Child Welfare Programmes

Child
S.N Welfare
o.
Programm
es

Year of
Beginni
ng

Objectives/Description

Integrated
Child
Developmen 1975
t
Services
(ICDS)

It is aimed at enhancing
the health, nutrition and
learning opportunities of
infants, young children (O6
years)
and
their
mothers.

Creche
Scheme for
the children 2006
of
working
mothers

Overall development of
children,
childhood
protection,
complete
immunisation, awareness
generation among parents
on malnutrition, health and
education.

Reproductiv
e and Child
1951
Health
Programme

To
provide
quality
Integrated and sustainable
Primary
Health
Care
services to the women in
the reproductive age group
and young children and
special focus on family
planning
and
Immunisation.

Pulse Polio
Immunizatio
1995
n
Programme

To eradicate poliomyelitis
(polio)
in
India
by
vaccinating all children
under the age of five years
against polio virus.

Sarva
Shiksha
Abhiyan

2001

All children in school,

Education
Guarantee
Centre, Alternate School, '
Back-to-School' camp by
2003; all children complete

five years of primary

schooling by 2007 ; all
children complete eight
years
of
elementary
schooling by 2010 ; focus
on elementary education of
satisfactory quality with
emphasis on education for
life ; bridge all gender and
social category gaps at
primary stage by 2007 and
at elementary education
level by 2010 ; universal
retention by 2010

Kasturba
Gandhi
Balika
Vidyalaya

Mid-day
meal
Scheme

2004

1995

To ensure access and

quality education to the
girls
of
disadvantaged
groups of society by setting
up residential schools with
boarding
facilities
at
elementary level.
Improving

the

nutritional

status of children in classes

I

VIII

Local

in

Government,

Body

and

Government aided schools,

and

EGS

and

AIE

centres.Encouraging

poor

children,

belonging

to

disadvantaged sections, to
attend

school

more

regularly and help them

concentrate on classroom
activities.
Providing

nutritional

support

to

children

of

primary stage in droughtaffected

areas

during

summer vacation.

Integrated
programme
1993
for
Street
Children

The
National
2005
Rural Health
Mission

Provisions
for
shelter,
nutrition,
health
care,
sanitation and hygiene,
safe
drinking
water,
education and recreational
facilities and protection
against
abuse
and
exploitation to destitute
and
neglected
street
children.
Reduction in child and
maternal
mortality,
universal access to public
services for food and
nutrition , sanitation and
hygiene
and
universal
access to public health
care
services
with
emphasis
on
services
addressing women's and
children's health universal
immunization, etc.

Children constitute principle assets of any country. Childrens development is very important for
the overall development of society and the best way to develop national human resources is to
take care of children. India has the largest child population in the world. All out efforts are
being made by the Government for the development and welfare of children. A number of
policy initiatives have been taken for this purpose.
Policy Initiatives
The National Policy for children lays down that the State shall provide adequate services
towards children, both before and after birth and during the growing stages for their full physical,
mental and social development. The measures suggested include amongst others, a
comprehensive health programme, supplementary nutrition for mothers and children, free and
compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14 years, promotion of physical education

and recreational activities, special consideration for children of weaker sections including SCs
and STs and prevention of exploitation of children, etc.
The Government of India has also adopted the National Charter for Children, which has
been prepared after obtaining the views/comments and suggestions of the State
governments/UT Administrations, concerned Ministries and Departments and experts in the
field. The National Charter is a statement of intent embodying the Governments agenda for
children. The document emphasizes Government of Indias commitment to childrens rights to
survival, health and nutrition, standard of living, play and leisure, early childhood care,
education, protection or the girl child, empowering adolescents, equality, life and liberty, name
and nationality, freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, the right
to a family and the right to be protected from economic exploitation and all forms of abuse. The
document also provides for protection of children in difficult circumstances, children with
disabilities, children from marginalized and disadvantaged communities, and child victims. The
document while stipulating the duties of the State and the Community towards children also
emphasizes the duties of children towards family, society and the Nation. The National Charter
for Children was notified in the Gazette of India on 9th February, 2004.
India has also acceded to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to reiterate its
commitment to the cause of children. The objective of the Convention is to give every child the
right to survival and development in a healthy and congenial environment.
India is also party to the Millennium Development Goals and the SAARC Conventions on
Child Welfareand Combating Trafficking of Women and Children is SAARC Region.
Ministry of Women and Child Development has prepared a National Plan of Action for
Children 2005after harmonizing the goals for children set in the UN General Assembly Special
Session on Children held in 2002 and the monitorable targets set in the Tenth Five Year Plan
and goals for children in related Ministries/ Departments. The Action Plan has been prepared in
consultation with concerned Ministries and Departments, States/UT Governments, nonGovernmental organizations and experts. The National Plan of Action includes goals,
objectives, strategies and activities for improving nutritional status of children, reducing IMR and
MMR, increasing enrolment ratio and reducing drop out rates, universalisation of primary
education, increasing coverage for immunization etc.
Child welfare programmes
Several Ministries and Departments of the government of India are implementing various
schemes and programmes for the benefit of children. Some of the Schemes and programmes
are as under:
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) being implemented by Ministry of Women
and Child Development is the worlds largest programme aimed at enhancing the health,
nutrition and learning opportunities of infants, young children (O-6 years) and their mothers. It is
the foremost symbol of Indias commitment to its children Indias response to the challenge of
providing pre school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition,
mortality and morbidity o the other. The Scheme provides an integrated approach for converging
basic services through community based workers and helpers. The services are provided at a
centre called the Anganwadi, which literally means a courtyard play centre, a childcare centre
located within the village itself. The package of services provided are:

