National Plan of Action for India’s Children
Item
- Title
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National Plan
of Action for
India’s Children - extracted text
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'i
National Plan
of Action for
India’s Children
Citizens’ Alternate
Proposals
First draft of
May 2003
Community Health Cell
Library and Information Centre
367, “ Srinivasa Nilaya"
Jakkasandra 1st Main,
1st Block, Koramangala,
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Phone: 5531518 / 5525372
e-mail:sochara @ vsnl.com
EVERY RIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD
National Plan of Action for India’s Children:
Citizens’ Alternate Proposals First Draft of May 2003.
PROCESS & PARTICIPATION
As official response to the UNGASS decisions of May 2002, the Govt of India has
initiated action to formulate a National Plan of Action for Children. This plan is
expected to address priorities for the achievement of new and reaffirmed goals,
with action deadlines extending to 2015.
In keeping with the UNGASS directives for government-NGO partnership, the
India Alliance for Child Rights has also been engaged in a concurrent process of
consultation, identification of priorities and alternate planning. As part of this
process, beginning in June 2002, it has been engaging in a series of
consultations with groups, individuals, organisations and networks across the
country. The approach has been to make this as open and participatory a
process as possible, reaching out beyond the Alliance membership and also
actively seeking the ideas and suggestions of subject experts. The process has
invited the Government’s interest and interaction at every stage.
Since June 2002, IACR and its partners in the Alliance have convened six
consultations in Delhi, two in Bangalore and one each in Ahmedabad and
Mumbai. Some discussions focussing on national action priorities were also
undertaken at the Asia Social Forum and in the India NGO component of the
SAARC citizens’ social charter process. Children participated in the July 2002
consultation and presented their recommendations to the Secretary DWCD. At
another consultation in May 2003, children from 20 states once again identified
their priority concerns. A series of e-mail consultations were also carried out to
obtain the contributions of a wider circle. Participants in the overall process
include several national networks, as well as NGOs from Jharkhand and Orissa.
An added planning partnership has begun with a consultation organised by the
Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), with financial support from the
Government of India. This linkage brings into the citizens’ NPA process an
organisation with a nation-wide network of branches and affiliates.
This document and its recommendations are an outcome of all these
consultations. This is an interim draft reflecting recommendations made up to 30
May 2003. It is compiled jointly by IACR and VHAI, in expression of the
concerns of all contributors.
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CONTEXT
India is home to nearly 400 million children aged up to 18 years, which the Government
claims is the world's largest child population. The proportion of children in the 0-5 age
group is certainly the world’s largest. Overall, children constitute 42.6 per cent of India’s
total population. While we are as a nation sincerely concerned about ensuring their
survival, development and well being throughout their childhood, it is essential for us to
realise that in any planning for national progress, being child-focussed is not kindness but
commonsense.
India's concern for its children can be traced back to the time when it gave itself a
Constitution that pledges equality, dignity and protection to all citizens, including children.
India adopted a National Policy for Children in 1974, declaring children to be the nation s
most precious asset. Dating from the Third Five-Year Plan, children have found some
mention in national development plans, but insufficient attention or investment. In
response to the 1979 International Year of the Child, India drew up a national plan with
some long-term objectives for child survival and development, but this plan had no long
term impact on actual commitments.
An official National Plan of Action was adopted in 1992, in the wake of the 1990 World
Summit for Children, with goals for the decade. Concurrently, India acceded in 1992 to
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, thereby accepting the responsibilities of
implementation as an obligation. The Constitutional commitments and the CRC constitute
the bedrock of any planning that is undertaken for children. These and India’s other
international commitments together form the framework for action
In 2002, India reported on its performance on both the World Summit goals and the
implementation of the Convention. Both reports record some positive changes in the
situation of the country's children - and significant problems and performance gaps.
Poor allocation of needed resources, poor expenditure of available allocations, some
faults in targeting most-needed actions - all these have undermined good intentions. A
more negative influence has been the pervasive fallout from the shift in national
investment away from State supports for social development. The 1990s decade was
meant for children’s rights, but it also launched the "era of globalisation" in India and
ushered in a neo-liberal economic agenda.
The pluses and minuses are there to see. In 1992, India got moving on 27 goals for the
decade. It was to halve maternal mortality rates as well as severe and moderate
malnutrition of under-fives, and reduce infant and under-five mortality by a third. It did not
reach anywhere near these targets. Goals for drinking water, sanitation, protective health
and nutrition cover for girls and mothers were all missed. Anaemia reduction among
women was narrowly reached, but the decade data flags anaemia among children under3, which seems to have been an ignored alarm. Progress on immunisation stayed well
below the 90% level set, and is currently reported at 42 % fully immunised by the age of 2
years. Official reports of first-year immunisation cover vary absurdly between a range of
85 to 99 per cent and 50 to 71 per cent. Birth registration fell from 47 per cent and an
apparent 1995 peak of 55 per cent, to either 40 or 35 per cent, depending on which Govt
of India report one consults. Neonatal mortality — with low birth weight a major cause,
and poor newborn care a chronic aggravation -- has continued to stagnate.
In child development, 79 % is claimed for primary and elementary school attendance, and
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69 % for primary school completion by an over-age cohort, against the goal of universal
(80 %) access to basic education. Guinea-worm eradication was the sole goal achieved
in the 1990s’ decade.
While the international shift of approach to children's issues from a needs-based
approach to a rights approach is echoed in formal statements in India, it is still to be
translated into actual programming approaches, which continue to be largely welfarist. At
the political and ethical level, the situation calls for recognition of national obligation to the
rights of all children, and a more than labelling shift from ‘social welfare’ to ‘development,’
in efforts to secure socio-economic justice.
The impact of structural adjustment has sharply reduced the capacities of families to fend
for themselves. The Tenth Plan is the first expression of how India proposes to address
the reality that without pro-poor planning and pro-poor guarantees, the rights of children
cannot be secured. The Plan document acknowledges this when it says that State
subsidies need to continue. Such supports must particularly address the early childhood
risks of stunted growth, poor resistance to disease, failed learning, trauma or death. If a
child’s growth is interrupted by poverty, this often becomes a lifelong handicap. India has
not chosen with the best interests of either the poor or their children in mind.
Planning and creating an environment for child development and children s rights must
also include awareness of the destabilising effect of civil and political unrest and natural
calamities. These imperil and violate the rights of children. The State’s responsibility to
ensure protections without discrimination is clear.
It is in a climate of uncertain commitment that the new National Plan of Action for
Children is being formulated. It therefore needs to project a way out of these present
constraints. The emerging NPA with its internationally agreed deadline of 2015 must
project a vision and pledge a range of actions that stretches over three Five-Year Plan
periods. It has to begin by carrying forward and achieve the unfulfilled tasks of the Eighth
and Ninth Plans. One reason for missing goals is that the hardest-to-reach have not been
reached. Even if a percentage gap in coverage appears small, extra effort will be needed
to actually benefit the most marginalised children and communities. Any perception that
India's task in the coming 12 years is simply to “mop-up” is a fallacy.
Any national plan must recognise the diversity of interventions that children deserve
based on age, location, cultural setting and socio-economic grouping. Conscious
attention must be paid to children in adverse and disadvantaged situations. Special
provisions have to be made for addressing children in emergency situations, whether
man-made or natural. India needs a comprehensive disaster management perspective,
with planning that addresses both short-term and longer-term concerns, and
distinguishes between the every-day needs of all children and those in emergency
situations.
The May 2002 UNGASS decisions which have triggered the NPA process underline the
need to integrate implementation of the Convention (CRC) with the pursuit of the new
2003-2015 goals. This must be reflected in any National Plan of Action for Children .
PREAMBLE
This text is proposed as an appropriate preamble to the NPAC. The present draft
Government document does not have a preamble.__________________________
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The children of India call for our attention not simply because they are our future, but
because they are our TODAY. They are citizens of this country and are born with rights
to dignity in their birth, survival, development and participation, both as individuals and
as part of the community or group to which they belong. They need both targeted as well
as holistic interventions. As the draft National Policy for Children declares, a Society that
respects its children respects itself.
1. The Constitution of India has made a commitment to promote, guarantee and protect
rights of all children based on principles of non-discrimination and equality. These
constitutional commitments form the basis of any further action that the government may
take towards the children of the country.
India reiterated and reinforced its commitment to every child when it ratified the U.N.
Convention on the Rights of the Child, which obligates the State to ensure every child the
right to survival, development, protection and participation. The UN General Assembly
Special Session on Children (May 2002) reviewed the World Summit goals set out for
children in 1990 and set new goals, with implementation extending till 2015. India has
accepted the ensuing responsibility to secure the goals for all its children.
The Constitutional commitments and the CRC form the bedrock of any planning that is
undertaken for children. These and India’s other international commitments together
form the framework for action.
2.The NPA takes into account the best interests of the child and adheres to the
principles of democracy, equality, non-discrimination, peace and social justice. It
recognises the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all
human rights, including the right to development. It affirms the right to information of all
persons - children, their families and the communities in which they live.
3. It reflects the necessity of integrating implementation of child rights with the pursuit of
survival and development goals as part of social development of all children up to the
age of 18 years.
We, the Government and the people of India, convinced of the human and civil rights of
all children, and concerned with the present challenges to their survival, protection and
development, and committed to sustained national action to address and overcome
these challenges, and further committed to according to children the dignity of
participating in decisions and actions affecting their lives, therefore adopt this National
Plan of Action for Children.
- Recognising that millions of India’s children are denied their basic entitlements as
citizens, for reasons of poverty, caste, class and community, and recognising that the
children chronically bypassed by development and justice must now come to the head of
the line, this National Plan is committed to the essential task of bringing them into the
radius of care, protection and opportunity;
- Being aware that children in India are not a homogeneous entity, and that their age,
gender, ability, socio-economic situation, geographical location, and cultural specificity
defines their vulnerability, and recognising that many children in India face multiple
social disabilities, we pledge special attention to be given to the more marginalised -the
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qirl child thedisabled child, and those belonging to SC , ST, BC and minority groups in
all policy, investment and interventions, and will work to guarantee the socio-political will
that this requires.
- Recognising that all commitments must be matched with actual resources and
investment, we emphasise the need to ensure adequate human and financial resources
to match required policy commitments to the child. This demands the underwriting of
basic social services, which is the Government’s responsibility.
- We undertake the execution of this National Plan with the premise that all children
have all rights.
GUIDTNG PRINCIPLES OF THESE ALTERNATE PROPOSALS:
1 The National Plan of Action must regard the child as an asset and a citizen, not
as a welfare subject and much less as a liability or a burden on State or Society.
2. The NPA must recognise the diverse stages and settings of childhood,
.
address the needs of each, providing to all children the entitlements that fulfil
(
their rights and meet their needs in each situation.
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3. The NPA must therefore :
;
• be age-specific, aware and attentive to the needs of each age
group among children, from conception to birth, from the
i
newborn stage to the attainment of 18 years of age;
s
• must address key cross-cutting issues : gender, caste,
>
community, class and legal status;
• must be consciously and pro-actively geared to securing equal
opportunity for all children, placing the most disadvantaged
most poor and least-served among children at the head of the
line for policy attention and programme benefits.
j
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The NPA must be the expression of a new National Policy for Children that
affirms the Constitution of India, upholds the equal worth and equal nghts of aH
children, and is guided by the best interests of the child. Both the new policy and
the NPA must be respectful of every child.
In order to establish and secure a caring climate for all children, and to redr®ss
5.
the chronic neglect and exploitation of the children of the marginalised the NPA
must be conscious of the social, economic, cultural reality of every .child and set |
mindful and exemplary standards in upholding the principle of non-d^cnm mat ion,
and assuring maximum survival, protection and development entdlements to all.
> The NPA must address issues of policy, law, programme, investment,
fact-finding and monitoring, and meet the need for change and
improvement in policy and legislation, in programme intervention and
implementation measures, in material investment of the scale and scope
that children deserve, in planning and programming from a factual base,
and in monitoring performance and accountability in all of the^e- . .
> The National Plan of Action must be a perspective plan with the vision
and resolve to sustain needed action and investment to thei year 201b,
and the commitment to extend over the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth FiveYear Plan periods.
. .
> The NPA must establish the primacy of the child’s best interests over any
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other policy or programme that may in any way erode or contradict the
rights and entitlements of children.
> The NPA should be formulated, promoted, executed and monitored as
an open plan and, along with a relevant national policy, should be the
people’s manifesto for India’s children.
> The State must take central and primary responsibility to ensure that
priorities of the NPA are non-negotiable national commitments, supported
by State funding and with necessary resources assured, and not made
subject to fluctuations or deficits in economic growth rates.
It is recommended to thePCovernment of India that it examines these principles and takes them into
consideration in the process of formulating the NPA, and in focusing final commitments of the Plan itself.
GOI draft NPA of Dec 2002
I. PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVES
CITIZENS’ ALTERNATE NPA
PROPOSALS: Draft of May 2003_______
National Policy Commitment (June 2001
Draft Nat. Policy)
Right to Survival
a. Every child has a right to survival. The
State and community will undertake all
possible measures to ensure that the
child’s right to survival is protected and
realised.
b. In particular, the State and community
will undertake all appropriate measures to
address the problems of infanticide and
foeticide, especially of female child and all
other emerging manifestations which
deprive the girl child of her right to survival.
Right to Health
a. The State shall take measures to ensure
that all children enjoy the highest
attainable standard of health, and provide
for preventive and curative facilities at all
levels especially immunisation and
prevention of micronutrient deficiencies for
all children.
b. The State shall take measures to cover,
under primary health facilities and
specialised care and treatment, all children
of families below the poverty line.
c. The State shall take measures to
provide adequate pre-natal and post-natal
care for mothers along with immunisation
against preventable diseases.
d. The State shall undertake measures to
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provide for a national plan that will ensure
hat the mental health of all children is
protected.
e. The State shall take steps to ensure
protection of children from all practices that
are likely to harm the child’s physical and
mental health.
Right to early childhood care
a. The State shall in partnership with
community provide early childhood care for
all children and encourage programmes
which will stimulate and develop their
physical and cognitive capacities.
b. The State shall in partnership with
community aim at providing a childcare
centre in every village where infants and
children of working mothers can be
adequately cared for.
c. The State will make special efforts to
provide these facilities to children from
SCs/STs and marginalised sections of
society.
Section Preamble
Development of children has not just been
viewed as the most desirable societal
UNGASS GOAL/ MAJOR GOAL:
investment for the country’s future, but as a
1. Reduction in IMR to45 perl000 live births right of every child to achieve her/his full
by 2007 and to 28 by 2012 (Planning
development potential. Therefore, the
Commission)
foundations for life-long learning and
2. Reduce IMR to below30/1000 live births
human development to be necessarily laid
(Nat. Population Policy)
3. Reduce IMR to 30/1000 by 2010 (National in the very crucial years of childhood (Tenth
Plan, Planning Commission, GOI).
Health Policy)
Core Concern: If India’s children are to
OBJECTIVES
prosper, they must first have the
• Eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus by assurance of surviving.
2005 (UN 37 (7))
All survival and health goals and
• Reduce deaths due to measles by half by
interventions must be age-specific.
2005 (UN 37 (7))
Measures to reduce U5MR and U5
• Ensure full immunisation of children under morbidity must be specified.
one year of age at 90% nationally (UN 37
All measures must accord special
(7))
priority to overcoming deprivations
• Certify by 2005 the global eradication of
based on caste, gender and
poliomyelitis (UN 37(8))
• One-third reduction in deaths due to Acute other socio-economic and cultural
factors that deny children equal
Respiratory Infections (UN 37 (11))
opportunity.
• Fifty percent reduction in deaths due to
Goals
diarrhoea in children under5 (UN 37 (11))
1. Reduction in proportion of LBW
• 50% reduction in tuberculosis (UN 37 (11))
• 50% reduction in cholera (UN 37 (11))
babies to one tenth of all births
1.Health (Child Health )
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(this was a goal set in 1983 under
the National Health Policy.
•
2. Reduction of the poverty ratio by
more than 15 points by 2012
•
(Tenth Plan).
3. Provide adequate services to
children, both before and after birth
and throughout their period of
growth, to ensure their full
physical, mental and social
•
development (National Policy for
Children 1974).
•
4. Increase utilisation of public heath
facilities from the current level of < 20
•
to > 75% by 2010 (National Health
Policy 2002).
•
5. Improve efficiency of the existing
health care system - in government,
•
private and voluntary sectors (Tenth
Plan).
6. Improve quality of care at all levels
STRATEGIES
(Tenth Plan).
To cover all women in reproductive age
Mainstream ISM and H practitioners
7.
group with three doses of Tetanus Toxoid
to
improve utilisation and coverage
vaccine.
(Tenth Plan).
To cover all unprotected children up to the
age of 3 years with single dose of measles
8. Develop efficient logistics of supplies
vaccine.
of drugs and promote rational use of
Eliminate polio incidence and achieving
drugs (Tenth Plan). Eradicate Polio
polio eradication.
by 2005 (National Health Policy
Strengthen routine immunisation with the
2002).
aim to raise the percentage of fully
Reduce by 50% mortality on account
9.
immunised children to above 80 percent.
of
TB, Malaria and other Vector and
To support polio eradication and routine
water
borne diseases by 2010
immunisation by upgradation of cold chain
(National Health Policy 2002).
equipment, ensuring injection safety,
10. Reduce prevalence of blindness to
training of district managers and cold chain
staff and strengthening of supervision and
0.5% by 2010 (National Health Policy
monitoring.
2002).
Every child under the age of five years to
11. Establish an integrated system of
be given oral polio drops during
surveillance, National Health
NIDs/SNIDs every year on fixed days.
Accounts and Health Statistics by
Train health workers in ARI management.
2005 (National Health Policy 2002).
Prevent deaths due to dehydration caused
12. Reduction in the percentage of
by diarrhoeal diseases among children
underweight children by more than
under-five years of age.
half (especially those under the age
To detect as cases of polio and effectively
of three).
treat them so as to render infectious cases
as non-infectious.
13. Reduction in the prevalence of
To reduce spread of HIV infection in India.
anaemia more nearly 50% in severely
To administer Hepatitis B to infants along
anaemic children and by 35% in
with the primary doses of DPT vaccine.
children with moderate anaemia and
To take concrete steps for early case
bring down the prevalence of
detection and prompt treatment of malaria,
maternal anaemia to less than 25%.
•
50% reduction in sexually transmitted
infections, H1V/AIDS (UN 37 (11))
50% reduction in all forms of hepatitis (UN
37(11))
Reduce by one half the burden of disease
associated with malaria and ensure that
60% of all people at risk of malaria,
especially children and women, sleep
under insecticide-treated bed nets (UN 37
(12))
Eradicate Polio by 2005 (National Health
Policy)
Reduce Mortality by 50% on account of TB
by 2010 (National Health Policy)
Reduce mortality by 50% on account of TB,
Malaria, and other Vector and Water Borne
diseases by 2010 (National Health Policy)
Achieve Zero level growth of HIV/AIDS by
2007 (National Health Policy)
Reduce Mortality by 50% on account of
Malaria by 2010 (National Health Policy)
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selective vector control, promotion of
personal protection methods, early
detection and containment of epidemics,
I EC and management capacity building.
