Child care institutions in India: Investigating issues and challenges in children’s rehabilitation and social integration

Children’s rehabilitation and social integration is the primary objective however the most challenging task for the child care institutions. Understanding the issues and challenges can ensure effective rehabilitation and social integration of children. Thus, the study aims to unravel the different issues and challenges which hinders the effective rehabilitation of children. The study was carried out in twenty child care institutions in four districts of Manipur; Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul. The researcher employs =exploratory research design and recruited forty staffs for respondents through purposive sampling. The data was collected through semi-structured interview and observation method. The findings of the study reveal various issues and challenges in the child care institutions while rehabilitating children which include non-effective of some alternative care, poor physical infrastructure, lack of professional and trained staff, obsolete vocational and life skill training, unhealthy parent–child relationship. Policy makers, concerned department and persons working in child care institutions needs to pay attention to these problems in ensuring effective children’s rehabilitation. Further studies should take into account the children in the institutional care and staffs who had earlier work in the institutions.