Supplementary nutrition,

Immunization,

Health check-up

Referral services,

Pre-school non-formal education and

Nutrition and health education

It is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented through the State Governments with 100%
financial assistance from the Central Government for all inputs other than supplementary

nutrition which the States were to provide from their own resources. However, from the year
2005-06, the Government of India has decided to provide Central assistance to States for
supplementary nutrition also to the extent of 50% of the actual expenditure incurred by States or
50% of the cost norms, whichever is less.
Creche Scheme for the children of working mothers
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a new Creche Scheme in
January 2006. The Scheme has been named as Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the
Children of working Mothers. These creches have been allocated to the Central Social Welfare
Board, Indian Council for Child Welfare and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh in the ration of
80:11:9. The priority has been given to uncovered districts/areas and tribal areas while
extending the scheme to maintain balance regional coverage. Eligibility criteria under the
Revised Scheme has also been enhanced from Rs. 1800/- to Rs. 12000/- per month per family.
Nutrition component of Prime Minister Gramodya Yojana and Nutrition Programme for
Adolescent Girls being implemented in 51 districts with additional central assistance provided by
the Planning commission, directly and indirectly contribute to promoting nutrition of children. A
National Nutrition Mission has also been set up with a view to enable policy direction to
concerned Departments of the Government for addressing the problem of malnutrition in a
mission mode.
Reproductive and Child Health Programme
Being implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the programme
provides effective maternal and child health care, micronutrient interventions for vulnerable
groups, reproductive health services for adolescent etc. Some important programmes cover

immunization for children for DTP, Polio and Tetanus Toxoid for women

Vitamin A administration

Iron and folic Acid for pregnant women.

This programme integrates all family welfare and women and child health services with the
explicit objective of providing beneficiaries with need based, client centered, demand driven,
and high quality integrated RCH services. The strategy for the RCH programme shifts the
policy emphasis from achieving demographic targets to meeting the health needs of women and
children.
Pulse Polio Immunization Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare covers all children blow five years. It is a massive programme covers 166
million children in every round of National Immunization Day. The other immunization
programmes include Hepatitis B, DPT and other routine immunization.
Other notable programmes for child health include, Universal immunization programme, control
of deaths due to acute respiratory infections, control of diarrhoeal diseases, provision of
essential new-born care to address the issue of the neonates, prophylactic programmes for the
prevention and treatment of two micronutrient deficiencies relating to Vitamin A and iron, Anemia
control programme, Border District Cluster Strategy and Integrated Management of Neo-natal
and childhood illness.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan being implemented by the Department of Education provides for
school infrastructure and quality improvement in education of the children. The specific
objectives are,

All children to be in school

Universal retention by 2010

Bridging all gender and social gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary
education level by 2010.
The Government of India is committed to realizing the goal of universalization of elementary
education by 2010. Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the National flagship programme, the
Government aims to provide free and compulsory elementary education to all children in the 614 age group by 2010.

A National Programme for education of girls at elementary level is also being implemented by
the Department of Education for children in difficult circumstances including drop out girls,
working girls, girls from marginalized social groups, girls with low levels of achievement to gain
quality elementary education and to develop self esteem of girls through a community based
approach.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya is a new scheme being implemented by the Department of
Educaiton, which enables opening of 750 specialresidential schools for the girl child belonging
to SC/ST, other backward classes and minority in educationally backward blocks having low
female literacy.
Mid-day meal Scheme is also one of the important schemes of the Government to aim
universal enrollment and retention of children. Under the programmed nutrition snacks are
provided to children attending schools.
Integrated programme for Street Children
The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
This programme aims at preventing destitution of children and facilitate their withdrawal from
life on the streets. The programme is targeted towards children without homes and family ties,
especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Integrated Programme for Juvenile Justice
The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
with a view to providing carte to children in difficult circumstances and children in conflict with
the law through Government institutions and through NGOs. Some special features of the
scheme areas:

Establishment of a National Advisory Board on Juvenile Justice.

