Mon Jun 23 14:24:42 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

An initiative in Ernakulam, Kerala, is supporting over 150 impoverished children with monthly sponsorships of ₹4,000. This scheme, funded by the Central and State governments, aims to keep children with their families and prevent them from entering child-care institutions. The program targets children from below-poverty-line families, especially those with single parents, who are in need of care and protection. The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) oversees the scheme, verifying eligibility and allocating funds. This initiative, along with programs like vacation foster care, has contributed to a decrease in the number of children residing in child-care institutions in the district.

**News Article:**

**Ernakulam Sponsorship Program Helps Over 150 Impoverished Children Stay with Families**

**KOCHI, June 23, 2025** – Over 150 children in Ernakulam district are benefiting from a government-sponsored scheme designed to keep them with their families and out of child-care institutions, according to officials.

The program, funded through a 60:40 split between the Central and State governments, provides each child under 18 with ₹4,000 per month to cover expenses such as education and basic needs. The initiative targets children from below-poverty-line families, particularly those with single parents who require additional support.

“The program is mostly preventive in nature as the idea is to keep children with their families and away from child-care institutes. Children of a single parent, from below poverty line families, not receiving any other benefits and are in need of care and protection are covered by the scheme,” said sources in the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).

The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) is responsible for verifying the eligibility of applicants, who are often recommended by school authorities, counselors, and the Child Welfare Committee.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by the DCPU to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable children. Other programs include vacation foster care (VFC), which provides children in care homes the opportunity to spend summer vacations with families, giving them a chance to experience family life.

According to the DCPU, the number of children residing in the district’s 49 registered child-care institutions has decreased significantly, partly due to initiatives like the sponsorship scheme, as well as stricter enforcement of regulations regarding the admission of children into these institutions. The DCPU reports about 400 current residents in child-care institutions, about half of the capacity of those institutions.

Officials hope that continued support and preventative measures will further reduce the need for institutional care and ensure that more children can thrive within their families.

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