• To provide malaria treatment through
• agencies like hospitals, dispensaries
• and malaria clinics.
14. Enhance early initiation of breast
feeding to more than 75 per cent by
2015.
15. Focus on eliminating polio and neo
natal tetanus and achieving hundred
percent coverage for the six vaccine
preventable diseases (Tenth Plan).
16. Reduction in the infant and under five mortality rate by at least two
thirds by 2015 (UNGASS).
17. Reduction of maternal mortality rate
by three quarters by 2015 (UNGASS).
18. Reduction of child, malnutrition
among children under five years of
age by at least one third, with special
attention to children under two years
of age, and reduction in the rate of
low birth weight by at least one third
of the current rate (UNGASS).
Strategies
1. Neo-natal care will be a priority area
for reduction of Infant Mortality Rate
and Child Mortality rate. These
recommendations of the National
Technical Committee on Child Health
should be included in the NPA:
Need for introducing community
midwives, revamping of the dai training
programme, greater co-ordination in
the field level implementation of the
reproductive and child health
programme and the ICDS, adoption of
a policy for exclusive breast-feeding
upto 6 months has since been
adopted, etc (Annual Report 2002 2003, MOHFW).
2. Evolving treatment protocols for the
management of common illnesses and
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diseases, promotion of rational use of
diagnostics and drugs (Tenth Plan).
Specifically in the case of diarrhoea
management, there should be
promotion of self - reliance through
home based ORS to reduce IMR and
under - 5MR (Tenth plan) and against
irrational use of drugs for diarrhoea.
Integrate all aspects of the current
vertical programmes (Tenth Plan).
3. In order to improve the health of
children in our country, we need to
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simultaneously address the nexus
between poverty and ill-health. People
are poor not because of their
unwillingness to work. It is often as a
result of unemployment or as a result
of unfair wages. These should be
seriously addressed. Moreover, the
concept of food-for -work was a viable
concept and should be promoted.
4. Progressively improve access to
mental health care services at the
primary and secondary care levels to
cover all districts in a phased manner
(Tenth Plan). The state shall take
measures to provide for a national plan
that will endure that the mental health
of all children is protected (Art. 2d,
National Policy and Charter for
Children 2001, Draft). The National
Mental Health Programme. The
approach to the treatment of mental
disorders is based upon the following
strategy - integrating mental health
with primary health care through the
national Mental Health Programme;
provision of tertiary care institutions for
treatment of mental disorders;
eradicating stigmatisation of mentally ill
patients and protecting their rights
through regulatory institutions like the
Central Mental Health Authority and the
State Mental Health Authority (Annual
Report, MOHFW, 2002 - 2003). Mental
Health of children in urban areas and
the impact of visible stresses should be
addressed as a emerging public health
problem.
5. Explore alternative systems of health
care financing including health
insurance so that essential, need
based and affordable health care is
available to all (Tenth Plan).
6. Use the Panchayati Raj Institutions
to boost accountability of public health
care providers through sorting
problems of absenteeism, inter-sectoral
collaboration, etc. PRI, NGOs and
communities should be actively
involved in the functioning of the
centres (Recommendations of the
Working Group on Child Development,
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Annual Report, DWCD, MHRD, 20012002). Control of ARIs demand high
degree of community participation and
management at the grassroots. Unless
the services are decentralised, PRIs
are empowered, IEC becomes
effective, this will only add to our list of
failed programmes. IEC should make
use of mass and folk media and
interpersonal communication.
7. The vast infrastructure and
manpower providing primary health
care needs of the population is not
evenly distributed and those
segments of the population whose
health care needs are the greatest
have very poor access to health care
(Tenth Plan). This is true for urban
areas, especially slums, as well as
rural areas. Moreover, apart from
limited access for vulnerable
populations, these services are
inaccessible for children without
families or attached to formal structures
of representation (NGOs, etc). Thus
there should be an equitable access
to health services.
8. Convergence of services under
various departments with the
Department of Women and Child
Development (TenthPlan). Bring about
convergence in implementation of
related social sector programmes so
that family welfare becomes a people
centred programme (National Socio
Demographic Goals for 2010, National
Population Policy). Utilise village self
help groups to organise and provide
basic services for reproductive and
child health care, combined with the
ongoing ICDS (National Population
Policy 2000, Operational strategies).
Implement at village level a one-stop
integrated and co-ordinated services
(cluster services) delivery package for
basic health care, family planning and
maternal and child health related
services, provided by the community
and for the community. Wherever there
are no village SHGs, community
midwives, practitioners of ISM and
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retired school teachers and ex defence personnel may be organised
into neighbourhood groups to perform
similar functions (National Population
Policy 2000, Operational strategies).
9. For the reduction of IMR, emphasis has
been given to immunisation. Priority
should be given to provision of social
justice, especially malnutrition and
better living conditions. It has been
observed that 90% of IMR is
associated with malnutrition.
10. There is an unfair distribution of
resources across needs. Thus the most
backward districts do not get the
needed resources. The states that are
doing well are amongst the less
populous states. Improvement on
health indicators should be projected
on the basis of the success of these
states.
11. Because of Ayurveda’s (and other
branches of ISM) cultural moorings, it
can be integrated into mainstream
health strategies. Introduce
preventive measures for life
threatening respiratory conditions,
measles and digestive disorders (e.g.
diarrhoea), which affect children during
the most vulnerable periods of their
growth as components of the health
programmes. Effective and safe
herbal remedies could be promoted
to manage a wide range of
children’s diseases using local eco
system resources. In fact, Indian
systems of medicine and traditional
health practitioners need to be
meaningfully integrated into the
country’s primary health care efforts.
This is crucial, considering that in many
areas, traditional healers and dais
enjoy greater acceptance and respect
from the community than other health
workers. Integrate ISM in the provision
of reproductive and child health
services, and in reaching out to
households (National Socio
Demographic Goals for 2010, National
Population Policy).
12. Set up a Health Management
12
>
Information System (HMIS) in order
to enhance responsiveness of the
health system, better planning from the
district level, monitoring and
implementation (Tenth Plan).
13. Reorganise and restructure PNC
institutions at the rural level as per a
Geographical Information System
(GIS). Re-organise urban primary
health care institutions and linking
them to existing secondary and tertiary
care institutions.
14. Ensure recruitment and staffing to
provide full complement of personnel.
15. Meet critical gaps in critical man-power
through re-orientation, up-grading of
skills, and redeployment of existing
manpower.
16. Improve and sustain national effort to
protect and promote the social practice
of breast-feeding of infants.and support
exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6months, with subsequent introduction
of home based complementary
foods as a key public health measure.
17. Meaningful decentralisation will result
only of the convergence of the national
family welfare programme with the
ICDS programme is strengthened. The
focus of the ICDS programme on
nutrition improvement at village levels
and on pre-school activities must be
widened to include maternal and child
health care services (National
Population Policy 2000, Operational
strategies).
18. Adding hepatitis to the vaccines is
likely to result in further deterioration of
immunisation coverage.
19. All that is mentioned about malaria
control is being said for last 50 years
and malaria remains stand-fast. Unless
out public health system is
strengthened, malaria, tuberculosis,
STDs, etc., will continue to have upper
hand over man.
20. Availability and accessibility of services
- a close examination of services
available for children needs to be done.
There should be focus on equity of
accessibility.
13
21. There is serious concern about the
increasing privatisation and decreasing
budgetary allocations as well as
increasing dependence on external aid
for health services.
22. Campaigns like pulse polio takes away
focus from other critical diseases under
the immunisation programme.
23. Need for percolation of information.
24. The impact of other policies, such as
the Agricultural policy, forest policy
should be taken into account for their
impact on food, nutrition and livelihood
security.
25. Vision 2020 (Planning Commission)
has clearly identified a higher
commitment of resources. This should
be taken up by the government
seriously.
26. The family should be identified as a
unit and measures taken to strengthen
it.
27. Health problems such as juvenile
diabetes, cancer, anorexia should also
be given its due consideration. Do we
have to wait for the affected population
of children to reach ‘sizeable numbers’
for it to be noticed? Moreover, what
really is this sizeable number’?
I 28. There is a tremendous impact on
health as a result of environment
degradation. This should be addressed
in the NPA.
29. Health services in urban areas should
be made more child-friendly and
accessible. There should be
modification of the permissible age limit
in the pediatric ward, since otherwise
they are either sent to the general ward
or to the female ward.
30. Regulation of health care has to be
enforced. All states must have
comprehensive legislation on
infrastructure and quality standards for
clinical establishments / medical
institutions. A statutory /accreditation
mechanism would be needed to
enforce standards and quality.
31. Food and drug administration has to be
strengthened at the centre and in the
states._____________________
14
Investment
1. Increase health expenditure by
government as % of GDP from the
existingO.9% to 2.0% by 2010 (National
Health Policy 2002).
2. Increase State sector health spending
from 5.5% to 7% of the budget by 2005
and further increase to 8% by 2010
(National Health Policy 2002).
3. Ayurveda can contribute to costeffective and low external input
strategies for managing the health of
India’s children.
4. Some of the other strategies suggested
above have been identified as areas of
focus under the Tenth Plan. Thus
these would not mean ‘additional
costs’.
1. Achieve 100 percent deliveries by
trained personnel (National Socio
Demographic Goals for 2010,
National Population Policy).
2. 100% overage for Tetanus Toxoid
immunisation
Strategies
The Tenth Plan has laid down a number of
priorities and strategies including 1. Strategise interventions needed on the
basis of the performance of the district.
Thus for a poor performing district, it is
essential to first improve ANO
coverage. On the other hand, a better
performing district would need
strengthening of referral services
(Tenth Plan). Districts that have a high
percentage of institutional deliveries
should essentially start focussing on
quality aspects and medical audit.
2. Make available antenatal cards to all
pregnant women across all states.
3. The role of an ANM: Skill up gradation
of ANMs. ANM will work closely with
the AWW and will conduct material and
child health clinics in anganwadis on
specified days. ANM will serve as a
gatekeeper for referrals.
4. Promote delayed marriage of girls, not
earlier that age 18 and preferably after
15
age 20 (National Socio-Demographic
Goals for 2010, National Population
Policy).
5. Reorganisation of PHCare services in
order to fill gaps for referral services.
6. Achieve 80% institutional deliveries
and 100 percent deliveries by trained
personnel (National Socio
Demographic Goals for 2010, National
Population Policy). However, there was
an alternative view towards this Institutional delivery for every woman is
unnecessary and not cost effective.
Pregnancy is a natural phenomenon.
Proper antenatal care, diagnosis of
problem cases for institutional delivery
should be rigidly implemented. Trained
persons can safely deliver the
remaining cases. This will be costeffective. TBA as well as the vast pool
of traditional dais should be made
familiar with emergency and referral
procedures. This will greatly assist the
ANM at the SC to monitor and respond
to maternal morbidity/emergencies at
village levels (National Population
Policy 2000, Operational strategies).
Ensure adequate transportation at
village level, SC levels, zilla parishads,
Primary health centres and at
community health centres. Identifying
women at risk is meaningful only if
women with complications can reach
emergency care in time (National
Population Policy 2000, Operational
strategies).
7. Create a national network consisting of
public, private and NGO centres,
identified by a common logo, for
delivering reproductive and child health
services free to any client. The provider
will be compensated for the service
provided, on the basis of a coupon,
duly countersigned by the beneficiary,
and paid for by a system to be devised.
The compensation will be identical to
providers across all sectors. The end
user will choose the provider of the
service. A group of experts will devise
checks and balances to prevent misuse
(National Population Policy 2000,
16
Operational strategies).
8. AWC be converted into AW-cumcreches, especially in areas where
there is a large women work force
(Recommendations of the Working
Group on Child Development, Annual
Report, DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002).
9. take are of the large unmet need in
induce abortion particularly in rural
areas and in slums. IEC activities have
to inform women that delayed abortion
and unsafe procedures can cause
problems.
10. All pregnant women should have
access to subsidised food and nutrition
security. They should be assured of a
basic minimum package of not only
ANC, but also postnatal care,
especially for all working women.
2. MATERNAL HEALTH
Reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to
2 per 1000 by 2007 and to 1 by 2012
(Planning Commission).
*Reduce MMR to below 100 per 100,000
live births (National Population Policy)
‘Reduce MMR to 100/100,000 by 2010
(National Health Policy).
OBJECTIVES:
‘UN 37(1)
‘UN 37(6)
‘Achieve 80 per cent institutional deliveries
and 100 per cent deliveries by trained
persons (National Population Policy).
STRATEGIES
Provide basic maternity services to all
pregnant women.
Prevent maternal morbidity and mortality.
‘Develop a national programme to provide
neo-natal care at grassroots level.
‘Strengthen health interventions under
RCH Programme (a) effective MCH care
(b) increase access to contraceptive
protection (c) safe management of
unwanted pregnancies (d)nutrition services
to vulnerable groups (e) preventionand
treatment of RTI/STD (f) prevention and
treatment of gynaecological problems (g)
screening and treatment of cancers.
‘Strengthen National Anaemia Control
Concern/s: Present MMR incidence
levels. Specific interventions required
to sharply increase coverage levels.
(2000: MMR: 1998/99: 540 per 100,000
births.
Up from 437/100,000 in 1992/93).
2/1000 = 200/100,000 : i.e. slash to less
than half of present rate by 2007, and to
less than a quarter by 2012: Specify
how.
RISK: With gender-blind family
planning, impact on girl foetus survival
prospects.
Goals
100% overage for Tetanus Toxoid
immunisation
Strategies
The Tenth Plan has laid down a number of
priorities and strategies including Strategise interventions needed
on the basis of the performance
of the district. Thus for a poor
performing district, it is essential
to first improve ANC coverage.
On the other hand, a better
performing district would need
strengthening of referral services
(Tenth Plan). Districts that have
a high percentage of institutional
deliveries should essentially
1.
17
=>
=>
=>
=>
=>
=>
=>
start focussing on quality
aspects and medical audit.
Upgrade skills of ANMs.
Make available antenatal cards
to all pregnant women across all
states.
ANM will work closely with the
AWW and will conduct material
and child health clinics in
anganwadis on specified days.
ANM will serve as a gatekeeper
for referrals.
Reorganisation of PHCare
services in order to fill gaps for
referral services.
Promote delayed marriage of
girls, not earlier than age 18 and
preferably after age 20 (National
Socio-Demographic Goals for
2010, National Population
Policy).Study prospect of setting
2015 goal of 21 for both sexes?
Project law change by then?
Achieve 80% institutional
deliveries and 100 percent
deliveries by trained personnel
(National Socio-Demographic
Goals for 2010, National
Population Policy).
Achieve 100 per cent
registration of births, deaths,
marriages and pregnancy
(National Socio-Demographic
Goals for 2010, National
Population Policy).
Set and implement minimum
basic performance standards:
TBA licensing? TBAs as well as
the vast pool of traditional dais
should be made familiar with
emergency and referral
procedures. This will greatly
assist the ANM at the SC to
monitor and respond to maternal
morbidity/emergencies at village
levels (National Population
Policy 2000, Operational
strategies).
Ensure adequate transportation
at village level, SC levels, zilla
parishads, Primary health
18
centres and at community health
centres. Identifying women at
risk is meaningful only if women
with complications can reach
emergency care in time
(National Population Policy
2000, Operational strategies).
=>
The ANMat the SC should be
responsible and accountable for
registering every pregnancy and
child birth in her jurisdiction and
for providing universal ante natal
and post natal services (National
Population Policy 2000,
Operational strategies).
Q: Is Health Service to be made solely
responsible for birth registration? Or with
ICDS workers?
Q: Is ANM also to be responsible for
tracking/registering all neonatal/infant
deaths?
Q: Is ANM also to be responsible for
successful /full-term completion of every
pregnancy?
Create a national network
=>
consisting of public, private and
NGO centres, identified by a
common logo, for delivering
reproductive and child health
services free to any client. The
provider will be compensated for
the service provided, on the
basis of a coupon, duly
countersigned by the beneficiary
and paid for by a system to be
devised. The compensation will
be identical to providers across
all sectors. The end-user will
choose the provider of the
service. A group of experts will
devise checks and balances to
prevent misuse (National
Population Policy 2000,
Operational strategies).
Institutional delivery for every
=>
woman is unnecessary and not
cost-effective. Pregnancy is a
natural phenomenon. Proper
antenatal care, diagnosis of
problem cases for institutional
delivery should be rigidly
19
3.NUTRITION
Major Goal
UNGASS Goal
Reduction of child malnutrition among
children under five years of age by at least
one third, with special attention to children
under two years of age, and reduction in
the rate of low birth weight by atleast one
third of the current rate. [UN36( c)]
Objectives:
*UN 37(5)
‘UN 37(22)
*UN 37(13)
‘Reduction in malnutrition (National Nutrition
Mission)
‘Reduction/elimination of micronutrient
deficiencies relating to iron, iodine and Vitamin
A etc. (National Nutrition Mission)
‘Reduction in chronic energy deficiency
(National Nutrition Mission)
‘Address the problem of malnutrition in a
holistic manner and accelerate reduction in
various forms of malnutrition especially in
women and children such as under-nutrition,
anemia, vitamin A deficiency, iodine deficiency
disorders and chronic energy deficiency in
adults.
STRATEGIES
‘Implement the National Nutrition Mission
‘ Provide safe and adequate nutrition for
infants, by promoting breastfeeding, and by
ensuring the proper use of breast-milk
substitutes.
‘Supply iodated salt in place of common salt
implemented. Trained persons
can safely deliver the remaining
cases. This will be cost-effective.
15. All pregnant women should have
access to subsidised food and nutrition
security. They should be assured of a
basic minimum package of not only ANC,
but also postnatal care, especially for all
working women._______________________
National Policy Commitment
Right to Nutrition
The State shall take steps to provide all
children from families below the poverty
line with adequate supplementary nutrition
and undertake adequate measures for
ensuring environmental sanitation and
hygiene.
Core Concern:
Nutrition is a fallout of food insecurity,
and negative social practice aggravates
it. Food insecurity is a fallout of many
factors converging to hit the
disadvantaged: disenfranchisement,
improper distribution, land use and
forest policy, water access,
displacement The NPA must address
underlying problems, not just deal with
symptoms. The Tenth Plan says that
‘State subsidies must continue;’ they
must NPA should specify food security
actions.
Concerns
1. The growing food insecurity, starvation
and malnutrition in the country in the wake
of higher food availability.
2. The problem lies not with availability, but
improper distribution of food. The problems
are of affordability and accessibility to
available food stocks in the country.
3. Food security has to be understood and
analysed in the context the country’s
policies related to agriculture, natural
resources such as forests, water and land.
These are manifested in the shift from food
crops to cash crops, loss of access to
traditional nutrition sources such as
forests. The situation is compounded by
20
‘Provide oral dose of Vitamin A, every six
months, starting after six months of birth to five
years.
‘Improve nutritional and health status of
children below the age of six-years.
‘Promote setting up of Energy Food/Ready-toEat Food units.
‘Generate awareness on various aspects of
nutrition and promote nutrition aspects of public
health.
‘Boost universalisation of primary education by
impacting upon enrolment, attendance and
retention and the nutritional needs of children
studying in classes l-V.
the policies on public distribution that limits
itself to only those below poverty levels.
The current PDS system assumes that
there is income to buy food Indeed there
has been a move towards “food
disenfranchisement" leading to fall in
nutrition levels.
