India’s Census has never separately counted children living without parental care, those in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), foster care, group homes, or kinship care. Nor does it count youth who leave these systems at 18, known as care leavers.

This invisibility has serious consequences:

• Policy Gaps: Without reliable data, aftercare services remain inadequate.
• Budgeting Gaps: Funding is based on estimates, not evidence.
• Missed SDGs: India falls behind on education, employment, and social protection goals.
• Vulnerability: Care-experienced children and youth remain excluded from welfare schemes and support.

We urge the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to: 

1. Add census questions identifying children in alternative care and care leavers.
2. Record basic details like parental survival, type/duration of care, and year of exit.
3. Distinguish care settings from other institutions (like prisons/hostels).
4. Count care leavers in houseless and institutional household schedules.

A segregated count will ensure visibility, evidence-based policymaking, fair resource allocation, and stronger child protection systems.

Let’s make every child and young person in care visible in India’s Census.

(CLAN aims to empower care-experienced young individuals by providing them with the support, skills, and networks necessary to thrive in adulthood with dignity and independence. This mission is grounded in the belief that every youth deserves a fighting chance, particularly those transitioning out of child care institutions (CCIs) without familial support. We can be reached at careleaversadvocacynetwork@gmail.com)