paradigm of child welfare.
Here, Kerala has quietly provided a guiding light. In Kozhikode, a youth-led, volunteer-driven group called the Rise Up Forum pioneered Rise Up Home (RUH), a model of familial care that offers children the stability, dignity, and affection of a family, not the impersonality of an institution. RUH currently operates two homes,one in Thenhipalam near the University of Calicut and the other in Farook, Kozhikode. Though outwardly they resemble regular middle-class homes, internally they house children whose lives were once defined by abandonment, trauma, and uncertainty. Today, these children live with a mother figure, a dedicated caregiving team, and the consistent attention every child deserves.
In RUH, children receive personalized care, including nutrition plans, regular medical checkups, special tuition, and emotional support. Their progress has been remarkable so far. Many arrived with significant learning gaps; today, they read, write, and express confidence that was previously unimaginable. Their growth in health, education, and emotional well-being has been nothing short of transformational. Mixed-gender living, sibling-like relationships, individualized care plans, and long-term aftercare ensure that children grow into adults who feel rooted, supported, and hopeful.
The story of RUH is not just one of the 13 children. It is a proof of concept, a blueprint that demonstrates what childcare can and must be. RUH is now documenting its entire system — from daily routines and emotional care practices to financial planning and aftercare frameworks — with a vision to replicate this model across India. What began in Kerala, the cradle of social welfare innovation, has the potential to grow into a pan-Indian movement for deinstitutionalization.
Vishnavi, a Board Member of RUF and a permanent caregiver at the first RUH, says, “When we look back at how this journey began, it still feels overwhelming in the best way. The Rise Up Forum started working towards this dream long before, in 2019–20. Then COVID came, and everything became harder for us, including finances, movement, and coordination. There were days when it felt impossible to move forward with the research. However, with the support of our community and volunteers, we persevered.
As Vishnavi stated, “ We completed the construction of our first home in 2023 and started operating in the same year. The day we welcomed our first child is something we will never forget. It felt like the whole purpose of those years of struggle was in front of us. Within two years, we were able to open our second home, which is something we never imagined would happen so quickly.
As we look ahead, we feel more confident than ever. We are now working towards opening RUH in other districts, especially in Trivandrum and Ernakulam.
We need to reach more children who deserve a safe home, a loving environment, and a family.”
Children who come to RUH carry difficult stories of loss, trauma, disrupted schooling, health gaps, fear of instability, and emotional wounds that do not show at first glance. RUH homes welcome them with warmth and affection. Children receive personalized nutrition plans, medical appointments, personalized special tuition, and constant emotional support.
Punya, one of the permanent caretakers at the first RUH, spoke about their vision: “At RUH, we believe that every child is our own child. Each child deserves to grow up with love, dignity, and a sense of belonging to a family. Childhood shapes who we become, which is why we try to create the best possible environment for our children.
“Many of our children come here with learning gaps or emotional struggles. Some did not even know the basic alphabets when they first came. Today, with continuous support, they are reading, writing, and showing confidence that we once had to patiently build. Their progress in both health and education has been remarkable, and watching that change is one of the most fulfilling parts of our work.”
Revathi, an advocate by profession and a permanent caretaker at the second RUH in Kozhikode, said, “One thing we are very proud of is the mixed-gender setup. Here, our boys and girls grow up together like siblings, learning to respect one another, share responsibilities, and support each other as they grow up. After our first boy joined RUH, the home became even livelier and happier.
For every child, we prepare an individual care plan and an aftercare plan. Turning 18 does not end their journey with us. We remain their family, their support, and a safe place, no matter where life takes them. Our hope is very simple: each child should grow up feeling loved, protected, and confident enough to build a good life for themselves. And every day, we see them taking steps in that direction.”
‘Along with their academics, the RUH family encourages children to participate in all extracurricular activities in school. They are sent to swimming lessons, sports, and art classes to nurture their unique talents and skills.
What makes this model especially important today is its potential for replication. Kerala has long prioritized child rights, and the RUH model of familial care aligns with the global deinstitutionalization movement. RUH is one of the early homes in India to demonstrate what this looks like in practice. The team is now documenting its systems, daily routines, emotional care practices, financial planning, and health and education frameworks and is preparing to support organizations and governments looking to start RUH model homes.
Santhakumari, Mother and Caretaker at RUH, speaks about the improvement children have shown after being placed at RUH: “When our children first came home, many of them had health issues like infections, poor nutrition, and low energy. Now, all of them have gained a healthy weight, and their overall well-being has improved significantly.