4. The entry of new commercial food
products in the market and its influence on
food habits has deleqitimised the local
nutritious food.
5. Intra-household disparity based on
discrimination on the basis of gender,
(dis)ability. One of the most violent and
hidden form of abuse is nutritional abuse.
Priorities:
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
IMPROVED FOOD DISTRIBUTION
FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAMME TO BE
RE-STARTED
LIVING WAGES FOR ADULTS
INCREASE PURCHASING POWER OF
INDIVIDUALS
Identify, curb impact of other policies on
nutrition.
Concerns that call for impartial assessment
and correction:
COMMERCIAL MILK SUBSTITUTES
CANNOT REPLACE BREAST MILK.
STOP SYSTEMATIC DELEGITIMISING
OF LOCAL AND NUTRITOUS FOODS
AND THEIR REPLACEMENT WITH
FOOD THAT MAY BE LESS
NUTRITIOUS, COST MORE, AND BE
PUSHED DUE TO ITS COMMERCIAL
VALUE
THE CURRENT PDS SYSTEM ASSUMES
THAT THERE IS INCOME TO BUY
FOOD.
GENDER DISPARITY EVEN WITHIN
FAMILIES IN NUTRITIONAL LEVELS
(INTRA-HOUSEHOLD DISPARITY)
ACTUAL TARGETS AND PROVISIONS
OF The National Nutrition Mission
provisions need to be examined in regard
to these concerns.
Examine the feasibility of food stamps for
food security. However, primary attention
should go to generating/re-generating local
food security capability.
21
MOVE FROM NUTRITION SECURITY TO
NUTRITION SOVEREIGNTY
Accept and implement the BRNI
priorities:
As a strategy, provide outreach counseling
to all families on infant and young child
feeding as a ‘service.’
Train all health workers in infant and young
child feeding counselling.
Promote/provide for exclusive
breastfeeding for first 6 months.
Promote appropriate, adequate
complementary feeding from 6”1 to 24th
month.
Target mothers, young children,
adolescents as priority groups for improved
food security measures.
Goal
1. Reduction in proportion of LBW babies
to one tenth of all births.
2. Reduction in the percentage of
underweight children by more than half
(especially those under the age of
three).
3. Reduction in the prevalence of
anaemia more nearly 50% in severely
anaemic children and by 35% in
children with moderate anaemia and
bring down the prevalence of maternal
anaemia to less than 25%L
4. Reduction of the poverty ratio by more
than 15 points by 2015.
5. Enhance early initiation of breast
feeding to more than 75 per cent by
2015.
Strategies
1, Improved food distribution, making it
accessible
of persons and this will need
the redefining of “persons in need" beyond
the current BPL calculations.
-Ensuring the strengthening of existing
nutrition interventions through National
Nutrition Mission would.
______
22
-Food security for children is
inextricably linked to the income
security of adults in the family
interventions such as food for work
programme to be re-started along with
creation of opportunities for living
wages for adults leading to increase in
purchasing power of individuals and
families.
- Dissemination of nutrition information
on infant and young child feeding, low
cost nutritious foods for achieving
nutrition security, significance of safe
drinking water and sanitation, health
and family welfare issues and research
and development would be made
i)-3 years
1. Breast-feeding is the first life-guarding
action.
Onset of malnutrition in children should be
prevented by promoting sound neonatal,
infant and young child feeding practices
from birth, with special emphasis on breast
feeding and complementary feeding.
2. Universal colostrum feeding, exclusive
breast-feeding up to six months,
introduction of semisolids at six months.
3. Special priority for children below 24
months, through the ongoing direct feeding
programme of the Special Nutrition
Programme.
4. Encouragement of breast-feeding and
discouragement of milk substitutes. This
will need the provision of maternity
benefits, creches and day care centres to
facilitate breast-feeding.
3-6 years
1. Provision of supplementary nutritious
food through ICDS and day care centres
Policy
1. Focus on nutrition security (Tenth
Plan) for families especially for the
most marginalised as well as to
children who do not live within families.
These would need policies that
specially target interventions for their
benefit.
2. Proactive identification of vulnerable
groups of children for provision of
23
nutrition security and management of
under-nutrition.
3. Ensure a focus equitable distribution
(Tenth Plan) of benefits to enhance
nutrition security.
4. Nutritional security of women should
be seen as an important contributor to
the nutrition security of children.
5. Poverty alleviation programmes
(TenthPlan) and improving purchasing
power of people with enhancing
nutrition security of children as a crucial
objective.
Goals (by 2015)
I.
Reduction in proportion of LBW
babies to one tenth of all births.
6. Reduction in the percentage of
underweight children by more than half
(especially those under the age of
three).
7. Reduction in the prevalence of
anaemia more nearly 50% in severely
anaemic children and by 35% in
children with moderate anaemia and
bring down the prevalence of maternal
anemia and bring down the prevalence
of maternal anaemia to less than 25%.
8. Reduction of the poverty ratio by more
than 15 points by 2015.
9. Enhance early initiation of breast
feeding to more than 75 per cent by
2015.
10. To ensure household level food
security.
II. To ensure an inter-sectoral minimum
package.
STRATEGIES
1. Increasing production of locally
available coarse grains and making
these available at subsidised rates
through the Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS). Focus
on nutrition security for families
especially for the most marginalised
as well as to children who do not live
within families. However, is it
conducive to move towards nutrition
security without looking at food
security?
2. Formation of grain banks and
24
formation of self - help groups,
micro finance and micro enterprise
development, food for work
programmes (and other
programmes under the Sampoorna
Gramin Rozgar Yojana), social
security programmes, mid-day
meals, etc.
3. Make use of the findings of the three
surveys that reviewed the ICDS
services for follow up action.
4. Ensuring availability of cereals and
pulses and seasonal vegetables,
(such as millets as proposed by the
Tenth Plan).
5. The NPA draft also mentions setting
up of ‘energy food/ready to eat food
units’. This is not culturally and
financially the best option! The focus
should be more on initiatives such as
horticulture etc. Thus the strategies
should be sustainable and locally
conducive.
6. Operationalising universal screening
of all pregnant women, infants,
preschool children, school children,
adolescents and children not within
the formal structures of targeted
interventions.
7. Preparedness to address crisis
situations of food scarcity.
8. All the schemes, including the National
Nutrition Mission, that have the focus
of improving food and nutrition security
of families need to be implemented
effectively.
9. Schemes need to be urgently put in
place for children (including
adolescents) that are not within
families and formal structures of
interventions. Thus there should be
schemes for street children, children
headed households (especially in case
of AIDS orphans, children orphaned
as a consequence of natural and man
made disasters, children of sex
workers and child sex workers, and
others).
10. Create functional linkages between
the community (local population in
general) with formal structures - PRIs,
25
ANMs and AWWs, etc. The focus
should be to implement the 73rd and
741'1 Amendments and make them
work towards addressing local needs.
11. Screening for common nutritional
deficiencies especially in vulnerable
groups and initiating appropriate
remedial measures (Tenth Plan).
12. Focussed interventions aimed at
improving the nutritional status of
children under 6 years, with special
priority for children below 24 months,
through the ongoing direct feeding
programme of the Special Nutrition
Programme.
13. Nutrition education with a special
focus on ensuring Universal colostrum feeding, excusive
breast feeding up to six months,
introduction of semisolids at six months.
The present draft of the NPA talks of
‘ensuring proper use of breast milk
substitutes’.
14. 14. Semantics are important. This
could be
translated as ready
made substitutes rather than khichdi,
mashed bananas, etc. Thus ‘home
based milk substitutes’ seems more
appropriate.
15. Promote equitable inter - family
distribution.
16. Improve the purchasing power of
people through income generating
activities. Focus on empowerment of
women.
17. Onset of malnutrition in children
should be prevented by promoting
sound infant and young child feeding
practices with special emphasis on
breast feeding and complimentary
feeding (Recommendations of the
Working Group on Nutrition. Annual
Report, DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002).
18. Production and consumption of low
cost nutritious foods from locally
available food materials be
promoted in partnership with public
and private sector involving SHGs and
community so as to ensure
accessibility of these foods to rural
masses.
26
19. National programmes to address
under-nutrition and micronutrient
malnutrition, including the ICDS,
should be reoriented, intensified and
expanded (Recommendations of the
Working Group on Nutrition, Annual
Report, DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002).
20. A system of nutrition monitoring,
mapping and surveillance be
established in the country from
community level to the national level
utilising the network of ICDS
(Recommendations of the Working
Group on Nutrition, Annual Report,
DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002).
21. The Food and Nutrition Board had
been promoting setting up Energy
food/Ready-to-eat food units through
State governments. Twelve units for
Community based production of
nutritious foods involving social
organisations and women groups
are producing low cost nutritious
foods at the community levels for
use in supplementary feeding
1
programmes (Annual Report, DWCD,
MHRD, 2001-2002, pg. 135). This
should not be read in isolation of the
governments policy on breast-feeding.
22. The critical requirement for making
major progress on malnutrition is
improvement in early child care
practices. Care for girls and women
during pregnancy and lactation; their
physical health and nutritional status,
autonomy and respect in the family
and considerations of workload and
time; birth spacing and delayed age at
’
first birth; and equal access to
education are essential components of
care practices. These are all actions
that need to take place within the
family and are dependent on the
knowledge, understanding and
practices of mothers, fathers, older
siblings and other caregivers. The
nutrition challenge is, therefore, one
1
of reaching into the communities and
homes of new-borns and inducting a
massive social and cultural change
in care practices (Annual Report,
27
DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002, pg. 61).
23. National Nutrition Mission would
strengthen existing nutrition
interventions. Concerted efforts
would be made towards
dissemination of nutrition
information on infant and young
child feeding, low cost nutritious
foods for achieving nutrition
security, significance of safe
drinking water and sanitation,
health and family welfare issues
and research and development
would be made (Annual Report,
DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002, pg.
139).
24. Nutrition can improve only on
improving the purchasing power.
25. Promotion of food for work
programmes in order to promote
food security.
26. There has been a shift from food
security to nutrition security in the
Tenth Plan. Is this shift beneficial
considering the fact that basic food
security has not be ensured to all?
27. Promotion of food for work
programmes in order to promote
food security.
28. The Public Distribution System:
The PDS system has to be made more
people centric. So far, it has not
necessarily benefited the poorest as
envisaged. Reportedly, there have been a
number of irregularities in the functioning
of the PDS. These have to be removed.
Further, it has been reported that ‘mitti ka
tef (along with sugar) will be taken off the
list of commodities available under the
PDS. However, the poor use it as fuel.
Thus it should not be removed. Moreover,
there need to be more fool proof as well as
effective procedures to identify
beneficiaries. Moreover, the issue of
subsidies needs to be looked into. The
states should bear the responsibility
towards the transportation costs.
There are three main points that need to
be highlighted that are associated with the
concept of the PDS - 1. Traditional foods
28
are being delegitimised, especially through
the PDS. The local population in a
particular area sells of the nutritious food
that they have procured through traditional
sources (forests etc) and sell it in the free
market only to use the money to purchase
less nutritious commodities available
through the PDS such as polished rice. 2.
Moreover, PDS is essentially a concept
associated with a stable population. Thus
mobile populations pass through the sieve.
And these are the most vulnerable. 3. The
PDS necessitates a regular monthly
income to purchase essential commodities.
However, regular income is not a reality of
a vast majority of the ‘beneficiaries’ of
PDS.
29. Traditional food promotion can be
done through the PDS.
30. A number of poor families cannot
get the BPL cards since they get
‘pushed’ in to the API strata. For
instance, tribals have been
uprooted from their traditional
habitation and are given some land
and a 'pucca' house. The land may
not be necessarily fertile. Moreover,
since they do not come from
‘traditionally farming families’ they
cannot really make use of the
‘benefits’ and tend to even get
further marginalised - and yet be
categorised as APL.
31. Marginalisation gets more
pronounced even in the case of the
urban poor. They are unable to get
the benefits of the PDS due to lack
of BPL card availability.
32. The Tenth Plan looks into
promotion of locally grown grains
such as millets. This should be
available and promoted.
33. The functioning of the PDS should
be as per the local needs.
Moreover, since often the PDS
becomes a source of a power
struggle amongst local villagers,
especially if the PDS is managed
by a higher caste person,
marginalization sets in further. Thus
29
PDS management could in fact be
handed over to the community,
preferable to a representative from
SC/ST/BC.
34. Urban food and nutrition disorders
should also be addressed.
35. Men and their roles in promoting
the heath and food security of
women should be addressed.
36. Promotion of exclusive
breastfeeding for the first 6 months
followed by promotion of home
based supplementary foods along
with support services for lactating
mothers.
Investments
While these recommendations are in part
derived from State policies and plans,
including the Tenth Plan, provision of
needed resources must be assured.
The national problem of malnutrition
should be addressed in a ‘mission mode
approach’ with enhanced budgetary
support (Recommendations of the
Working Group on Nutrition, Annual
Report, DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002).
4.Water & Sanitation
NATIONAL GOAL
All villages to have sustained access to potable
drinking water within the Plan period (Planning
Commission)
50% of rural population with access to hygienic
sanitation (Planning Commission)
TARGETS AND DEADLINES
UN 37(32)
* UN 37 (25)
* Adequate safe drinking water facilities should
be provided to the entire population both in
urban and in rural areas. Irrigation and multi
purpose projects should invariably include a
drinking water component, wherever there is
no alternative source of drinking water.
Drinking water needs of human beings and
animals should be the first charge on any
available water. (National Policy)
* Rural habitation in the country are to be
covered by drinking water supply facility by
2004 (Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission)
* Generate felt need through awareness
Concerns
1.Basic water security is increasingly at
risk.
-Increasing privatisation of water is
further increasing this risk by bringing
in anew dimension to both access and
cost
-The share of available water for
agriculture is pressured by increasing
urban and industrial demand.
-Depletion of water is combined with
contamination of water. Fluorosis and
arsenic poisoning pose additional
hazards.]
-The proportion of population with any
form of sanitation access within the
compound or within reach has
increased by only 6% in the last
decade. Only 36% of the population
(and only 19 % of the rural population)
30
I creation and promotion of health and hygiene
(Tenth Five-Year Plan)
‘Cover schools in rural areas with sanitation
facilities (Tenth Five-Year Plan)
Encourage suitable cost effective and
appropriate technologies (Tenth Five-Year
Plan)
STRATEGIES
* Cover the residual un-covered/partially
covered and quality affected rural habitations.
* Evolve appropriate technology mix, to
improve performance and cost effectiveness of
ongoing programmes and to create awareness
on the use of safe drinking water.
* Undertake conservation measures for
sustained supply of drinking water
Accelerate coverage of rural population,
especially among households below the
poverty line (BPL) with sanitation facilities.
* Eradicate manual scavenging by converting
all existing dry latrines into low cost sanitary
latrines.
Encourage cost effective and appropriate
technologies in sanitation
currently have access to sanitation and
this includes all classes.
- Safe and adequate drinking water
supply must remain a State priority
water must not become a commercial
commodity, and safe water provision,
must not become a private sector
subject.. The Tenth Plan points out that
statistics of high coverage do not
reveal realities of poor actual supply,
poor access, poor quality and irregular
supply. The Plan also proposes private
sector involvement in water supply
(Tenth Plan, pp 634-635).
Goals
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Providing adequate water and
sanitation services (UNGASS
All villages to have sustained
access to potable drinking water
within the Plan period (Planning
Commission)
50% of rural population with access
to hygienic sanitation (Planning
Commission)
Underserved
urban areas will
receive minimum basic supply
The above goals will not be subject
to achievement of 8% growth rate.
Achieve a per-capita right over
water for drinking and sanitation.
Strategies
1. Cover
the
residual
uncovered/partially
covered
and
quality affected rural and urban
habitations.
Provision
and
investment for water and sanitation
must be consciously pro-poor and
pro-child, targeted in favour of the
most disadvantaged groups. This
would mean ensuring coverage of
all
anganwadis,
schools
and
progressively reducing the distance
between the water source and the
household.
2. All coverage must be linked to
morbidity prevention connecting to
actual present causes
3.
C H- I
G7898
Evolve appropriate technology mix,
to improve performance and cost
o
of
ongoing
effectiveness
and
to
create
programmes
the
use
of
safe
awareness on
drinking water.
4. Undertake conservation measures
for sustained supply of drinking
water.
5. Accelerate coverage of rural and
urban
population,
consciously
targeting households that are
households below the poverty line
(BPL), or belong to marginalized
groups, with sanitation facilities.
6. Eradicate manual scavenging by
converting all existing dry latrines
into low cost sanitary latrines and
providing alternative sources of
livelihood. This will be undertaken
progressively and eradication will
be achieved
7. Encourage cost effective and
in
technologies
appropriate
sanitation.
Goals
1. One fifth of the total rural households
have sanitation facilities. The
sanitation coverage should be
expanded to all districts by the end of
the X Plan by sanctioning Total
Sanitation Campaign (Unstarred
question no. 3045).
2. Implement the 'Swajaldhara scheme' a demand responsive community led
and participatory scheme throughout
the country, the norms for providing
safe drinking water to rural habitations
are 3. 40 litres of safe drinking water per
capita per day for human beings, ii.
One hand pump or stand post for
every 250 persons, iii. The water
source should exist within the
habitation or within 1.6 km in the
plains and within 100 metres of
elevation in the hilly areas. Cover all
rural habitations with drinking water by
April 2004.______________________
32
Ensuring the right of children to safe
drinking water is a top priority of the
Government of India (Annual Report,
DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002, pg. 61).
Water
and sanitation problems in
5.
urban slums are even more acute than
in rural areas. This is a situation that
needs to be taken up and addressed
on a priority basis.
Strategies
1. Implement the ‘Swajaldhara scheme' - a
demand responsive community led and
participatory scheme throughout the country in
all the not - covered (NC) and the partially
covered (PC)habitations to provide at least 40
Ipcd drinking water to the rural people where
community participation is forthcoming. The
scheme also provides for drinking water
facilities to schools in rural areas.
Investments
Allocations under the ‘Swajaldhara scheme’
have already been made and some amount of
funds already been released including to
drought affected areas up to 2003.
4.
5.Early Childhood Care
National Policy Commitment
Right to early childhood care
a. The State shall in partnership with
community provide early childhood care for
all children and encourage programmes
which will stimulate and develop their
physical and cognitive capacities.
b. . The State shall in partnership with
community aim at providing a childcare
centre in every village where infants and
children of working mothers can be
adequately cared for.
c. The State will make special efforts to
provide these facilities to children from
SCs/STs and marginalised sections of
society.
UNGASS GOAL :UN 36 (e): Development &
implementation of national early childhood
development policies and programmes to
ensure the enhancement of children’s physical,
social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive
development
NATIONAL GOAL:
*Same as above.
Objectives:
UN 37(10)
Concern:
1. Persistent stagnation of first day,
first week and first month morbidity
and mortality
2. Persistent proportion of children
born with low birth rate. 1/3 of all
births continue to be low birth
weight.
3. Persistent short-fall of minimum
33
STRATEGIES
-* Universalise and improve quality of early
childhood care in remote and socio
economically backward area with primary
attention given to girls, through the ICDS.
