Lack of funding for needs beyond basics is one of the biggest challenges faced by CCIs and this directly and indirectly affects the ability of CCIs to provide quality care. This primarily includes the inability to provide hygiene and cleanliness on the premises and appropriate training to the staff.

Staff taking care of children and the CCI management very often lack knowledge of child safety and youth development practices, especially those which are relevant to children coming from difficult circumstances and who have suffered from trauma. Their focus remains at making basic food and clothing available to the children and not much thought is put into the child’s emotional needs, need for counselling, and need of preparing the child for life outside the CCI after they turn 18.

CCIs face excessive scrutiny and inspection from the Government, especially when they are registered under the Juvenile Justice Act. This acts as a deterrent for many from getting registered because while registration does not guarantee any monetary support from the Government, it does add to their documentation work. CCIs also suffer the increased scrutiny because of the negative perception people in general have of them due to media coverage of incidents of abuse at some institutions recently, while the good work done by so many others hardly gets covered.