They call me baby mummy with all the love, and they are truly my kids. We do not allow sympathy visits. Our children grow with dignity and not pity. They live happily, like any other child.
She continues,” But this model needs support. A model of child care that gives children a home that offers dignity, care, and the best quality of living is still new and unfamiliar to many. This is what every child deserves, but it requires steady financial backing. Currently, we are managing with the help of a few committed monthly donors, and the entire Rise Up Forum team works every day to find more support.
We need people to stand with us to continue giving our children the lives they deserve and to build a better future for many more children. We hope more people come forward so we can keep doing this.”
For that to happen, we need collective will from governments, civil society, donors, and citizens. We need to shift budgets from infrastructure-heavy institutions to resource-light, but human-rich, family based homes. We must respect every child’s right to a childhood defined by warmth, trust, and possibility — not neglect, rotation, and anonymity.
In a time when child protection debates often revolve around schemes and statistics, structures and schemes, Rise Up Home reminds us of the simplest truth: real change begins at home. If India cares about its future, children, workforce, and values, then this is the path it must choose. With a vision of expanding the model to a pan-India movement by developing a care structure that includes both abandoned elders and abandoned children from different parts of the country,with the active involvement and mobilization of youngsters who stand strong in vision and are committed to leaving this place a bit better than they received it.
A Redefined Family: Reimagining Care, Belonging and Shared Responsibility
Across India, countless children grow up without emotional security, identity or a sense of belonging. At the same time, many women—particularly those abandoned by their spouses or families—struggle with loneliness, marginalisation and the absence of economic opportunity. Young adults too often confront isolation, uncertainty and the pressure to navigate life without guidance. These problems are usually treated as separate social issues, each demanding a fragmented institutional response. But what if they are, in fact, interconnected? And what if the solution lies not in expanding institutions, but in reimagining the most fundamental social unit—the family?
The redefined family model offers precisely this shift in perspective. It proposes a living ecosystem where abandoned children, abandoned mothers and responsible youth come together not as beneficiaries of charity but as members of a nurturing, interdependent household. It is a family rebuilt by choice rather than blood, by mutual care rather than obligation, and by shared responsibility rather than hierarchy.
At the heart of this model stand the mother figures—women who have survived hardship or abandonment and who, in many cases, have long been denied dignity and recognition, and single mothers.
Here, they are given economic opportunity through skill training, microbusiness capital and financial literacy. They receive respectful compensation for their caregiving, regular healthcare, and access to counselling. Just as crucially, they are reintegrated into neighbourhood and community networks, reclaiming their social identity. Through stability, acceptance and emotional healing, these women transform into the emotional anchors of the home, becoming central figures in the children’s lives and reclaiming the dignity that society had previously withheld.
Supporting them are the sibling figures—youth above the age of twenty, of any gender, who live in the home as elder brothers or sisters to the children. They continue their education, receive career guidance and are supported in building independent futures through stipends and skill development. In exchange, they provide a form of companionship that no institution can replicate: helping with homework, playing with the children, modelling healthy relationships and offering the everyday presence that forms the essence of siblinghood. In nurturing the children, they also cultivate empathy, responsibility and emotional maturity within themselves, preparing them to become socially conscious adults.
Beyond the home are the distant guardians—youth who live independently but remain deeply connected to the children as mentors. They visit regularly, guide academic work, help with life skills and participate in celebrations and important milestones. Their involvement expands the children’s world, offering a diverse, stable network of role models who embody different experiences and identities. Together, the mother figures, sibling figures and distant guardians create a caregiving structure that mirrors the extended families many Indian households once relied upon.
The impact on the children is profound. They gain not only education, healthcare and protection, but also emotional safety, socialisation, friendships and a sense of identity. They grow up surrounded by adults and peers who are invested in their future and who model healthy relationships. The redefined family becomes the antidote to the emotional void that institutional care often fails to address. It gives children what they need most: a place where they are not just cared for, but loved.
The social returns of this model extend far beyond the walls of the home. By offering stability, the model breaks intergenerational cycles of abandonment, reducing the likelihood of homelessness, substance abuse, early pregnancies and conflict with the law. Mothers who once struggled to survive now contribute to the local economy and build independent livelihoods. Youth become skilled, employable and grounded in community responsibility. Instead of relying on welfare systems, children grow into productive adults who return value to society.
This approach also reduces the long-term costs of institutional care. Community-driven models are not only more emotionally fulfilling but also more financially sustainable for governments and NGOs. Neighbourhoods that interact with these families become more empathetic and inclusive, supporting microbusinesses, engaging with youth-led initiatives and creating a social climate that reduces stigma. The result is a stronger, more cohesive community fabric.