-* Provide day care services for the children (05 years) of mainly casual, migrant, agricultural
and construction labourers.
-* Improve the nutritional and health status of
pre-school children in the age group of 0-6
years.
-* Reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity,
malnutrition and school dropout.
-* Enhance the capability of the mother to look
after the normal health and nutritional needs of
the child through proper nutrition and health
education
basic preventive and protective
services.
4. Persistent low quality of state
childcare services and the
persistent failure of targeting the 03 year age group.
5. Lack of services for the poorest,
transient, “illegal” or “unauthorised”
groups such as pavement dwellers
and squatters.
TAKE UNGASS GOAL (40(a)
ADD DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
Target action to address:
DIFFERENTIALS BETWEEN: 0-3, 3-6.
Questions:
WHAT SERVICES, WHAT INFORMATION
DO PARENTS NEED FOR HOLISTIC
DEVELOPMENT?
PROVISION FOR CRECHES TO
FACILITATE BREAST FEEDING
Policy:
1. To reaffirm the commitment of the
‘Development of Children’ with a special
focus on the early childhood development,
not only as the most desirable investment
for the country’s future but also as the right
of every child to achieve his/her full
development potential.
2. To adopt a rights based approach to the
development of children, as being
advocated by the Draft National Policy and
Charter for Children.
3. Specific interventions to address the
Tenth Plan observation that the early
childhood years - especially the pre-natal
to first three years - are the most crucial
and vulnerable period in life for the
achievement of full human development
potential and cumulative life-long learning.
This is the time when the foundations for
physical, cognitive, emotional and social
development are laid.
Investment
Set up necessary co-ordinating
mechanism for converging services,
pooling resources of related sectors
utilising both manpower and infrastructure
to address the ‘holistic’ and the ‘whole
child approach’ towards better early
34
childhood care and development (Tenth
Plan).
National Policy Commitment
Right of Adolescents to education and
skill development
The State and the community shall take all
steps to provide the necessary education
and skills to adolescent children so as to
equip them to become economically
productive citizens, special programmes
will be undertaken to improve the health
and nutritional status of the adolescent girl.
| Concerns:
Major Goal:
This is the vulnerable cohort of children
UNGASS GOAL: UN 36 (f)
passing through the final phases of
NATIONAL GOAL: Similar as above
1. Development and implementation of national childhood. Many are already thrust into
adult roles and/or exposed to risks they are
health policies and programmes for
not adequately equipped to face. The best
adolescents including goals and indicators, to
promote their physical and mental health.
application of health policies cannot cover
all their needs and entitlements. The
Objectives:
-* UN 37(9)
principle of ‘all rights for all children’ must
-* UN 37(21)
app!y.
.
-* UN 40 (9)
This section needs thorough review.
-* UN 40(10)
Adolescents from 10 to 18/19 sub-divide
-* i. Formal and non formal Mass education
into three or four age sub-groups, with
-* ii. Training programme for self employment
different capability levels and different
-*iii. Personality development and character
6. ADOLESCENTS
needs.
building
Concerns cover:
-*iv. Promotion of physical fitness.
(i. to iv. The National Youth Policy, 2000)
Survival risks:
-* 1. Place responsibilities on youth along with
Development rights:
privileges.
Protection risks:
-*2. Provide youth with more access to the
Parity rights:
process of decision making and
Participation potential and rights:
implementation thereof
The status and condition of the adolescent
-*3. The thrust areas of empowerment, gender
has been identified as a concern in the
equality and inter-sectoral approach
Tenth
Five-year Plan. A working group on
-*4. Make a distinction between adolescents in
adolescents
was set up to recommend
the age group of 13 to 19 years and the age of
needed
action
in the Plan period. It set the
attainment of maturity from 20-30 years
age-frame of 10-19 years for its
(1 to 4 National Youth Policy for Adolescents,
I assessment and recommendations, citing
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports)
UN standards.
STRATEGIES
An agreed age-range definition is needed.
-* Improve the nutritional and health status of
The draft National Youth Policy defines
girls in the age group of 11-18 years
adolescents as 13-19 years of age. The
-* Provide the required literacy and numeracy
ICDS definition is 11-18 years (and this is
skills through the non-formal stream of
cited in the GOI draft NPA). The RCH
education to stimulate a desire for more social
Programme uses 10-19 years, and the
exposure and knowledge and to help them
Tenth Plan working group on adolescents
improve their decision making capabilities.
adopted this range. . The Constitution of
-* Train and equip the adolescent girls to
India infers, and most labour laws define,
improve/upgrade home-based and vocational
35
skills.
-* Promote awareness of heath, hygiene,
nutrition and family welfare, home
management and child care, and to take all
measures as to facilitate their marrying
only after attaining of 18 years and if
possible, even later.
-* Arouse social consciousness of youth, in
order to encourage personality development of
students through community service.
-* Provide facilities for developing rural sports
as grass-root level
-* Organise activities for the preservation of
cultural heritage especially of the rural areas
-* Provide opportunity to the youth for
participation in rural community development
works
-* Take measures to introduce adolescence
education.
' 4 years as the end of childhood. In
various official statements, Govt of India
has indicated an intention to extend the
official Indian recognition of ‘childhood’ to
he 18-year age level.
Whatever the eventual definition and age
range recognised, this section of the
population - approximately 22 per cent of
all Indians - deserves focused attention
and age-specific interventions.
While the rights of girl children and
removal of gender disparity are critical, the
3oy adolescent also deserves affirmative
attention as a neglected age-group and
category among young Indians; measures
for sports and recreation do not cover the
many rights and needs that now go un
addressed.
Define age group, stratify
11-14:
14-16:
16-18:
NPA should have targeted age-specific
interventions
to
address
changing
entitlements and needs. Adolescents
deserve citizenship opportunity.
Nutrition risks: anaemia, micro-nutrient
deficiencies?
Health /morbidity: Malaria, TB, STDs, other
communicable diseases. Vulnerability to
drugs, tobacco, alcohol.
Elementary education: enrol/retain
Personal security (girls)
Right to information
Define/clarify what ‘adolescence education’
is.
Right to take part/be consulted in design,
delivery of services affecting them
Likely to join/be in workforce: safe-guards?
Early marriage (girls, boys in some areas)
Some laws adversely affect the child from
age 12 onwards. This is discriminatory and
undermines “equality before the law.”
Extend scope of NYKS to include 10-15
group?
NPA must address: Full range of
entitlements
and
rights.
Right to
information and participation progressively
increase. Right to informed choice: does
family
welfare
education
equal
reproductive health information ?
36
Stress comprehensive development.
DELETE [or redefine] the term ‘YOUTH’ (Youth
in India extends from 15 to 35 years).
OTHER CONCERNS:
• Survival, causes of death, preventives.
• Adolescent malnutrition/morbidity
• Protection
• Development
• Poverty and unemployment block access
to services like education and pushes
children into labour.
• Inadequate investment in education.
Failure to reach 6% of GDP.
• Low education status of disadvantaged
groups
• Low enrolment in schools
• High drop out rates
• Too few upper primary and secondary
schools
• Poor quality of teaching
• Poor teacher-student ratios
• Not enough female teachers
• Poor school infrastructure
• No accountability in education system
• Poor mechanisms for participation
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH
REFERENCE TO THE ABOVE
CONCERNS:
Enforce the Constitutional provisions in the
Directive Principles of State Policy on
Living Wages, to enable universal
education.
• Allocate the promised 6% of GDP for
education and progressively implement
the Tapas Mazumdar Report.
• Conscious targeting of benefits and
opportunities to SC, ST, BC, migrant
and other hard to reach adolescents
and within these groups female
adolescents. Special measures for
disabled.
• Provide
free
and
compulsory
education, including textbooks and
uniforms, upto secondary level (class
10).
• Targeted effort to retain students till
they complete eight years of schooling.
Provide extended learning
opportunities upto age 18 with
provision for vocational education
37
Build more schools, including schools
for girls. Target educationally backward
districts. Revise SSA norm to ensure
that there are as many upper primary
schools as primary schools. Set and
reach minimum targets.
• Stop employing para-teachers and
improve the skills of the regular
teaching cadre through in-service
training. Improve monitoring and
inspection systems. Build teacher
accountability into the system.
• Recruit teachers to vacant posts and
invest in creation of additional posts
• Recruit more female teachers
• Invest in pucca buildings, a classroom
for every class, drinking water,
separate toilets for males and females,
blackboards and teaching aids as well
as cooked midday meals
• Build in systems of accountability for
education departments, school
authorities and teachers. Panchayats,
Village Education Committees/ParentTeacher Associations should be
empowered to play a role.
•
1. Promotion of the effective participation
of adolescents in the community in
planning at all levels.
2. Control and prevention of drug abuse.
3. Awareness programmes, including
those about sex education and early
marriage.
4. Awareness programme at all levels in
gender sensitisation.
5. Individualised attention to adolescents
with special characteristics and needs.
7.HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Core Concerns:
UNGASS : UN 36(g)
Access through the primary health care
system to reproductive health for all
individuals of appropriate ages as soon as
possible and no later than 2015.
NATIONAL GOAL
-* Achieve 80 per cent institutional deliveries
and 100 per cent deliveries by trained persons
(National Population Policy)
Question: How will this secure the
health of children beyond improving
chances of safe birth?
Health care for the child must address
the health entitlements of all children of
all ages.
Services must radically improve in
38
-* Increase utilisation of public health facilities
from current Level if <20 to >75% by 2010
(National Health Policy)
Objectives
-‘ UN 37(2)
-• UN 37(15)
-* Un 37(3)
-* UN 37 (24)
-* Strengthen the primary health infrastructure,
and to facilitate the States to bridge the gaps in
essential infrastructure and manpower (10th
Plan Approach of Family Welfare Programme)
-* Strengthen the primary health structure
to attain improved public health outcomes
on an equitable basis (National Health
Policy)
STRATEGIES
-* Provide primary health care infrastructure
through a network of Sub-Centres (SCs),
Public Health Centre (PHCs) and Community
Health Centres (CHCs).
Strengthen and revitalize the primary health
infra-structure for improved provision of basic
minimum services in rural areas.
-* Provide out-reach services for the
satellite population and referral centers for
sub-district centers and primary health
centres
order to ensure reductions of morbidity
and mortality.
This calls for both Policy and Investment
changes. The present resource allocation
for Health is too low; it must be enhanced,
with conscious targeting of resource use to
address critical survival needs
POLICY: Child Survival: to focus on
neonatal morbidity prevention and
intervention, to bring down unsafe
pregnancies, unsafe deliveries, unsafe
newborn and neonate care, unsafe firstweek care.
MMR reduction must be addressed with
preventive/protective measures.
Service training and standards must
sharply improve. Skill improvement and
accountability of professionals and para
professionals must be ensured.
District and panchayat child survival action
planning must be propmoted, and local
plans made, carried out and monitored.
IMR/MMR reduction goals must not be
options; they must be non-negotiable
achievement targets and commitments.
What are the exact “strengthening and
revitalising” measures planned?
The basic infrastructure of services exists;
it does not function well. Need for ‘fault
analysis,’correction, and performance
accountability.
Specify exact measures to meet Tenth
Plan IMR and MMR targets.
Eleventh Plan targets of IMR and MMR
reduction to 1:1000 by 2012 cannot be
achieved without major health care
improvements before 2007.
Strategies
1. Integrate all aspects of the current
vertical programmes (Tenth Plan).
2. Set up a Health Management
Information System (HMIS) in order
to enhance responsiveness of the
health system, better planning from the
district level, monitoring and
implementation (Tenth Plan).
3. Use the Panchayati Raj Institutions
to boost accountability of public health
care providers through addressing
problems of absenteeism, inter-sectoral
39
collaboration, etc.
4. The vast infrastructure and
manpower providing primary health
care needs of the population is not
evenly distributed and those
segments of the population whose
health care needs are the greatest
have very poor access to health care
(Tenth Plan). This is true for urban
areas, especially slums, as well as
rural areas. Moreover, apart from
limited access for vulnerable
populations, these services are
inaccessible for children without
families or attached to formal structures
of representation (NGOs, etc). Thus
there should be an equitable access
to health services.
5. Reorganise and restructure PHC
institutions at the rural level as per a
Geographical Information System
(GIS). Re-organising the urban primary
health care institutions and linking them
to existing secondary and tertiary care
institutions (Ninth and Tenth Plan).
6. Meeting critical gaps in critical man
power through re-orientation, skill up
gradation and redeployment of existing
manpower.
7. Improving reporting, recording and
monitoring of vector-borne diseases
including cases treated in the private
sector in order to get reliable estimates
of prevalence (Tenth Plan) and thus
response.
8. Progressively improve access to
mental health care services at the
primary and secondary care levels to
cover all districts in a phased manner
(Tenth Plan).
9. Convergence of services under various
departments with the Department of
Women and Child Development (Tenth
Plan).
Investment
1. available funds to make all the existing
primary health care institutions fully
functional and develop infrastructure
and manpower in the states to improve
quality and coverage (Tenth Plan).
2. Tenth Plan goals and strategies, give
40
priority to infrastructure maintenance,
development, increasing outreach
(transport - example by supply of
mopeds to ANMs), training etc. The
commitment gets reiterated through the
funding: the approved Tenth Plan
outlay for these components has
doubled against the outlay in the Ninth
Plan. Funding for training, while
increased, probably deserves even
more.
8.Children with Disability
National Policy Commitment
Rights of children with disabilities
a. The State and community recognise that all
children with disabilities have a right to lead a
full life with dignity and respect. All measures
would be undertaken to ensure that children
with disabilities are encouraged to be
integrated into the mainstream society and
actively participate in all walks of life.
b. The State and community shall also provide
for their education, training, health care,
rehabilitation, recreation in a manner that will
contribute to their overall growth and
development.
c. The State and community shall launch
preventive programmes against disabilities and
early detection of disabilities so as to ensure
that the families with disabled children receive
adequate support and assistance in bringing up
their children.
d. The State shall encourage research and
development in the field of prevention,
treatment and rehabilitation of various forms of
disabilities.
Concerns:
NO GOAL STATED.
The Government reports that only 5 per
cent of children with disability of any kind
are presently served by or able to access
services. Rural areas are least served.
The
draft proposals do not indicate any
-* Provide facilities to disabled children as well
quantum
target: they must set goals and
as special treatment, education and
measures
to achieve them.
rehabilitation of children suffering from all types
There is need to train and build capacity of
of disabilities (National Policy for Children)
-* Implement the Persons with Disability
teachers/service providers to enable them
(Equal opportunity, Protection of Rights
to actually help children with disability.
UNGASS GOAL.
NATIONAL GOAL...
TARGET AND DEADLINES
UN37(16)
UN 37(17)
UN 37(18)
41
and full Participation) Act, 1995.
STRATEGIES
-* Provide services for prevention and early
detection of, medical intervention and surgical
correction, fitment of artificial aids and
appliances, therapeutic services such as
physiotherapy, occupational and speech
therapy, provision of training for acquisition of
skills.
-* Set up hierarchical service delivery system,
starting from grassroot level.
-* Integrate children with disabilities in the
general education system and to eliminate
disparities and equalize educational
opportunities so as to enable them to become
equal contributing members of the society.
-* Assist needy disabled persons in procuring
durable, sophisticated and scientifically
manufactured, standard aids and appliances,
that can promote rehabilitation by reeducating
the impact of disability and enhancing capacity
of the assisted persons to lead normal lives.
-* Promote independence, facilitate
guardianship and concerns of persons with
special needs who do not have their family
support.
-* Provide education, training and
rehabilitation services through the medium
of NGOs.
COMMUNITY BASED DISABILITY SUPPORT
IS NOT INCLUDED
DEGREES OF DISABILITY ARE NOT
RECOGNISED
The NPA should address the following:
LEARNING DISABILITY, SLOW LEARNERS
TO BE INCLUDED
COUNSELLING
AND
PSYCHO-SOCIAL
INTERVENTIONS (TRAINING FOR PARENTS
AND COMMUNITIES NOT TO HIDE THEIR
CHILDREN, EMPOWER THEM TO LOOK
AFTER THEM)
DEFINE INCLUSION AND ACCESS.
INCLUDE INVESTIGATION (DATA SCAN)
DISTRICT
REHABILITATION
CENTRES
REQUIRED
DISTINCTION ON THE BASIS OF TYPES OF
DISABILITY
MAINSTREAMING OF THE DISABLED
CHILDREN INTO EDUCATION. THIS CALLS
FOR INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE
AND TRAINED TEACHERS.
EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION.
LACK
OF
SERVICES
MUST
BE
ADDRESSED.
AGE SPECIFIC AND GENDER SPECIFIC
ISSUES NEED ATTENTION
DEFINE
STATE
RESPONSIBILITY,
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. MINIMUM
STANDARDS OF SERVICES
1.
2.
3.
Training of teachers in Management of
disabled should be incorporated as a
very important issue for promoting
inclusive education. We should
emphasize holistic approach of
education, vocational training, sports
and cultural activities to be organized
in an academic atmosphere so that
children's personality is developed for
economic independence and
competence.
The Central Govt, should give
directions to the State Govt, for
creating an inclusive, barrier free and
right based society. This needs non
discrimination in several sectors of
society.
National Strategies: The document
itself reflects integration of children but
it needs to have special emphasis on
creating an atmosphere in the
42
institutions which is necessary for
integration and inclusion of children
with disabilities for receiving education
as their right and not as charity.
4. The point of convergence of resources
between the Govt, and voluntary
organisations needs to be stressed
also so that the mission can be
accomplished in a realistic manner.
5. The Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and
Full Participation ) Act 1995, through
its proper implementation could yield
desired results. Unfortunately, a
number of people are not even aware
of it. The Act must be made widely
known, and its spirit and substance
promoted. It should be incorporated in
prescribed books and publications.
6. Ensure identification of all children
with developmental disabilities by
health workers.
7. Improve early detection :Train health
and child development workers to
screen children between 0-3 years for
any possible developmental delays.
8. Assist needy disabled persons,
especially those with mental
disabilities in accessing specialised
education and training.
9. Care of the disabled is aa highly
highly
demanding, but the 95 per cent un
met need must be addressed.
Disablement is due to several causes
and requires specific preventive and
rehabilitative interventions. Trained
manpower
and
resources
are
essential. Without information and
capacity building, to make enabling
measures and programmes really
operational, the list of good intentions
will lead nowhere.
Goal
To reduce the prevalence of disability.
Strategy: To invest in all possible
preventive measures, and measures to
reduce the adverse impact of those
disabilities that are not preventable.
43
The focus should be on complete child
development and the approach should be
holistic, (provision of equipment and
artificial limbs do not address the problem
sufficiently).
The NPA lays more focus on children with
physical disability. Mentally challenged
children have very little space in the NPA.
Strategies
It is important to develop a clearer
perspective on disability issues with clearer
definitions and categorisations in order to
understand and plan interventions.
Slow learners are not mentally retarded but
they have special needs. This has to be
addressed in the NPA. Simply enrolling
them in regular ‘normal’ schools where
they receive no specialised attention in a
crowded classroom with an adverse
teacher/student ratio is no favour to them.
There should be more employment
opportunities for the disabled, and the
focus should not be confined to the
physically disabled.
Information sharing with parents,
community and health workers to manage
needs of physically and mentally
challenged children is essential. There
should be focus on removal of the stigma
that is often associated with disability.