Creation of a Juvenile Justice Fund.

Training, orientation and sensitization of judicial, administrative police and NGOs

responsible for implementation of JJ Act.

Institutional are shall be used but only as a last measure by enlarging the range of
suitable alternatives.

Financial assistance to bring about a qualitative improvement in the existing

infrastructure.

Expansion of non-institutional services such as sponsorship, foster care, probation

etc. as and an alternate to institutional care.
Child helpline
childhelpline is a toll free telephone service (1098) which anyone can call for assistance in the
interest of children. Being run with the support of Women and child welfare Ministry is working in
72 cities across the country. The Shishu Greh Scheme is also being implemented by the
ministry to promote adoptions within the country and to ensure minimum standards in the care
of abandoned/orphaned/destitute children. Grant-in-Aid upto a ceiling of Rs. 6 lakh is provided
per unit of 10 children in a Shishu Greh.
The National Rural Health Mission, a scheme of health Ministry seeks to provide effective
healthcare to rural population including large population of children throughout the country with
special focus on 18 States, which have weak public health indicators and/or raise public
spending on health from 0.9% of GDP to 2-3% of GDP. It aims to undertake architectural
correction of the health system to enable it to effectively handle increased allocations as
promised under the National Common Minimum Programme and promote policies that
strengthen public health management and service delivery in the country.
Elimination of Child Labour is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour which sanctions
projects for rehabilitation of working children and for elimination of child labour. Under the
project based Action Plan of the Policy, National Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) have been set
up in different areas to rehabilitate child labour. A major activity undertaken under the NCLP is
the establishment of special schools to provide non-formal education, vocational training,

supplementary nutrition etc. to children withdrawn from employment. 150 Child Labour Projects
have so far been sanctioned for rehabilitating children in the most endemic areas and 1.5 lakh
children have already been mainstreamed in the special schools.
Prevention of Offences against Children
After wide consultations a draft Bill for offences Against Children has been prepared and
circulated to the State Governments for their comments and views. After obtaining the
comments of the State governments and concerned Ministries and Departments a draft has bee
prepared and circulated to the concerned Ministries and Departments for their comments and
use.
Child Budgeting
The Government is also actively considering introducing child budgeting. The key
objectives of the endeavor would be analyze budgetary provisions on social sector, to identify
the magnitude of budgetary allocations made by the Centre/State Governments on schemes
meant for addressing specific needs of children, to examine the trend in child specific
expenditure etc. the main agenda for the exercise of child budgeting is to review resource
allocations related to children; explore ways to increase budgetary allocations for children;
assess budget utilization rates for social sector and child specific programmes, identify
blockages and constraints to effective utilization; identify methods for tracking expenditure and
monitoring performance to ensure that outlays translate into outcomes for children.
Pilot projects for combating trafficking of women and children
Three pilot projects are being implemented viz i) to combat trafficking women and
children for commercial sexual exploitation under the sanction of tradition ii) pilot project to
combat trafficking of women and children for commercial, sexual exploitation in source areas
and iii) pilot project to combat trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual
exploitation in destination areas. So far 30 projects have been sanctioned benefiting about
1500 women and girls.
Beside above said programmes and policy initiatives, a number of constitutional
provisions have already made to ensure protection of dignity, rights and welfare of children.
These include following :
Constitutional Provisions

Article 14 provides that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or
the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.

Article 15(3) provides that, nothing in this article shall prevent the State for making any
special provision for women and children.

Article 21 provides that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except
according to procedure established by law.

Article 21A directs the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children
of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may by law, determine.

Article 23 prohibits trafficking of human beings and forced labour.

Article 24 prohibits employment of children below the age of fourteen years in factories,
mines or any other hazardous occupation.

Article 25-28 provides freedom of conscience, and free profession, practice and
propagation of religion.

Article 39(e) and (f) provide that the State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards
securing to ensure that the health and strength of workers, men and women and the tender age
of children are not abused and that the citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter
avocations unsuited to their age or strength and that the children are given opportunities and
facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that the
childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material
abandonment.


Article 45 envisages that the State shall endeavor to provide early childhood care and
education for all children until they complete the age of six years.