Crucially, the model has transformative implications for mental health. Healing trauma early in life leads to emotionally stable adults who contribute positively to society. Women who rediscover purpose and belonging experience dramatic improvements in mental well-being. Youth who learn caregiving and leadership grow into responsible adults equipped with empathy, resilience and problem-solving skills.
The model also serves as a quiet but powerful force for women’s empowerment. Abandoned/single living women gain not just income, but identity, respect and leadership. Children growing in such homes inherit values rooted in love, dignity and responsibility—not trauma or fear. They are more likely to form healthy relationships and become nurturing parents themselves, creating a generational ripple effect that reshapes the future.
At its core, the redefined family is not a welfare scheme. It is a social innovation that challenges our assumptions about care, kinship and responsibility. It shows that family need not be restricted to bloodlines. It can be a collective choice—a deliberate act of nurturing, healing and building each other’s futures.
In a time when traditional family structures are strained and institutional solutions frequently fall short, this model offers a humane, sustainable alternative. It invites us to expand our understanding of what family can be: a community built on love, respect and the shared decision to care. And in doing so, it reminds us that the strength of a society is not measured by its institutions alone, but by its capacity for compassion.
The RUH model of child care recognises that the transition from residential care into independent adulthood requires sustained emotional, social, and resource-based support. The Aftercare Framework ensures that every child exiting RUH continues to receive guidance and protection that enables them to lead a stable, independent, and socially responsible life. The model is built on the foundational values of belonging, dignity, safety, and long-term commitment, and reflects RUH’s responsibility toward the child even beyond formal care.
The RUH Aftercare Framework is guided by six core objectives:
- Financial Independence: Each child is supported to develop a personalised career pathway aligned with their interests and abilities, including access to vocational training, job placement support, and financial literacy. RUH may also provide direct financial assistance for needs such as accommodation, education, or medical care until the child achieves economic stability.
- Non-Involvement in Crime and Substance Use: RUH provides preventive guidance, counselling support, and life-skills training to ensure that children are able to make informed decisions and do not fall into harmful patterns of behaviour. Mentorship, trauma-informed mental health support, and continuous monitoring help safeguard their well-being and reduce vulnerabilities.
- Career and Academic Advancement: The model supports both academic and skill-based development, enabling children to pursue higher education or specialised training relevant to their chosen professional goals. Opportunities are created for continuous learning, upskilling, and expanding employability.
- Sufficient Resource Support: RUH ensures access to essential resources such as accommodation, healthcare, educational materials, digital tools, and travel assistance. Regular communication with the child and their family (if present) strengthens planning, shared responsibility, and smooth transition into aftercare.
- Development as Socially Committed Citizens: RUH nurtures values of empathy, civic awareness, and social responsibility. Children are encouraged to participate in activities that promote leadership, peer support, and community engagement, helping them evolve into adults who actively contribute to society.
- Continued Engagement with Rise Up Forum: From the time a child enters the RUH model of child care, they are actively engaged in community-driven activities through Rise Up Forum. This early and consistent exposure nurtures a strong sense of belonging, shared responsibility, and collective identity. As they transition into adulthood, this foundation naturally motivates them to remain involved with the larger community, participate in social initiatives, and contribute to youth-driven forums and events. Their continued engagement is not an obligation, but an organic extension of their lived experience within RUH and their commitment to the values cultivated during their care journey.
The Rise Up Home (RUH) is a comprehensive child-care initiative designed to provide a family-like environment for CNCP children while simultaneously extending meaningful and sustainable support to their biological families. RUH functions not only as a home for the children placed with us but also as a holistic support system for the families they come from. Our approach recognises that the wellbeing of a child is closely linked to the stability and resilience of their family.
To ensure this, RUH currently provides the following forms of support:
- Financial assistance for the emergency needs of the family.
- Educational support for elder siblings, especially when they cannot be placed in RUH, ensures continuity in their academic pursuits and reduces the overall burden on the family.
- Livelihood enhancement and income-stability support for the biological parent(s), wherever possible, through facilitation of skill development, employment opportunities, or financial planning.
These interventions aim to help the family attain a basic and sustainable standard of living. Through this process, children experience RUH not as a place away from their family, but as an extension of it—reinforcing emotional security and continuity.
As a result, our Group Foster Care Model impacts not just eight children but eight families, thereby extending its positive influence across a wider segment of the community.
Ultimately, the Family Support Program strives to build safe, stable, and nurturing environments for children even after the completion of their placement in RUH, ensuring long-term wellbeing and a sense of belonging that continues into adulthood.