There should be adequate focus on
prevention with public education on
specific and concrete measures.
•
•
A transfer of responsibilities for
the education of children with
disabilities from the social
welfare department to the
department of education needs
to be considered by the state
government.
State councils for education ,
research and training (SCERTs)
and education departments
should accept all models of
integrated education that have
44
been accepted by the National
Council for Education ,
Research and
Training.(NCERT)
• The involvement of the SCERT
needs to grow in terms of
training or special educators for
single categories and for multi category teaching.
Prevention is better than cure. Research
has shown that 50%of disability in India is
due to preventable causes. Most Indian
children are disabled due to poverty and its
correlates : protein malnutrition , iodine
deficiency , and vitamin A deficiency. The
state government has worked on a polio
free campaign which has been quite
successful, the government now needs to
take up prevention campaigns for
disabilities such as hearing impairment and
mental handicap.
Physically and mentally challenged
children need to be protected from abuse both physical and sexual. They too have
needs and sexual desires - and these
should receive recognition in order to
ensure sexual and reproductive rights as
well as personal safety.
There are limited services for mentally
challenged children.
Greater investment is needed in District
Rehabilitation Centres, with adequate
facilities and tools. Community based
rehabilitation should also be promoted.
NGOs can play key roles in addressing the
needs of these children. However, they do
not have the kind of resources needed nor
can they necessarily ensure the needed
continuity of programmes.
There is very little data collected on
disability. While the Census has made an
attempt, the information search has been
based on 4 visibly identifiable disabilities.
Data is essential to understand the
magnitude of prevalence as well as the
interventions (including the nature of
interventions) and resources required.
II. Providing Quality Education
45
1. Education
National Policy Commitment
Right to Education
a. The State recognises the right to
elementary education of all the children.
Education at the elementary level shall be
provided free of cost and the special
incentives should be provided free of cost
and special incentives should be provided
to ensure that children from disadvantaged
social groups are enrolled, retained and
participate in schooling.
b. At the secondary level, the State shall
provide access to education for all and
provide supportive facilities from the
disadvantaged groups.
c. The State shall in partnership with
community ensure that all the educational
institutions function efficiently and are able
to reach universal enrolment, universal
retention, universal participation and
universal achievement.
d. The Slate and community recognises the
right of all children to education in their
mother tongue.
e. The State shall ensure that education is
child-oriented and meaningful. It shall also
take appropriate measures to ensure that
the education is sensitive to the rights of
the girl child and to children of various
cultural backgrounds.
f. The State shall ensure that school
discipline and matters related thereto do
not result in physical, mental,
psychological harm or trauma to the child.
g. The State shall formulate special
programmes to spot, identify, encourage
and assist the gifted children for their
development in the field of their
excellence.
....
46
Concern: India is not investing in
Expand and improve comprehensive early educating its children..
childhood care and education, for girls and Nearly half the children of school age
remain out of school, and others are illboys especially for the most vulnerable
served with notional non-formal services.
and disadvantaged children (UN 39(a)).
Reduce the number of primary school-age The country can no longer merely tinker
with this .
children who are out of school by 50 per
India must seize the opportunity to break
cent and increase net primary school
the
ignorance barrier that cripples the
enrolment or participation in alternative,
potential of millions problem.
good quality primary education
School education for every child must
programmes to at least 90 per cent by
become a reality. NFE must be only a
2010 (UN39(b)).
bridging,
supplementary mechanism, not a
Eliminate gender disparities in primary and
substitute
for formal schooling. Action to
secondary education by 2005; and achieve
ensure
this
must begin with the leastgender equality in education by 2015, with
served, and continue to focus on them until
focus on ensuring girls’ full and equal
goals are sustainably attained.
access to and achievement in basic
This calls for policy commitment and
education of good quality (UN 39(c).
assured investment. The NPA must not
Improve all aspects of the quality of
default on either.
education so that children and young
Tenth Plan monitorable goal:AII children in
people achieve recognized and
school by 2003; all children to complete 5
measurable learning outcomes especially
years of schooling by 2007.
in numeracy, literacy and essential life
skills (UN 39(d)).
Universal retention in some learning
Ensure that the learning needs of all
stream by 2010 is not an adequate goal;
young people are met through access
children must progressively have the
to appropriate learning and life skills
right to regular formal schooling.
programme (UN 39(e)).
Principle of equality demands provision of
NATIONAL GOAL
quality formal schooling to all children. The
Make School education up to age of 14
free and compulsory, and reduce drop out NPA perspective goal for 2015 must be to
provide this.
at primary and secondary school levels to
The
aim and content of education must
below 20 per cent for both boys and girls
safeguard
and uphold the fundamental
(National Population Policy)
rights
and
freedoms
set out in the
All children in school by 2003 and all
Constitution, and meet the Constitutional
children to complete 5 years of schooling
directive principles (38,46).
by 2007 (Planning Commission)
All children in school, Education Guarantee Tenth Plan commitment to establish
Centre, Alternate School, ‘Back-to-School’ benefits of the 93rd Constitutional
Amendment must be consciously and pro
camp by 2003 ( Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan)
All Children complete five years of primary actively pro-poor, and implementation must
express egalitarian intent.
schooling by 2007 ( Sarva Shiksha
Tenth Plan Goal: Primary Education
Abhiyan)
All children complete eight years of primary achievement, with expansion of formal
school system under way.
schooling (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan)
Eleventh Plan Goal: (a)Elementary
Focus on elementary education of
Education achievement, with expansion of
satisfactory quality with emphasis on
formal
school system under way.
education for life (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan)
(b)Expansion
of formal primary school
Bridge all gender and social category gaps
system
achieved,
(c) Investment in teacher
at primary stage by 2007 ad at elementary
training/re-training.
education level by 2010 (Sarva Shiksha
EDUCATION
47
Abhiyan)Universal retention by 2010
(Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan)
Twelfth Plan goal: (a) All children covered
by formal, quality school services, (b)
Objectives:
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan recast as bridging
Develop and implement special strategies measure.
to ensure that schooling is readily
The resource allocation for education must
accessible to all children and adolescents, be raised to 6% (doubling present 3.3%),
and that basic education is affordable for
with pro-active priority to earmark
all children(UN 40 (1)).
added resource for primary education
Promote innovative programmes that
investment, and thereafter
encourage schools and communities to progressively for elementary education.
search more actively for children who
TARGET: Sustain cess in Eleventh Plan.
have dropped out or are excluded from Raise to 8 % by end of Eleventh Plan.
school and from learning, especially
POLICY/STRATEGY: Mobilise resources
girls and working children, children with through national cess.[One-Paisa added
special needs and children with
on All postage, railway, State-run public
disabilities, and help then enroll,
transport, power,water tariffs, all
attend, and successfully complete their government-public transactions]
education, involving governments as
Adopt ‘Bal Shiksha Kosh’ national
well as families, communities and non education commitment above/across
party lines
governmental organizations as
partners in the educational process.
TARGET : progressive increase
Special measures should be put in place to throughout Tenth Plan. Pte sector funds
prevent and reduce drop out due to, inter
can be tapped for this. But State must
alia, entry into employment. (UN 40(2)).
retain responsibility of providing
Bridge the divide between formal and non- primary and elementary schooling for
formal education, taking into account the
children of the poor.
need to ensure good quality of the
POLICY: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan does not
educational services, including the
offer deprived children equal access to
competence of providers, and
formal schooling. Therefore it must have (&
acknowledging that non-formal education
be governed by its avowed exit policy of
and alternative approaches, provide
ending in 2010,
beneficial experiences, and develop
STRATEGY:_SSA must be implemented as
complementarity between the two delivery a bridging mechanism to bring the leastsystems. (UN 40 (3)).
served children from non-formal/alternate
Ensure that all basic education
schooling streams into the mainstream
programmes are accessible ( UN 40(4)).
formal schooling channel.
Ensure that indigenous children and
As a fundamental right, education must
children belonging to monitories have
be a charge on the Consolidated Fund
access to quality education (UN 40(5)).
of India
Develop and implement special strategies
NO DENIAL OF ADMISSION TO
for improving the quality of education and
CHILDREN WITH HIV/AIDS
meeting the learning needs of all (UN
40(6)).
Core Concerns: Despite increases in
Ensure that education programmes and
numbers of schools and in enrolment
materials fully reflect the promotion and
figures, nearly half of India’s children
protection of human rights and the values
remain out of school. Most of those who do
of peace, tolerance and gender equality,
enter the classroom get schooling of poor
using every opportunity presented by the
quality. The teacher-pupil ratio is not good
International Decade for a Culture of
enough, cutbacks in budgeting and
Peace and Non-Violence for the Children
recruitment of teachers aggravate this
of the World (2001-2010. (UN 40(7)).
problem. The 6 per cent of GDP pledged a
48
Promote innovative programmes to provide
incentives to low-income families with
school-age children to increase the
enrolment and attendance of girls and
boys and to ensure that they are not
obliged to work in a way that interferes with
their schooling (UN 40(12)).
Enhance the status, moral, training and
professionalism of teachers including early
childhood educators, ensuring appropriate
remuneration for their work and
opportunities incentives for their
development. (UN 40(14)).
Develop responsive, participatory and
accountable systems of educational
governance and management ant the
school, community and national levels (UN
40 (15)).
Meet the specific learning needs of
children affected by crises, by ensuring
that education is provided during and after
crises, and conduct education programmes
to promote a culture of peace in ways that
help to prevent violence and conflict and
promote the rehabilitation of victims. (UN
40(16)).
Provide accessibility recreational and
sports opportunities and facilities at
schools and in communities (UN 40 (17)).
Harness the rapidly evolving information
and communication technologies to
support education at an affordable cost,
including open and distance education,
while reducing inequality in access and
quality. (UN 40(18)).
Universal access and enrolment (National
Policy on Education, 1986) A substantial
improvement in the quality of education to
enable all children to achieve essential
level of learning (National Policy on
Education 1986)
Universal retention of children upto 14
years of age (National Policy on Education
1986)
A substantial improvement in the quality of
education to enable all children to achieve
essential level of learning. (National Policy
on Education 1986)
Greater attention will be paid to the
education of the minority groups in the
interest of equality and social justice. This
decade ago has not yet been allocated.
The 93rd Constitutional Amendment makes
provision of free and compulsory education
to the 6-14 age group a State obligation,
but leaves out the pre-school child’s
learning rights. The above-14 child is
similarly left out.
Serious deprivations and disparities persist
in the education access and achievement
potential of girls, dalits, tribals, lower-rung
backward castes and marginalized groups
in Society. This is serious and chronic
human wastage.
Because education of children is regarded
as a social welfare option rather than a
critical development investment, the
universalisation of free and compulsory
primary education is now 43 years behind
the only time target the Constitution
declared.
The Tenth Plan aims at ‘100 per cent
school enrolment in 2003.’ Even if the
numbers are written into school rolls
across the country, how will this ensure
that children stay in school and actually
receive quality education ?
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan stratifies
schooling into formal and ‘other’ - how will
this give all children equal access to
genuine education by educators who know
what and how to teach? If the least-served
child deserves the best chance of
development, SSA is not good enough.
The rupees saved on providing second
class education to the poor majority will not
offset the price India will pay for defaulting
on securing this fundamental right yet
again.
Goals:
• Need to specify goals for 2015 (pt.2)
• Clarify “free” and “compulsory”(pt.1).
To be meaningful, “free” should mean
free tuition, books and uniforms (see
strategies 17). Compulsion should be
on the state to provide working schools
within reasonable access, rather than
penalising poor parents.
• Goal should be formal education for all,
or where essential, non-formal
education that leads to mainstreaming
49
I will naturally include the constitutional
education that leads to mainstreaming
guarantees given to them to establish and
with formal education either by multiple
administer their own educational
entry or equivalent certification
institutions, and protection their languages
(National open Schools system), (pt.3)
and culture (Programme of Action, 1992)
• Give target date for pt. 5 (see pt.7)
All possible measures will be taken to
“Quality” is vague.(pt.6) Mention minimum
promote an integration based on
levels of learning .
appreciation of common national goals and
ideals in conformity with the core
Strategies
curriculum (Programme of Action, 1992)
• Pt.4 of government stated should use
Need for readjustments in the curriculum in
terms stronger than “encourage” ,i.e.
order to make education a forceful tool for
private schools should provide a
the cultivation of social and moral values
minimum proportion of seats to such
(Programme of Action, 1992)
vulnerable groups.
To develop and promote multiple facilities
• As mentioned in goals, open schooling
to provide access and to facilitate retention
(pt.5) must have equivalence with
at girls and to ensure greater participation
formal education and not be of lower
of women and girls in the field of education
standard or left vague (pt. 19 also).
(National Programme for Education of Girls Regarding pt. 7 , enrichment of language
at the elementary level)
curriculum should enable 2-3 languages
Improve the quality of education through
including mother tongue as medium of
various interventions and to stress upon
instruction , English and another language
the relevance and quality of girls education being taught in ways which promote
for their empowerment National
excellence in all. Academic subjects now
Programme for Education of Girls at the
take up so much time and attention that
elementary level.)
there is no scope for the other non
Improve quality of school infrastructure,
academic aspects mentioned. These are
facilities, equipments, support services and equally important and should be stressed
human resources (Working Group Report
(see pt. 18 also.)
on Education)
• Scholarships on similar lines as for
Improving classroom and school
OBCs (point 12) should be given for
environment (Working Group Report on
minority groups also , whose education
Education)
levels are low.
Renewal of curriculum, textbook and
• Residential schools for SC ZSTs should
teaching learning material to make them
include activities that relate to their
relevant interesting and child friendly
culture
, lifestyle and environment.
(Working Group Report on Education)
• Point 17 should cover groups which are
Increased focus on specification and
below the poverty line as well as girls.
measurement of learner achievement
Amend
pt. 4 of suggested strategies to
levels (Working Group Report on
state
that
school admissions should not be
Education)
denied
to
any
child on any grounds
Improving quality of teaching, learning
(including
HIV
/ AIDS). If a child has no
processes and classroom interactions
birth
certificate
, school authorities can give
(Working Group Report on Education)
one based on own assessment of age. If a
Capacity building of teachers, teacher
child
is unable / unwilling to name either
development and teacher
parent
also , should admit her / him
empowerment (Working Group Report
•
Government
must increase budget
on Education) Integration of Sports and
allocation
for
elementary education and
Physical Education with the
pre-school
education
. the target for
Educational Curriculum, making it a
education
should
be
6%
as a whole ,
compulsory subject of learning up to
_______ oIni 11i~l hg
olomontoni
50
ggo^of which should be for elementary
the secondary School level and
and 25%for pre-school education.
incorporating thee same in the
• Renew and improve education
evaluation system of the student, will
methodologies in light of developments
be actively pursued. (National Sports
world -wide in new innovative
Policy 2001).
directions.
STRATEGIES
.
• Incentives offered by some schools
Improve physical resources available in the
meant for childen from the labour force
primary schools of the country.
lure parents to put their children there
Achieve ‘education for all,’ through
as (ex) child labourers, rather than
people’s mobilization and participation
formal schools. This needs to be
Encourage public spirited organization to
remedied .
set up new schools in educational
•
There should be minimum standards
backward districts.
and
regulatory procedures for all
j
Encourage private schools to provide seats
schools-government aided and other
in their institutions to girls and socially and
recognised — to ensure that MLL ,
|
economically backward students by way of
democratic and secular values and
social obligations.
curriculum equivalence are maintained
Promote concept of open schooling as an
alternative curriculum that is flexible and
relevant to the need of students in remote • locally relevant information / example
must be included in all, especially rural
and rural areas
and tribal schools.
Identify and encourage the development ot
•
Plus two stage was supposed to
;
infrastructure that would have a bearing
include
vocational
skills
training.
This
upon the improvement in quality in school
needs to be strengthened.
education.
•
Teacher training and performance to
Encourage and undertake curriculum
be strengthened and monitored .
|
enrichment projects in areas such as
• Goal of 75% in adult education in the
science, environment, population, human
10th Plan needs addition of
rights, languages, fine arts, music folklore,
goals in 11th and 12th Plans to achieve
yoga, sports activities etc.
100% by 2O15.( =50% increase in
Encourage networking and sharing of
j
resources and expertise between different UNGASS resolution).
i
systems of schools -government, aided or • For adolescent girls , non formal
education as in strategies listed should
unaided, for an overall improvement in
be in addition to , not instead of,
|
quality education in schools
formal
education
until
they
complete
Set up of schools in school-less
elementary education stage.
habitations.
• Must include strong strategies for post
Provide interventions for mainstreaming
literacy phase to consolidate, enhance
‘out of school’ children.
literacy gains and not let neo- literates
Strengthen cultural and value education
lapse into illiteracy e.g., local news
inputs in school and non-formal education
letters and stories contributed by neo
system, and provide in-service training o
literates’ groups , skilled training that
art, craft, music and dance teachers.
include writing minutes etc. and
Provide financial assistance to Other
account keeping by neo literates’
Backward Class (OBC) students studying
discussion groups where they write
at post matriculation or post secondary
stage to enable them to complete their
down points etc.
•
Boys and men should also be included
education.
.
Give scholarships to school going children
in such neo literate activities
of poorer Other Backward Class parents
whose income is below double^the poverty.
C H
|
87898
OTHER CONCERNS:
line.
Provide coaching for various competitive / • Survival
professional examinations to weaker
• Adolescent malnutrition/morbidity
sections among minorities to enable them
• Protection
to complete on equal terms with other
• Development
candidates for various jobs.
• Poverty and unemployment blocks
Establish residential schools for Scheduled
access to services like education and
Castes/Tribes in an environment
pushes children into labour
conducive to learning near their
• Inadequate investment in education.
habitations.
Failure to reach 6% of GNP.
Provide financial assistance to all
• Low education status of disadvantaged
Scheduled Castes/Tribes students for
groups
pursuance of post matric studies in
Low enrolment in schools
recognized institutions with in India.
• High drop out rates
Provide basic education infrastructure and • Too few upper primary and secondary
facilities in areas of concentration of
schools
educationally backward minorities which
• Poor quality of teaching
do not have adequate provision for
• Poor teacher-student ratios
elementary and secondary education.
Provide academic and resource support to • Not enough female teachers
• Poor school infrastructure
elementary education teachers and non• No accountability in education system
formal and adult education instructors.
• Participation
Offer educational concessions by way of
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH
reimbursement of tuition fees, boarding
REFERENCE
TO THE ABOVE
lodging expenses, expenditure incurred on
CONCERNS:
uniforms, textbooks, transport charges,
• Enforce the Constitutional provisions in
etc. to school students who are wards of
the Directive Principles of State Policy
armed forces personnel killed or
on Living Wages, to enable universal
permanently disabled in the course of their
education.
duties.
•
Allocate
the promised 6% of GDP for
Generate interest in sports and games
education
and progressively implement
among the school children and also place
the Tapas Mazumdar Report.
greater emphasis on the organisation of
• Conscious targeting of benefits and
tournaments at various levels
opportunities to SC, ST, BC, migrant
Develop and promote Distance and Open
and other hard to reach adolescents
Learning System as an alternative to the
and within these groups female
formal system at the school level up to the
adolescents. Special measures for
under-graduate and pre-degree level.
disabled.
