Administration and Management of Social Welfare Institutions
This domain tests institutional competence: the statutory bodies that govern children, seniors and persons with disabilities, and the compliance regime that keeps an NGO or institution legally viable.
Statutory architecture
- Juvenile Justice Act 2015: the Juvenile Justice Board handles children in conflict with law; the Child Welfare Committee handles children in need of care and protection. Institutions are Observation Homes, Special Homes, Children's Homes and Places of Safety. Registration under s.41 is mandatory, and every child has an Individual Care Plan. Inspection committees and aftercare complete the cycle. Children's Courts and the District Child Protection Unit sit in the district structure.
- MWPSC Act 2007: the Sub-Divisional Magistrate chairs the Maintenance Tribunal; Maintenance and Conciliation Officers handle claims against children or relatives; the Act also provides for old age homes.
- RPwD Act 2016 and National Trust Act 1999: guardianship, respite care and supported decision-making for persons with disabilities.
- Mental Healthcare Act 2017: admission procedures, nominated representative, advance directive.
Compliance regime for voluntary organisations
Registration routes are the Societies Registration Act 1860, the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act 1950 with the Charity Commissioner, or a s.8 company. Foreign funding needs FCRA 2010; tax exemption needs 12A and 80G; CSR support flows under s.135 of the Companies Act with Schedule VII activities; state support flows through the Grant-in-Aid Code. Institutions also need a POSH internal committee and a child protection policy.
Worked example
An NGO wants to run a children's home. Sequence: register the entity, obtain s.41 registration from the state, appoint staff per minimum standards, constitute the inspection committee link, open Individual Care Plans, set up a grievance register and POCSO compliance, then claim grant-in-aid against the prescribed reporting format. Reasoning shown: the entity registration and the institution registration are two separate legal acts.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing CWC with JJB jurisdiction; assuming society registration alone permits a children's home; treating CSR as an entitlement rather than a donor choice.