Child in India

Abstract

Byline: Shastri. Chandrakant Human Rights Commission will guard right to education and health. Focus will be on life, survival, health, and basic education. Elementary education and primary health services in rural areas will get top priority. S. Rajendra Babu, Former Chief Justice of India, Chairperson of NHRC September 2007 Dr. R. Srinivasmurthy (1993) also noted the clinical preoccupation of the available mental health professionals of the country and the delay of these professionals to spearhead work toward rectifying this major lacuna in liaison with the sectors like welfare, education, labor, and health along with law over the years. India presents a unique case in terms of the sheer size of its population and 46% of them are children; characterized by heterogeneity in respect of physical, economical, social, and cultural conditions. Its population of 1.12 billion constitutes 16% of the world population, with 74% of them living in rural areas. India is a secular state with various languages, cultures, and religions. It has 31 states, 1618 languages, 544 dialects, and 1942 mother tongues with 148 mediums of instruction at school level. India publishes more than 27,000 daily newspapers and periodicals covering the range of languages and cultural diversity unparallel to any other country in the world. A total of 6400 castes and six religions make universal acceptance of any program difficult. This kind of complex and multifaceted country makes formulation of National policies, programming, and planning quite a challenging task. Each and every one of the 600 districts of India is unique in many ways. Each district will need its planning at local level. For such a diversified country, it is difficult to envisage a national program that fits all and even of all are considered in reality it may fit none. The constitution of India envisages the establishment of new social order based on equality, freedom, justice, and the dignity of the individual. It aims at the elimination of poverty, ignorance, and ill health, and directs the state with regard to raising the level of nutrition and of the people; securing the health and specially ensuring that children are given opportunity to develop in a healthy manner. India has been a signatory to all the resolutions including the latest passed on January 1, 1996 which states that every child will have equal opportunities, protection of rights, and full participation (The Person with Disability Act 1995). After six decades of independence, we have managed to resolve to help the Indian child. Child has never been given even attention and essential requirements in last six decades. It is not surprising that under the minimum need programs, in last 10 years, outlays and expenditure under health sector though very small, are never spent. India is a home to almost 19% of the world's children. More than one-third of the country's population, around 480 million, is below 18 years. A total of 560 millions are below the age of 25 years (54% of the population). According to one assumption, 40% of these children are in need of care and protection, which indicates the extent of the problem. In a country like India with its multicultural, multiethnic, and multireligious population, the problems of socially marginalized and economically backward groups are immense. Within such groups, the most vulnerable section is always the children. For the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the challenge is to reach out to the most vulnerable and socially excluded child of this country and create an environment wherein, not only is every child protected, but also has access to opportunities and education for all round growth and development. Growth alone does not deliver people out of poverty. Government must focus on the single biggest cause of vulnerability in health spending. …