• Provide free and compulsory
education, including textbooks and
uniforms, upto secondary level
(class 10).
• Targeted effort to retain students till
they complete eight years of schooling.
Provide extended learning
opportunities upto age 18 with
provision for vocational education
• Build more schools, including schools
for girls. Target educationally backward
52
w
districts. Revise SSA norm to ensure
that there are as many upper primary
schools as primary schools. Set and
reach minimum targets.
• Stop employing para-teachers and
improve the skills of the regular
teaching cadre through in-service
training. Improve monitoring and
inspection systems. Build teacher
accountability into the system.
• Recruit teachers to vacant posts and
invest in creation of additional posts
• Recruit more female teachers
• Invest in pucca buildings, a classroom
for every class, drinking water,
separate toilets for males and females,
blackboards and teaching aids as well
as cooked midday meals
• Build in systems of accountability for
education departments, school
authorities and teachers. Panchayats,
Village Education Committees/ParentTeacher Associations should be
empowered to play a role.
Policy
Evidence from around the world and India
shows that education is the single most
important intervention for the improvement
of child survival (Annual Report, DWCD,
MHRD, 2001-2002, pg. 62).
Strategies
Preschool education component of the
ICDS should be strengthened
(Recommendations of the Working Group
on Child Development, Annual Report,
DWCD, MHRD, 2001-2002).
Encourage private schools to provide seats
in their institutions to girls, and socially and
economically backward students, and
students with disabilities, by way of social
obligation.
Promote concept of open schooling as an
alternative curriculum that is flexible and
relevant to the need of students in remote
and rural areas and students with
disabilities
Amending school admission procedures so
53
that the name of either parent is accepted
at the time of admission. This would
facilitate education of children of
prostitutes.
Allocation of budgetary resources:
• Expenditure on education should
be increased to a minimum
Of 6% of GDP.
• Of the total allocation on education
50%should be reserved for
Primary education.
Training/ dissemination and Respect for
the views of the child :
The inclusion of education on the rights of
the child should
• become mandatory in all schools
and centers of non-formal
education.
• Involve NGOs
2. Adult Education
III. Protecting against abuse,
exploitation and Violence
National policy Commitment
Right to Protection
a. All children have a right to be protected
against neglect, maltreatment, injury,
trafficking, sexual and physical abuse of all
kinds, corporal punishment, torture,
exploitation, violence and degrading
treatment.
b. The State shall take legal action against
those committing such violations against
children even if they be legal guardians of
such children.
c. The State shall in partnership with
community set up mechanisms for
identification, reporting, referral,
investigation and follow-up of such acts,
while respecting the dignity and privacy of
the child.
d. The State and community shall take
strict measures to ensure that children are
not used in the conduct of any illegal
activity, namely, trafficking of narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances,
begging, prostitution, pornography or
armed conflicts. The State in partnership
with community shall ensure that such
children are rescued and immediately
54
placed under appropriate care and
protection.
e. The State and community shall ensure
protection of children in distress for their
welfare and all round development.
f. The State and community shall ensure
protection of children during the
occurrence of natural calamities in their
best interest.
1. Abuse, neglect, exploitation &
violence
MAJOR GOAL:
UNGASS goal: 1. Protect children from all
forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and
violence [UN 43(a)].
National Goal: Similar as above.
Concerns
There is no comprehensive definition of
“children in difficult circumstances” in
government’s policy documents and plans.
Such children should be included..
Violence and abuse faced by children
inside their homes is an area completely
unaddressed by law and policy.
Objectives
Develop and implement policies and
programmes for children, including
These measures should receive priority:
adolescents, aimed at preventing the use
• Child rape to be incorporated in
of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances
existing law
and inhalants, except for medical
•
Boys should be included in existing
purposes, and at reducing the adverse
law
consequences of their abuse as well as
•
Incest should be separately
support preventive policies and
addressed
programmes, especially against tobacco
•
The term rape should be
and alcohol. [UN, 37 (20)]
broadened to include “sexual
2. Urge the continued development and
offences”
implementation of programmes for
•
Child should be allowed in camera
children, including adolescents, especially
in schools, to prevenVdiscourage the use
trial.
• Trials should be held within 6
of tobacco and alcohol, detect, prevent and
months of the complaint being filed
counter trafficking, and the use of narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances except
• Medical services for rape victims
should be coupled with counseling.
for medical purposes, by, inter alia,
promoting mass media information
campaigns on their harmful effects as well
as the risk of addiction and taking
necessary actions to deal with the root
causes. [UN, 40 (11)]
3. Promote comprehensive programmes
to counter the use of children, including
adolescents, in the production and
trafficking of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances. [UN, 44 (15)]
4. Make appropriate treatment and
rehabilitation accessible for children,
including adolescents, dependent on
55
narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances,
inhalants, and alcohol. [UN, 44 (16)]
5. To adopt and enforce laws, and improve
the implementation of policies and
programmes to protect children from all
forms of violence, neglect and abuse and
exploitation, whether at home, in school or
other institutions, in the workplace, or in
the community.
.6. Adopts special measures to eliminate
discrimination against children on the basis
of race, colour, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national, social or
ethnic origin, property, disability, birth or
other status and ensue their equal access
to education, health and basic social
services. [UN, 44 (3)]
. End impunity for all crimes against
children by bringing perpetrators to justice
and publicizing the penalties for such
crimes. ■
8. Raise awareness about the illegality and the
harmful consequences of failing to protect
children from violence, abuse and exploitation.
[UN, 44 (6)]
9. Promote the establishment of
prevention, support and caring services as
well as justice systems specifically
applicable to children, taking into account
the principle of restorative justice and fully
safeguard children’s rights and provide
specifically trained staff that promote
children’s reintegration in society (UN, 44
(7)]
10. Protect children from foster care and
adoptive practices that are illegal,
exploitative or that are not in their best
interests. (UN, 44 (120]
11. Address cases of international
kidnapping of children by one of the
parents (UN, 44 ( 13)]
12. Encourage measures to protect
children from harmful or violent websites,
computer programmes and games, that
negatively influence the psychological
development of children, taking into
account the responsibilities of the family,
parents, legal guardians and caregivers
[UN, 44 (19)] ”
13. Drug Demand Reduction Strategy,
56
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment: The Government of India
has adopted a 3-pronged strategy
consisting of: i) Building awareness and educating
people about ill effects drug abuse.
ii) Dealing with the addicts through
programme of motivational counselling,
reatment, follow-up and social
reintegration of cured drug addicts.
ii) Provide drug abuse prevention/
rehabilitation training to volunteers with a
view to build up an educated cadre of
service providers.
14) [Implement theJStreet Children and
Juvenile Justice Work plan - 2000,
Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment: The objective of the work
plan is to develop coordinated city level
actions to address the needs of street
children, including those who come in
conflict with the law. The work plan has 4
sub-plans with the objectives to :
i) to strengthen family integration for
preventing children from working on the
streets, (ii) to demonstrate and replicate
workable approaches and actions to
protect street children, (iii) to strengthen
development of database and formulation
of policy for children affected by armed
conflict, (iv) to promote public awareness
of the JJ Act.
15) The provide a sound basis for adoption
within the framework of the norms and
principles laid down by the Supreme Court
of India [Guidelines for Adoption of India
Children (1995)]
STRATEGIES
1. Provide the full range of services
viz., Counselling and Awareness
Centres; Treatment-cumRehabilitation Centres, De
addiction camps and Awareness
Programmes
2. Build partnerships with the allied
systems for child protection and promotion
of child rights.
3. Provide full coverage of services
envisaged under the Juvenile Justice Act,
1986 so as to ensure that no child under
any circumstances is lodged in prison.
57
5. Bring about qualitative improvement in
juvenile justice services.
6. Promote voluntary action for the
prevention of juvenile social maladjustment
and rehabilitation of socially maladjusted
juveniles.
7. Develop infrastructure for an optimum
use of community based welfare agencies.
8. Respond to children in emergency
situations and refer them to relevant
governmental and non-governmental
agencies.
9. Create a structure to ensure protection
of the rights of the child as ratified in the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
and the Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act 2000.
10. Provide a platform for networking
amongst organisations and to strengthen
the support systems to facilitate the
rehabilitation for children in especially
difficult circumstances.
11. Sensitise agencies such as the police,
hospitals, municipal corporations, and the
railways towards the problems faced by
these children.
12. Provide an opportunity to the public to
respond to the needs of the children in
difficult circumstances,
13. Initiate programmes focusing on
children in crisis situations such as street
children, children who have been abused,
abandoned and orphaned children,
children in conflict with the law and
children affected by conflicts and diseases.
14. Prevent destitution of children and
facilitate their withdrawal from life on the
streets.
15. Provide infrastructure facilities
required, ensuring the implementation of
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Act 2000.
16. Support NGOs for maintaining destitute
and orphan children with a view to
rehabilitating them through In-Country
Adoptions.
17. Provide assistance in the field of social
defence to Voluntary Coordinating
Agencies involved in the promotion of In
Country Adoptions.
18. Develop counselling services for_____
58
women and children affected by psycho
social trauma, such as desertion or
abandonment, familial discord, sexual
abuse, victimisation in trafficking or
prostitution, disability or terminal illness.
19) Develop an Action Plan for Counselling
Service in the country
2. Sexual exploitation and
trafficking________
59
. Concerns:
Trafficking of children is also for
Protect children from all forms of sexual
several exploitative purposes other
exploitation including pedophilia,
trafficking, and abduction (UN, 43 C)
j than for the sex trade. NPA measures
NATIONAL GOAL: sameas UNGASS
i need to address the range of causes.
This provision needs to be age-specific
goal.
I
Objectives
I in its range of interventions.
The section needs to be renamed as ‘Child
1 .Take concerted national and
Trafficking’ because trafficking is a process
international actions as a matter of urgency I
and sexual exploitation may happen during
to end the sale of children and their
the process or may be an end result or
organs, sexual exploitation and abuse,
purpose.
including the use of children for
The strategies fail to address the various
pornography, prostitution and paedophilia
purposes for which children are trafficked such
i as labour, marriage, adoption, circus and other
and to combat existing markets. [UN 44
entertainment, camel jockeying and similar
(40)]
sports, organ trading, smuggling of drugs and
2.Raise about the illegality and harmful
arms etc.
consequences of sexual exploitation and
abuse including through the Internet and
The objectives listed out for this section on the
the trafficking of children [ UN 44 (41)]
basis of UNGASS Goals are not matched with
2. Enlist the support of the private sector,
corresponding strategies to fulfil them.
including the tourism industry and the
media, for a campaign against sexual
The Strategies for this section primarily focus
exploitation and trafficking of children [ UN on women or at best the girl child. This ignores
the fact that boys are equally vulnerable to
44 (42)]
trafficking as well as to sexual exploitation.
3. Ensure the safety, protection and
security of victims of trafficking and sexual
The Goa Children’s Act 2003 is an exemplary
exploitation and provide assistance and
legislation, in its comprehensive definition of
services to facilitate their recovery and
child trafficking. The National Plan of Action
social integration [UN 44 (44)]
should also adopt a similar definition, and can
4. Take necessary action at all levels as
benefit from the content of this state legislation.
appropriate to criminalise and penalise
effectively, in conformity with all relevant
The NPA must recognise child trafficking as
and applicable international instruments,
a crime. It must also recognise that the
all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual
various purposes beyond sexual
exploitation for which children are trafficked
abuse of children, including within the
are largely criminal, and all anti-social, and
family or for commercial sale of children
and their organs and engagement in forced this should result in stronger and clearer
child labour and any other form of who are NPA provisions. .
victims, the best interests of the child shall
Goals
be a primary consideration (UN 44 (47)]
1. Eliminate child trafficking in all its forms
STRATEGIES
by 2015.
1.Implement the Plan of Action to Combat
2. Protect children from all forms of child
Trafficking and Commercial Sexual
trafficking
Exploitation.
through child-friendly policies, law and
2.Provide assistance to women in difficult
action.
circumstances (destitute widows, women
prisoners, women disasters of natural
Objectives
disasters, trafficked girls/ women and
It is recommended that Governments
mentally disordered women) by providing
proposed objectives be reworked as
shelter, food, clothing, health care,
follows
______
| counseling and social and economic
UNGASS GOAL
60
rehabilitation.
3.Provide assistance to voluntary
organisations for preventing trafficking of
women and girls and to provide temporary
shelter for the victims, help in their
repatriation to hometown, rehabilitation,
and prosecution
Take
concerted
national
and
international actions as a matter of
urgency to end child trafficking in its
various forms.
Take necessary action at local,
national, regional and international
levels to provide care and protection to
against
sale-purchase,
children
recruitment,
transfer,
movement,
procurement
for
or
harbouring
purposes that result in their exploitation
or where exploitation, use of force or
threat, fraud or deception are implicit in
the very process. This shall include
children trafficked for labour, marriage,
adoption, sports, entertainment, organ
trade and illegal activities including
begging, drug peddling and smuggling,
children
trafficked
for
sexual
exploitation and abuse, including the
use of children for pornography,
prostitution and paedophilia.
• Take
concerted
national
and
international actions as a matter of
urgency to combat existing markets
that perpetuate child trafficking.
• To tackle the root causes leading to
child
trafficking
through
holistic
planning
and
implementation
of
programmes.
• Raise awareness of the illegality and
harmful
consequences
of
child
trafficking, sexual exploitation and
abuse including through the Internet.
• Enlist the support of the private sector,
including the tourism industry and the
media, for a campaign against
trafficking of children and their
economic and sexual exploitation.
• Ensure the safety, protection and
security of victims of trafficking and
provide assistance and services to
facilitate their recovery and social
integration.
• Take necessary action at all levels as
appropriate to criminalise and penalise
effectively, in conformity with all
relevant and applicable international
instruments, all forms of child
trafficking, sale of children and their
61
•
organs, their engagement in forced
child labour, sexual exploitation and
sexual abuse of children, or use and
abuse of children for unconscionable
gain. In all action undertaken to
eliminate child trafficking the best
interests of the child shall be a primary
consideration.
Monitor and share information locally,
nationally, regionally and internationally
on the cross-border trafficking of
children; strengthen the capacity of
border and law enforcement officials to
stop trafficking and provide or
strengthen training for them to respect
the dignity,
human rights and
fundamental freedoms of all children
(girls and boys) who are victims of
trafficking.
Strategies
Recommended that the proposed Govt,
strategies be replaced by the following:
• Extensive documentation of the various
forms and purposes of child trafficking
to enable a better understanding of the
magnitude of the problem and a
mapping of routes used by the
traffickers.
• Legal reform to recognise all forms of
child trafficking as a crime and to make
registration of birth and marriage
compulsory as well as to declare child
marriage null and void and increase
the punishment for those responsible
for it
• Adoption of a comprehensive definition
of Child Trafficking in law and policy,
especially in the IPC. The proposed
definition shall read as follows:
“The
procurement,
recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harbouring or
receipt of persons up to the age of 18
years, (legally or illegally), within or
across borders, by means of threat or use
of force or other forms of coercion, of
abduction, of deception, of the abuse of
power or of position of vulnerability or. of
the giving or receiving of payments or
benefits to achieve the consent of a person
62
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
having control over another person, with
the intention or knowledge that it is likely
to cause or lead Io exploitation. ”
- Adapted from the UN ODCCP
definition by CACT (a national campaign
against child trafficking).______________
Ratification of International Protocols
on Human Trafficking such as the UN
protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons and the
Optional Protocol to the CRC on sale
of children, child prostitution and child
pornography.
Effective mechanisms for recording,
investigation
and
inquiry
and
monitoring of cases of child trafficking,
without further victimising the victim
e.g. testimonies of children shall be
taken by the Child Welfare Committees
and/or Juvenile Welfare Boards. All
Courts of law shall accept these
testimonies
in
matters
involving
children.
Easy access for the victims to trauma
counselling and free legal assistance
and qualified interpreters during all
proceedings.
Adoption of extra-territorial laws to deal
with international offenders who are
booked for child sex-tourism.
Developing guidelines for intervention
and arriving at an agreement between
the concerned countries to prevent
trans-border trafficking.
Witnessing protection procedures and
victim services in countries of origin for
cases of repatriation.
A
comprehensive
rescue
and
rehabilitation package for all States to
follow. This shall include provision of
social, medical and psychological
counselling by trained personnel, and
services like health check-ups and
treatment,
nutrition,
education,
vocational education etc.
Establishment of crisis-intervention
centres.
Establishment of short stay homes and
drop-in centres for both girls and boys
in all districts.
63
Establishment of Children’s homes,
Observation homes, Special homes
and After-care homes in all States for
both boys and girls.
• Establishment
of
information
dissemination cells in each district on
missing children. This shall involve the
Panchayat, Block and District level
bodies of local self-governance.
• Appointment of special officers for child
trafficking in every police station
• Deputation of vigilance teams at
strategic points to check illegal
migration.
• Establishment of a strong child
protection network.
• Co-operation
and
Co-ordination
between Child Line, National Institute
of Self Defence, Police and the
Government.
• NCRB shall collate and produce
statistics on child trafficking
• Sensitisation and training programs for
Parliamentarians, Police, Judiciary,
Health Personnel, Passport Officials,
Immigration Officials, Media, NGOs
and other Government officials and
funtionaries such as members of the
Child welfare Committees, Juvenile
Justice Boards, Probationary Officers,
Special Police Officers etc.
• Mass awareness drives and community
education to combat the lack of
awareness and apathy among the
general public.
• Wide and sensitive media coverage of
child trafficking incidents.
• Extensive use of both national and paid
TV channels as well as radio for raising
awareness
on
child
trafficking.
Dedicate time for spots on child
trafficking as part of public service
broadcasting on national channels.
Involve NGOs in developing the TV
spots.
their right to
children
• Ensuring
right to
housing
and
adequate
education
• Living wages for adults
• Recognition of trafficked children as
•
64
3. Combating child labour
‘children in difficult circumstances’ in all
policies
and
for
programmatic
intervention.
• Mandatory license or certification for
agencies/agents providing domestic
servants.
All
States/Districts
to
maintain a list of such agencies and
regularly updated it and make it public.
Regular monitoring of and surprise
checks in such placement agencies by
the
District
Magistrate/District
Collector/SP/any
other competent
authority notified to do so in the official
gazette.
• Disaster management policies and
plans with specific activities to check
child trafficking in the event of a natural
calamity or man-made disaster or
conflict situations._________________
National Policy Commitment
Right to be protected from economic
exploitation
a The State shall provide protection to
children from economic exploitation and
from performing tasks that are hazardous
to their well-being.
b. The State shall ensure that there is
appropriate regulation of conditions of
work of a non-hazardous nature and that
the rights of the child are protected.
c. The State shall move towards a total ban
of all forms of child labour.
UNGASS GOALS
Take immediate and effective measures to
eliminate the worst forms of child labour as
defined in the International Labour
Organisation Convention No. 182, and
elaborate and implement strategies for the
elimination of child labour that is contrary
to accepted international standards. [UN
43 (D)l
NATIONAL GOAL
To eliminate child labour from hazardous
occupation from 2005 and progressively
move towards complete elimination of child
labour (working paper on the 10th Plan)
Concerns
India has the highest number of working
children in the world. More & more
children are joining the legions in the wake
of globalisation & liberalisation.
