Masoom Project Brings Mental Health Support to Children in State Homes

3,337 Children in Care Institutions Receive Counselling Under WCD and Mpower Partnership

The Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department (WCD), in partnership with Mpower (an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust), has been running a sensitive mental health project named “Masoom”, targeting children in Child Care Institutions (CCIs). Launched under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the project provides counselling, mental health screening, and therapy to vulnerable and conflict-with-law children.

So far, the program has reached 3,337 children, with over 9,593 individual counselling sessions conducted. Teams of trained psychologists visit 19 child care institutions across Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nagpur, and Nashik, offering structured interventions. Using tools such as Stress Scale, Aggression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Test, and Psychological Well-Being Scale, the experts assess and support children’s mental health needs.

Beyond children, family counselling is also provided to ensure reintegrated children return to a safe and nurturing home environment. In critical cases, support is extended to the Child Welfare Committees (CWC) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB) to strengthen the rehabilitation process.

Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, said the initiative demonstrates how public-private partnerships can strengthen existing systems, offering trauma relief and psychological resilience to children who face some of the toughest life circumstances.

Officials underline that the Masoom Project is emerging as a model of psychosocial rehabilitation, ensuring that children not only survive but thrive, with stronger chances of reintegration into society.