The state cabinet of Goa, India recently approved a foster care scheme to assist children deprived of parental care or of the care of guardians, and in need of protection. The scheme, titled 'Vatsalya', will grant a foster care allowance of 2500 rupees (approx. $42) for an individual up to 21 years of age. According to the article, the scheme will be implemented by the department of women and child development and the government has made budgetary provision of 5 crore (50,000,000 rupees or approx. $850,000) for its implementation.
The scheme includes provisions that children be placed in foster care settings most similar to the child’s home context and that foster parents be selected without discrimination based on caste, religion, ethnic status, disability, or health status. The scheme also stipulates that the best interests of the child be paramount in deciding the foster care placement of the child. By this scheme, children may be placed into a foster home under emergency, temporary, short-term, or long-term placements until they are 18 years old and benefits may be further extended to individuals up to 21 years old.