As per 1991 census there are 89 million
“nowhere children". They are not in school
and therefore potentially child labourers.
Child labour includes children
prematurely leading adult lives, working
with or without wages, under conditions,
damaging to their physical, mental, social,
65
emotional and spiritual development,
1. Take immediate and effective measures denying them their basic rights and
to secure the prohibition and elimination of entitlements to education, health and
the worst forms of child labour as a matter development. Under these conditions all
forms of child labour are hazardous and so
of urgency. Provide for the rehabilitation
it is fallacious to make such distinctions.
and the social integration of children
The severe violation of rights of domestic
removed from the worst forms of child
labour through inter alia ensuring access to child workers, not listed as a hazardous
occupation in the child labour law goes to
free basic education and, whenever
show the short-sightedness of its
possible and appropriate, vocational
understanding.
training. [UN 44 (33)]
2. Elaborate and implement strategies to
protect children from economic exploitation The present understanding of child labour
concentrated on hazardous occupations
[UN 44 (350]
limits the interventions by and large to the
3. Take appropriate steps to assist one
sectors in the organised and urban
another in the elimination of the worst
sectors. This leaves out the 80% rural child
forms of child labour through enhanced
labourers.
economic co-operation and/or assistance
including support for social and economic
Child labour is the result of direct
development, poverty eradication
exploitation of labour
programmes and universal education [UN
44 (340] ■
Lack of a comprehensive understanding of
4. Promote international cooperation to
the problem. There is a strong correlation
assist one developing countries upon
between basic education-formal, guality
request in addressing child labour and its
schooling-livelihood insecurity and the
root causes, inter alia, through social and
persistence of child labour. Any concerted
economic policies aimed at poverty
efforts
reguires a holistic understanding
eradication, while stressing that labour
and approach.
standards should not be used for
protectionist trade purposes [UN, 44 (37)]
5. Mainstream action relating to child labour The strong co-relation between lack of
education and perpetuation of child labour
into national poverty eradication and
development efforts, especially in policies has been well established over the years.
Any intervention on child labour needs to
and programmes in the areas of health,
be linked to the fundamental right to
education, employment and social
education and read together with
protection. [UN, 44 (39]
recommendations on education in this
6. National Child Labour Policy: Future
draft. All children must have equal right to
Action Plan under the Policy includes:
the same guality education . Non-formal
)Legislative action plan
education can only be a short term strategy
ii) Focussing on general development
to acting as bridge between no schooling
programmes for benefiting child labourand formal schooling.
focus on education, health, nutrition and
anti-poverty programmes coverage.
In spite of the existing legal provisions and
iii) Project based Plan of Actions
interventions by the Supreme Court, very
STRATEGIES
few convictions have taken place based on
1.Establish special schools to provide non- provisions of the Child Labour Act.
formal education, vocational training,
supplementary nutrition, stipend,
The Committee on the Rights of the Child
healthcare etc., to children withdrawn from has recommended the withdrawal of the
e m p loy me n t
declaration with respect top Article 32 of
OBJECTIVES
66
2. Effectively enforce child labour laws and
make provisions for non-formal education,
adult education, income and employment
generation, direct rehabilitation of child
labour, raising of public awareness and
survey and evaluation.
3. Provide financial assistance to voluntary
organisations for taking up welfare projects
to rehabilitate working children
the Convention and the amendment of the
1986 Child Labour Act so that household
enterprises and government schools and
training centers are no longer exempt from
prohibitions on employing children ,and the
coverage is extended to include agriculture
and other informal sectors. It also
recommended the amendment of the
Factories Act, Beedi Act and the provision
for all employers to provide proof of age of
persons they employ.
Goals
The State shall provide protection to
children from economic exploitation and
from performing tasks that are hazardous
to their well-being. (Draft National Policy,
2001)
The State shall move towards a total ban
of all forms of child labour. (Draft National
Policy, 2001)
Eliminate child labour from hazardous
occupation from 2005 and progressively
move towards complete elimination of child
labour (working paper on the 10th Plan)
Elimination of all forms of child labour by
2015 among children upto the age of 14
years.
Elimination of hazardous forms of child
labour in the age group of 15-18 years.
Strategies
Multi-pronged approach to child labour
based on intersectoral and inter
departmental co-odination. All departments
must ensure that component of elimination
of child labour in the implementation of
their programmes specially in the issue of
licenses, contracts and bids.
Amend the Child Labour (Regulation and
Prohibition) Act 1986 to address the
elimination of all forms of child labour upto
the age of 14years by 2005 based on a
comprehensive definition of child labour
| and the other labour laws._____________
67
Village Level of mapping of children by
2005 with the help of Panchayati Raj
institutions, municipal corporations and
NGOs. Regular surveys to assess the
number of child labour in the country and
monitoring and evaluation of interventions.
State district level plan by 2005 based on
a common holistic definition of child
labour.
Setting up of state and district level
vigilance committees as recommended by
the Committee on the Rights of the
Child.(CRC Committee)
Labour officials must be held responsible
and liable to penalty for non-prosecution of
employers employing children.
Effectively enforce child labour laws
Make provisions for non-formal education
as a stop gap bridge course to enable the
mainstreaming of all rescued child workers
upto the age of 14 years into formal
schooling.
All children born as on Jan 1st 2005 are
admitted and retained 8 years in school.
Residential schools in special areas for
special category of children by 2007 run by
Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipal
corporations.
Day care child facilities in every village of
500 population enabling children engaged
in
Provisions for vocational education for
children in the 15-18 age group
Replacement of child labour by adults
and income_employment generation for
parents.
Raising of public awareness.
Schools in drought prone areas which are
68
needs of the child are met—food, health
care , child care for addressing the needs
of children engaged in sibling care^
Mainstream action related to child labour
I into poverty eradication and development
efforts, especially policies and programmes
in areas of health, education, employment
and social protection.(UNGASSl
THE
LEGAL
CAN
WE
HAVE
EMPLOYING
PRESUMPTION
THAT
TO
CHILDREN
IS
EQUIVALENT
BONDED LABOUR?
4. Child in especially difficult
circumstances*
Improve the plight of millions of children
who live under especially difficult
circumstances [UN 43 (E)]
NATIONAL GOALS: same as the
UNGASS ones
OBJECTIVES
1 .Adopt and implement policies for the
prevention, protection, rehabilitation and
reintegration, as appropriate, of children
living in disadvantaged social situations
and who are at risk, including orphans,
abandoned children, children of migrant
workers, children working and/or living on
the street and children living in extreme
poverty, and ensure their access to
education, health and social services as
appropriate. (UN 44 (11)]
National policy Commitments
Rights of children from marginalised
and disadvantaged communities.
• The State and community shall respect
the rights of children from all
marginalised and disadvantaged
communities, to preserve their identity.
• The State recognises that children from
disadvantaged communities, especially
from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes,
are in need of special intervention and
support in all matters pertaining to
education, health, recreation and
supportive services. It shall make
adeguate provisions for providing such
groups with special attention in all its
policies and programmes.
Concerns:
1 There is no comprehensive definition of
“children in difficult circumstances” in
government’s policy documents and
plans.
2. Violence and abuse faced by children
inside their homes is an area completely
un-addressed by law and policy. The
NPA must not assume that all homes
and family settings are ‘caring’ or
protective of the child’s best interests.
* Children in difficult circumstances include
street children, working children, child sex
69
2. Establish mechanisms to provide special
protection and assistance to children
without primary caregivers [UN 44 (10)]
3. Ensure that children affected by natural
disasters receive timely and effective
humanitarian assistance [UN 44 (18)]
4. Provide protection and assistance to
refugees and internally displaced persons,
the majority of whom are women and
children, in accordance with International
Law, including international humanitarian
law. [UN 44 (17)]
5. Ensure that children affected by natural
disasters receive timely and effective
humanitarian assistance through a
commitment to improved contingency
planning and emergency preparedness,
and that they are given all possible
assistance and protection to help them
resume a normal life as soon as possible.
[UN 44 (18]
6. The objectives of National Policy on
Natural Disasters are:
(i) To empathise with the sufferings of the
people affected by natural calamity
(ii) To subserve long term and short term
policy objectives of the Government.
STRATEGIES
workers, child drug addicts, children in
conflict with law, children with disabilities,
children with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis,
leprosy, children affected by various
disasters (natural and manmade), children
affected by national and international
conflicts and children whose families are in
crisis, including those belonging to broken
families, or suffering domestic abuse.
1 .Prevent destitution of children and
facilitate their withdrawal from life on the
streets.
2. Provide for shelter, nutrition, health care,
education, recreation facilities to street
children.
3. Protect destitute children against abuse
and exploitation.
IV. Combating HIV/AIDS
70
3 CATEGORIES :
CHILDREN WHO ARE INFECTED
CHILDREN WHO ARE AFFECTED
1. By 2003, establish time-bound national
CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK
targets to achieve the internationally
nterventions must be AGE SPECIFIC
agreed global prevention goal to reduce
IN
CHILDREN
MUST
FEATURE
by 2005 HIV prevalence among young
women and men aged 15 to 24 in the most NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL POLICY.
Measures must also address:
affected countries by 25 per cent and by
STIGMATISATION
RELATED
TO
25 per cent globally by 2010, and to
HIV/AIDS
INCLUDE
SEXUAL
HEALTH
IN
intensify efforts to achieve these targets as
LIFE SKILLS
well as to challenge gender stereotypes
MYTHS REGARDING HIV/AIDS
and attitudes, and gender inequalities in
o child should be denied access or
relation to HIV/AIDS, encouraging the
admission
to services, including schooling,
active involvement of men and boys [UN
or
the
reason
of being infected or affected.
469A)]
2. By 2005, reduce the proportion of infants
infected with HIV by 20 per cent, and by 50
per cent by 2010, by ensuring that 80 per
cent of pregnant women accessing
antenatal care have information,
counselling and other HIV prevention
services available to them, increasing the
availability of and by providing access for
HIV-infected women and babies to
effective treatment to reduce mother-tochild transmission of HIV, as well as
through effective interventions for HIVaffected women, including voluntary and
confidential counselling and testing,
access to treatment, especially anti-retro
viral therapy and, where appropriate,
breast milk substitutes and the provision of
a continuum of care. [UN 46 (B)]
3.By 2003, develop and by 2005,
implement national policies and strategies
to: build and strengthen governmental,
family and community capacities to provide
a supportive environment for orphans and
girls and boys infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS including by providing
appropriate counselling and psycho-socia
support; ensuring their enrolment in schoo
and access to shelter, good nutrition,
health and social services on an equal
basis with other children; to protect
orphans and vulnerable children from all
forms of abuse, violence, exploitation,
discrimination, trafficking and loss of
inheritance [UN 46 ©]
UNGASS GOAL
NATIONAL GOAL
71
1.Achieve Zero level growth of HIV/AIDS
by 2007 (National Health Policy)
OBJECTIVES
1. By 2003, ensure the development and
implementation of multicultural national
strategies and financing plans for
combating HIV/AIDS that: address the
epidemic in forthright terms; confront
stigma, silence and denial; address gender
and age-based dimensions of the
epidemic; eliminate discrimination and
marginalisation; to involve partnerships
with civil society and the business sector
and the full participation of people living
with HIV/AIDS, those in vulnerable groups
and people mostly at risk, particularly
women and young people; are resourced
to the extent possible from national
budgets without excluding other sources,
inter alia, international co-operations; fully
promote and protect all human rights and
fundamental freedoms, including the right
to the highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health, integrate a
gender perspective; and address risk,
vulnerability, prevention, care, treatment
and support and reduction of the impact of
the epidemic; and strengthen health,
education and legal system capacity. [UN
47(1)]
2. By 2005, ensure that at least 90 per cent,
and by 2010, at lest 95 per cent of young
men and women aged 15-24 have
access to the information, education,
including peer education and youth specific
HIV education, and services necessary to
develop the life skills required to reduce
their vulnerability to HIV infection; in full
partnership with youth, parents, families,
educators and health-care providers [UN
47 (2)]
3. By 2005, develop and make significant
progress in implementing comprehensive
care strategies to: strengthen family and
community based care including that
provided by the informal sector, and health
care systems to provide and monitor
treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS,
including infected children, and to support
72
individuals, households, families and
communities affected by HIV/AIDS; to
improve the capacity and working
conditions of healthcare personnel and the
effectiveness of supply systems, financing
plans and referral mechanisms required to
provide access to affordable medicines,
including anti-retroviral drugs, diagnostics
and related technologies, as well as quality
medical, palliative and psycho-social care.
[UN 47 (3)]
4.By 2005, implement measures to
increase capacities of women and
adolescent girls to protect themselves from
the risk of HIV infection, principally
through the provision of health care and
health services, including reproductive and
sexual care, and through prevention
education that promotes gender equality
within a culturally and gender sensitive
framework [UN 47 (4)]
6. By 2003, develop and/ and begin to
implement national strategies that
incorporate HIV/AIDS awareness,
prevention, care and treatment elements
into programmes or actions that respond to
emergency situations, recognising that
populations destabilised by armed conflict,
humanitarian emergencies and natural
disasters, including refugees, internally
displaced persons and, in particular
women and children, are at increased risk
of exposure to HIV infection; and where
appropriate, factor HIV/AIDS components
into international assistance programmes.
[UN 47 (6)]
7. Develop strategies to mitigate the impact
of HIV/AIDS on education systems and
schools, students and learning [UN 40
(19)]
8. Ensure non-discrimination and full and
equal enjoyment of all human rights
through the promotion of an active and
visible policy of de-stigmatisation of
children orphaned and made vulnerable by
HIV/AIDS [UN 47 (7)]
8.The specific objective of the National
AIDS Prevention and Control Policy are:
(i)Reaffirm/reiterate strongly the
Government’s firm commitment to prevent
the spread of HIV infection and to reduce |
73
personal and social impact.
3. By 2005, develop and make significant
progress in implementing comprehensive
care strategies to: strengthen family and
community based care including that
provided by the informal sector, and health
care systems to provide and monitor
treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS,
including infected children, and to support
individuals, households, families and
communities affected by HIV/AIDS; to
improve the capacity and working
conditions of healthcare personnel and the
effectiveness of supply systems, financing
plans and referral mechanisms required to
provide access to affordable medicines,
including anti-retroviral drugs, diagnostics
and related technologies, as well as quality
medical, palliative and psycho-social care.
[UN 47 (3)]
4. By 2005, implement measures to
increase capacities of women and
adolescent girls to protect themselves from
the risk of HIV infection, principally
through the provision of health care and
health services, including reproductive and
sexual care, and through prevention
education that promotes gender equality
within a culturally and gender sensitive
framework [UN 47 (4)]
6. By 2003, develop and/ and begin to
implement national strategies that
incorporate HIV/AIDS awareness,
prevention, care and treatment elements
into programmes or actions that respond to
emergency situations, recognising that
populations destabilised by armed conflict,
humanitarian emergencies and natural
disasters, including refugees, internally
displaced persons and, in particular
women and children, are at increased risk
of exposure to HIV infection; and where
appropriate, factor HIV/AIDS components
into international assistance programmes.
[UN 47 (6)]
7. Develop strategies to mitigate the impact
of HIV/AIDS on education systems and
schools, students and learning [UN 40
(19)1
8. Ensure non-discrimination and full and
equal enjoyment of all human rights
74
through the promotion of an active and
visible policy of de-stigmatisation of
children orphaned and made vulnerable by
HIV/AIDS [UN 47 (7)]
8.The specific objective of the National
AIDS Prevention and Control Policy are:
(i) Reaffirm/reiterate strongly the
Government’s firm commitment to prevent
the spread of HIV infection and to reduce
personal and social impact.
(ii) Generate a feeling of ownership among
all the participants both at the Government
and non-governmental levels, to truly make
it a national effort.
(iii) Create an enabling social-economic
environment for the prevention of
AIDS/HIV to provide care and support to
people and to ensure protection and
promotion of their human rights, including
right to access healthcare system, right to
education, employment and privacy.
(iv) Mobilise support of a large number of
NGOs and community based organisations
for an enlarged community initiative for
prevention and alleviation of the HIV/AIDS
problem.
v)Decentralize HIV/AIDS control
programme to the field level with adequate
financial and administrative delegation of
responsibilities.
(vi) Strengthen programme management
capabilities at the State governments,
municipal corporations and leading NGOs
participating in the programme.
(vii) Prevent women, children and other
socially weak groups from becoming
vulnerable to HIV infection by improving
health education, legal status and
economic prospects.
(viii)Provide adequate and equitable
provision of health care to the HIV-infected
people and to draw attention to the
compelling public health rationale for
overcoming stigmatisation, discrimination
and seclusion in society.
(x)Constantly interact with international
and bilateral agencies for support and
cooperation in the field of research in
vaccines drugs, emerging systems of
health care and other financial and
managerial inputs.
75
(xi) Ensure availability of adequate and safe
blood and blood products for the general
population through promotion of voluntary
blood donation in the country.
(xii) Promote better public understanding of
HIV infection, especially among students,
to generate awareness about the nature of
it transmission and to adopt safe
behavioural practices for prevention .
STRATEGIES
*
1. Ensure easy accessibility, adequate
supplies of safe and quality blood and
other blood components for all, irrespective
of economic or social status.
2. Reduce STD cases and control HIV
transmission by minimising the risk factor.
3. Prevent short and long term morbidity
and mortality due to STD.
4. Raise awareness, improve knowledge
and understanding among the general
population about AIDS infection and STD,
routes of transmission and method of
prevention.
5. Train health workers in AIDS
communication and coping strategies for
strengthening technical and managerial
capabilities.
6. Create a supportive environment for the
care and rehabilitation of persons with
HIV/AIDS.
V. Cross-cutting Themes
National Policy Commitments
Rights of children from marginalised
and disadvantaged communities.
• The State and community shall respect
the rights of children from all
marginalised and disadvantaged
communities, to preserve their identity.
• The State recognises that children from
disadvantaged communities, especially
from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes,
are in need of special intervention and
support in all matters pertaining to
education, health, recreation and
supportive services. It shall make
adequate provisions for providing such
groups with special attention in all its
policies and programmes.___________
1. Caste and Community
76
Concern: These children have been too
long marginalized in the development
process. Policies and programmes
designed for these communities and
groups are not child-focused enough. :
1. Girl Child
UNGASS GOAL
NATIONAL GOAL:
1 .Reduction in gender gaps in literacy by
at least 50 per cent by 2007 (Planning
Commission)
OBJECTIVES
* Promote child health and survival and
reduce disparities between and within
developed and developing countries as
quickly as possible, with particular
attention to eliminating the pattern of
Children of Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes,
members of minority communities who
originate from SC/BC communities, in
particular those in marginalised or
poverty situations, now deserve to come
to the head of the line for NPA attention.
All NPA measures for all ages of
children must give priority attention to
children from these settings. If they are
hardest to reach, the greatest
investment of effort should be made in
order to reach them._________________
National Policy Commitment
Right to Protection of the Girl Child
a. The state and community shall ensure
that offences committed against the girl
child, including child marriage , forcing girls
into prostitution and trafficking are speedily
abolished .
b. The state shall in partnership with
community undertake measures , including
social, educational and legal, to ensure
that there is greater respect for the girl
child in the family and society.
c. The state shall take serious measures to
ensure that the practice of child marriage is
speedily abolished.
CORE CONCERNS.
The status and condition of the girl child
reveals a basic fault in social attitude and
practice. Girl children are simply not
valued. The low value and ‘service’ role
accorded to women in society sets unjust
limits to the Indian girl child’s prospects of
achieving equality and of growing up as a
person. Government policy on women has
traditionally
dithered
between
safe
motherhood concerns and human rights.
The socialisation and community schooling
77
9
of girl children is aimed at making them
excess and preventable mortality among
accept a service role as wives, mothers,
girls and children (UN 37(4)).
housekeepers, child-rearers and workers.
Develop and implement programmes that
As female citizens they deserve equal
specifically aim to eliminate gender
disparities in enrolment and gender-based opportunity to develop as persons. The
i bias and stereotypes in education systems, conventional ‘life cycle’ approach used by
planners sets them as mothers in the
curricula and materials, whether derived
making. This is not good enough.
from any discriminatory practices, social
or cultural attitudes or legal and economic
It is a welcome feature of the National Plan
circumstances (UN, 40(13))
of Action for Children, 2003, that it
recognises the “Girl Child" as a Cross
STRATEGIES
cutting theme across the Plan.
1.Improve the nutritional and health status Discrimination against the girl child from
the moment of her birth is a recognised
of girls in the age group of 11-18 years.
fact in India and has attracted the attention
2.Provide the required literacy and
of Government and social action/child
numeracy skills through the non-formal
rights groups. With time new threats have
stream of education to stimulate a desire
been added in the form of sex selective
for more social exposure and knowledge
abortions, female infanticide, child sexual
and to help them improve their decision
abuse and increased trafficking and sale of
making capabilities.
girl children. In most cases, the girl child is
S.Train and equip adolescent girls to
regarded as a liability and not as an asset.
improve their home-based and vocational
skills.
Under the ORC, India has a commitment
4. Raise the overall status of the girl child
to
achieving equality and best standards of
and bring about a positive change in the
well
being and opportunity for all children.
family and community attitudes towards
India
’s ratification of CEDAW and
her
commitment
to the Beijing Platform of
5. Provide a package of educational inputs,
Action,
also
places
a responsibility on the
through residential schools, to SC/ST girls
Government
of
India
to address this priority
in areas of very low ST/SC female literacy.
issue
in
through
investments
in
programmes and reform/implementation of
law/special policy relating to the girl child.
GOALS:
It is crucial to look at the girl child and her
rights to survival, protection, development
and participation in an age disaggregated
manner, right from the foetal stage to
adulthood.
The need of the hour is to eliminate
negative cultural attitudes and strengthen
the role of both family and State in
improving the status of the girl child.
Therefore it is important to have specific
action points for the girl child in each
specific issue - health, nutrition, education,
abuse,
• A perusal of the draft NPA reveals
good intentions in terms of targets and
78
strategies that aim to guarantee rights
to every child. However, keeping in
mind the cross cutting theme of the girl
child some recommendations have
been made, that the Government
needs to consider seriously:
GIRL CHILD SURVIVAL
The alarming decline in the juvenile
sex ratio as established by the latest
Census indicates the need to focus
priority attention on the prospects,
status and condition of the 0-6 age
group. Analysis of Census data shows
that in 1981 the sex ratio among
children below the age of 19 was 925
which came down to 919 in 1991.
> The NPA must clearly state actions to
be taken on an urgent basis to improve
the declining juvenile sex ratio. To this
end
all
efforts,
including
the
implementation of the PNDT Act,
media campaign and community
sensitisation,
targeting
medical
profession with IEC are actions that
need to be taken on an urgent basis.
> Strict implementation of the PNDT
Act, 1994 and compulsory registration
of all Genetic Counselling Centres,
genetic Laboratories and genetic
Clinics.
> A distinction also needs to be made
between female feoticide and female
infanticide and strategies separately to
eradicate each practice.
> Media campaign by the government
must project the girl child as an
individual who is an asset to the family,
capable
of earning and
living
independently.
> examine national and state schemes
[as in TN and Haryana] to prevent
female foeticide and female infanticide,
as well as neglect, and promote those
that work best
HEALTH:
> All measures addressing preventive
and curative health care, including
immunisation must specifically target
the infant girl child, whose health is
79
often ignored after birth, owing to
social/cultural reasons.
> Health, hygiene and nutrition education
for adolescents [both boys and girls]
with a focus on problems they then
experience [in the case of boys,
sensitise them to needs of girls/women]
NUTRITION
Promotion of breast feeding of infant
girls keeping in mind the tendency to
wean girls earlier than boys in most
regions.
> Targets like reduction in micro nutrient
deficiencies and malnutrition must
have a special focus on the girl child,
whose dietary needs are often ignored
by the family including the mother.
> Educate families and communities
about food taboos and the need to give
nutritious food to girls and young
women particularly in her growing
years and during pregnancy and
lactation [when taboos are most
damaging].
Focus on the girl’s nutrition in the
under six age group and again in her
puberty years.
WATER AND SANITATION
> Separate toilets for girls in school
> Improved provision of water [and fuel]
for the home to reduce burden on girls
and allow them to go to school
EARLY CHILDHOOD
> GOI can take up a process of
sensitising communities through official
media such as radio and television and
even through vernacular newspapers,
regarding the need to care equally for
the boy and girl child, also through
SHGS and panchayat/urban local
bodies, school curriculum/teachers’
guides, health education classes by
PHO and AW.
Provision of day care services for the
children of casual, migrant, agricultural
construction labourers, regular workers
such as urban domestic help and selfemployed women. This may relieve
80
young girls of their duty of sibling care
and this may reduce the dropout rate
for girls.
ADOLESCENTS
> At the Planning/Policy level it is
necessary to look at the adolescent girl
child primarily as a citizen with rights,
as an individual having equal rights
and opportunity and not merely as a
future mother.
> At the level of law enforcement, the
GOI must take firm steps to implement
the Child Marriage Restraint Act. It is a
well recognised fact that a large
number of girls are married as
adolescents which leads to early
pregnancy, economic dependence,
violence at home and associated
denial of rights.
> Compulsory
registration
of
all
marriages must become a reality and
existing community level services can
be assigned this task. GOI has to set
up system to enforce and monitor, civil
registration
of
birth/death
and
marriage.
> Campaign
against
traditional
approaches to the girl child is a must to
bring about awareness as regards the
disadvantages of early marriage and
also to stress on the career oriented
personalities of the girl child.
HEALTH CARE SERVICES
CHILD WITH DISABILTY
Girl child less likely to receive support,
remedial care and fair access to opportunity
and therefore GOI needs to have a pro
active outreach in respect of female
children.
EDUCATION
> Education for girls must be the formal
stream just as for boys. If some cannot
complete the eighth grade, despite all
efforts, they should be channelled to
the NOS system. If that is not possible,
81
Only if a few cannot make it, then nonformal
education
can
be
the
alternative.
Special efforts need to be made to
bring and retain girl children in school
and for this there should be separate
strategies focusing on different age
groups. Such efforts could include:
Enhancing access to schools by
I.
reducing distance of school from
home, providing transport, separate
girls’ toilets, etc.
Increasing the number of female
ii.
teachers in the primary, middle and
high school levels.
Develop a community based
iii.
campaign against child marriage
Focus must be also to facilitate the
access to schooling for girl students
from
socially
and
economically
backward communities and those from
minority communities.
> Syllabi and curricula should be gender
neutral in a positive sense, offering all
children all subjects and building
citizens. Portrayal of men and women,
boys and girls in texts, teaching and
tasks given in school also needs to be
gender neutral.
> Sensitisation programmes for teachers
especially in rural areas to the rights of
the girl child.
ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATK N AND
VIOLENCE
> It is a fact that girl children are more
vulnerable to abuse, negk
and
violence, especially of a sexua. nature.
> A law on child sexual abuse it urgently
required and GOI must pass it at the
earliest.
Recommendations
and
suggestions have been
already
submitted by NGOs to GOI and it is
time that a law is enacted and
implemented.
There
is also a need for training and
>
sensitisation of the lower judiciary and
the police on issues like Child Sexual
Abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation and
Child Marriage.
> Enhance the infra structural capacity |
82
for shelter, rehabilitation of girl victims
of neglect violence and abuse.
AND
SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION
TRAFFICKING
> Recognize that the girl child today is
trafficked not for prostitution alone but
also for begging, domestic work and
marriage. There is need for a law to
address human trafficking for different
purposes.
> The Immoral Traffic Prevention Act
needs to be amended to protect the
rights of the woman/girl who is a victim
of circumstance.
> Local government institutions such as
Panchayats and administrative officials
must be made accountable fortracking
outbound movements of girl children,
including through marriage.
COMBATING CHILD LABOUR
> Recognise domestic service as a major
problem, often heavy workload and
lack of access to schooling and
recreation are compounded by physical
and sexual abuse.
> also work at home that interferes with
education
and
affects
health,
recreation such as sibling care,
fetching water and fuel, cooking and
cleaning.
CHILDREN IN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES
> Recognising the vulnerability of girl
children, it is important to have
schemes for their protection, skill
training and reintgration in society.
> Government-NGO
partnership
is
required to have effective preventive
programmes in communities and also
for prosecution of exploiters of such
children.
COMBATING HIV/AIDS
> An increasing number of girl
children
are
trafficked
into
prostitution due to prevailing myths
on sexuality and the scare of
HIV/AIDS. The vulnerability of
these girls to HIV/AIDS is great and
83
the NPA needs to have specific
programmes to protect and provide
medical care for such girls.
EMPOWERMENT
> Equal property rights; registration in
name of both husband and wife;
agricultural and crafts and skills
training of all types to women;
loans in name of women, etc.
> Make national the recent TN ruling
that children can be admitted in
name of mother only and not in
father’s name alone.
> Reservation bill
> Special incentives and recognition
for girls and women who succeed
in
either education,
career,
or
enterprise
or
extra-curricular
activities
> Girl
survival
cum
Education
completion incentives
> Target boys and men to sensitise
them on women/girls’ problems,
issues, empowerment spin-offs for
all.
4. Women
UNGASS GOAL.
NATIONAL GOAL.
OBJECTIVES
1 .The objectives of National Policy for the
empowerment of Women include:
i. Creating an environment for the positive
economic and social policies for the full
development of women to enable them to
realize their full potential
ii. Equal access to participation and
decision making of women in social and
political and economic life of the nation.
iii. Equal access to women to health care,
quality education at all levels, career and
vocational guidance, employment equal
remuneration occupational health and
safety, social security and public office etc.
iv. Strengthening legal systems aimed at
elimination of all forms of discrimination
against women
Goals
1. Eliminating gender discrimination and
creating an enabling environment of
gender justice, which would encourage
women and girls to act as catalysts,
participants and recipients in the country’s
development process. Undertake women
specific interventions to bridge the gaps.
2. Reduction in gender gaps in literacy and
wage rates
Strategies (Tenth Plan, National Policy on
Empowerment of Women)
2. Changing societal attitudes and
community practices by active
participation and involvement of
both men and women (National
Policy on Empowerment of
Women).
3. Mainstreaming gender perspectives
in all sectoral policies and
programmes and plans of action.
4. To adopt a Sector specific 3 - fold
84
v. Changing societal attitudes and
increase their control over their income
through their involvement in skill
development and income generation
activities.
strategy for empowering women
based on the National policy for the
Empowerment of Women - Social
empowerment, Economic
empowerment and gender justice.
Traditional health remedies have not only
been an essential part of women’s domain
and their survival skills, but it is essentially
the only health care they have access to.
Spiralling health care costs, presently one
of the commonest causes of rural
indebtedness, further reduce women's and
girls access to health care (Shiva, M., in
Seen, but not heard: India’s marginalized,
neglected and vulnerable children, edts.
Satyanand K. and Barai-Jaitly, T., VHAI,
2002).
VI. Birth Registration
National policy commitment
Right to life and liberty, name and
nationality
Every child has a right to life, liberty, a
name and to acquire a nationality.
There is no stated strategy for this to be
Major Goal: UNGASS Goal.
achieved.
National Goal: Achieve 100% registration of There is no time target either.
births, deaths, marriage and pregnancy
(National Population Policy).
See recommendations under ‘early
Objectives:
childhood.’
Develop systems to ensure the registration of
every child at or shortly after birth, and fulfil his NAME AND NATIONALITY
or her right to acquire a name and a nationality,
• Ensure the registration of all births
in accordance with national laws and relevant
in the country
international instruments (UN 44(1)).
• Street children who may not have
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act,
1969, Ministry of Home Affairs.
parents or guardians, should be
provided with an official document
equivalent to a birth certificate.
• It is necessary to make provisions
forthose children whose births
were not registered and if
registered , to issue birth
certificates.
• The domestic legislation must
ensure that age limits conform to
the principles and provisions of the
CRC.
85
The Government reports that India has
200,000 local registration units, and
100,000 local registrars. What are they
doing?
The Government reports that the annual
registration of 25 million births is a
mammoth task. It is not mammoth if it is
seen in disaggregated terms, spread over
365 days per year, and over all the millions
of human settlements where babies are
born.
_______________ _________
VII. OTHER ENTITLEMENTS:
1 ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING
Concerns
1. Children continue to live in unsafe
and insecure living conditions. The
CRC Committee in its concluding
observations expressed concern at
the high percentage of children
living in inadeguate housing,
including
slums,
and
their
inadeguate nutrition, and access to
safe drinking water and sanitation.
The Committee is concerned at the
negative impact on families and the
rights of children due to structural
adjustment projects.
2. Children and their families continue
to be forcibly displaced and evicted
from their homes and habitats,
without adeguate and appropriate
rehabilitation. This displacement
continues
in
the
name
of
development, conservation and
environmental improvement. Most
of the displaced belong to the
already marginalized groups such
as the dalits and the tribals
3. Urban evictions disrupt schooling of
children, especially as there are no
schools in the areas to which
people
are
forcibly
moved.
Schooling of girls is often stopped
because they cannot safely travel
long distances to their old schools.
4. Increasing number of children are
86
living and working on the streets.
5.
India’s housing deficit is 8.7 million
units
of which
Economically
Weaker Section housing deficit is
3.79 million units.
6. Globalisation
has
seen
the
regression of the right to adeguate
housing, partly as a result of
pressure to privatise civic servies
like water, electricity, sanitation and
land development.
7. Insufficient data on the number of
homeless, including children, all
over India. Insufficient data on the
number of those inadeguately
housed.
Goal
□
Provide secure and adeguate
housing to all children by the year
2010 for most disadvantaged
(bottom of BPL, SC, ST, BC, those
termed 'unauthorised), and by 2015
for all BPL children.
□ Develop child friendly cities and
villages.
Access for the physically challenged and
other disadvantaged groups.
Objectives
Ensure
protection
from
forced
eviction,
displacement,
natural
disasters, war and civil strife
that cause disproportionate
amount
of stress
on
children.
Strategies
•
•
•
Primary health care facilities
to be planned near homes.
Stop forced evictions.
Minimum
space
reguirement for a family of
four in urban area: 50 sg
87
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
meters.
Fairer,
proportionate allocation of
land
to
Economically
Weaker Sections.
Stop
forced
evictions.
Upgrade in situ the housing
that people have built for
themselves.
Relocation, if at all, only
after schools have been
built on alternative sites.
Government/
Private
Enterprise to provide street
children with group homes
and means to become selfsufficient. This should be
done only after trying to
reintegrate them with their
families.
Such
homes
should be open to proper
supervision, monitoring and
evaluation systems.
Governments must continue
to subsidise basic services
like water, electricity and
sewerage for the poorest.
Ensure security of tenure in
housing for children and
their families.
Upgrade existing housing
stock
with
adequate
infrastructure. Provide cheap
housing loans.
Adopt
alternate
development models like
transfer of development
rights (TDR) that will help to
redensify
prime
land
resources and precincts and
infrastructure costs will get
shared. This way more
people can stay near their
sources of employment.
Increasing
budgetary
outlays and expenditure on
children’s spaces and child
participation in maintaining
and planning their spaces.
Homes and services should
88
be provided on the basis of
proper planning and child
friendly
design
with
adequate space for play.
• Safe
environment
with
management of
solid
wastes,
streetlights,
covered drainage systems
secure public places to
provide
protection from
abuse and exploitation,
support
systems
like
crdches and day care
centres
for care
and
protection of children of
working parents.
• Ensuring
livelihood
of
parents near the homes.
• Relocation last option that
too
only
after proper
rehabilitation that ensures a
certain quality of life.
• Relocations if they have to
occur, only at the time of
school
vacations
with
children’s consent.
• Collect more data on the
numbers of the homeless
and those inadequately
housed.
• Plan primary health care
facilities
near
homes
National Policy Commitments
Right to a family
18.a. In case of separation of children from
their families, the State shall ensure that
priority is given to re-unifying the child with
the parents. In cases where the State
perceives adverse impact of such a re
unification, the State shall make alternate
arrangements immediately, keeping in
mind the best interests and the views of
the child.
b. All children have a right to maintain
contact with their families, even when they
are within the custody of the State for
various reasons.
c. The State shall undertake measures to
89
ensure that children without families are
either placed for adoption, or foster care or
any other family substitute services.
d. The State shall ensure that appropriate
rules with respect to the implementation of
such services are drafted in a manner that
they are in the best interest of the child and
that regulatory bodies are set up to ensure
the strict enforcement of these rules.
e. All children shall have the right to meet
their parents and other family members
who may be in custody.
Temporary alternate Family Care and
Other Non-lnstitutional
Services:
• Measures should be taken to
harmonize laws, policies and
Schemes with the convention .
• The process of having a noninstitutional approach to childcare
should be accepted as the norm.
The Foster Care Scheme
should be extended to other areas
to cover more children.
• The government should develop a
“holistic” model with a focus
on non-institutional services.
• Enact a common or special
enabling Adoption law that will be
applicable
to all Indian citizens. Modify the
existing H.A.M.A. to take care
of the existing lacunae in the law.
• Enforce present government
guidelines until common adoption
Law comes into effect.
90
Acknowledgements
More than 350 non-governmental organisations, networks and
professional bodies, and research and policy insititutions have joined the
collective process to assess the situation of India’s children and to
propose priorities for national action. Academics, activists, students and
concerned citizens have come together to share ideas, experience,
infomation and proposals. Their contribution to the consultative process,
to fact-finding and analysis and to drafting the concerns and
recommendations is gratefully acknowledged. The participation and
contributions of children from 20 states is especially recognised and
appreciated .
Representatives of the Government and of official bodies. Institutions
and commissions have also joined the process and we greatly appreciate
their interest and involvement.
Current participation in the consultative process and the planning
process now stretches country-wide through national organisation
membership and networks, and has the active involvement of
organisations and volunteers in 13 states. Children provide a wider
linkage.
The process of further developing and finalising these alternate
proposals is still ongoing. It is an open and participatory process, and
invites the interest and energies of anyone concerned with children’s
rights and in broad agreement with the principles guiding the collective
endeavour.
Names and particulars of the members, partners, and affiliates of the
Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) and the India Alliance for
Child Rights (IACR) are available on request.
Those wishing to join this process are invited to contact the IACR Secretariat at
wecan03@yahoo.co.uk, or fax number 011 24326025.
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