HISTORY OF CHILD RIGHTS IN

TAMIL NADU AND INDIA

PR E S E N T E D BY:
B AB I S H A. F
D E PA RT M E N T O F
ENGLISH
History of Child Rights in Tamil Nadu and
India
◦ Children have not always been on the Human Rights agenda.
Child rights have evolved over time, influenced by historical,
social and legal developments.
Pre Independence
Before independence, child rights in India were not explicitly recognized or protected.

The prevailing socio-cultural norms and economic conditions often led to the exploitation and
neglect of children ,including child labour, child marriage, and limited access to education and
healthcare.

Before India’s independence, there were several notable social reformers in who fought against
social injustices and advocated for the rights and welfare of children.
Mahatma Gandhi
 Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our Nation was a strong advocate for children’s rights.
Emphasized the importance of education and child welfare.
Gandhi believed that children should be given freedom, love and nurturing environment.
Advocated against child marriage, child labour, and the exploitation of children in any form.
Muthulakshmi Reddy
Social reformer and the first female legislator in India.

She played a significant role in the Women’s Indian Association and fought against child
marriage and the devadasi system

She also worked towards improving healthcare and education for children.
Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
Periyar was a social activist and politician who championed the cause of social justice and
equality.
Emphasized the importance of education and fought against child marriage and caste-based
discrimination,advocating for equal rights and opportunities for children of all backgrounds.
Dr.B.R. Ambedkar
Incorporated special provisions for the rights of girl children in the Indian constitution.
He has upheld the rights of children by Rights to Education
Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
He was a prominent social and educator in the 19th century
He worked tirelessly to improve the status of women and advocated for child marriage laws.
He played a key role in the passage of the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856, which aimed to
abolish the practice of child marriage.
Bharathiyar (Subramaya Bharathi)
Bharathiyar was a celebrated poet, writer and freedom fighter.

Through his powerful poems and writings, he highlighted the importance of education and
freedom for children.

He advocated for gender equality and denounced child marriage and social inequalities

T
Annie Besant
A British activist, made significant contributions to child welfare in the region.
She founded the Central Hindu School in Chennai and worked towards improving education
and child rights in the area.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
One of the pioneers of the Bengal Renaissance, worked towards the eradication of social evils
prevalent in society, including child marriage and the practice of sati.

He believed in the importance of education and campaigned for its accessibility to all,
regardless of gender or caste.
Savitribai Phule
An Indian social reformer and poet, made significant contributions to the field of child rights
during the 19th century.
Savitribai Phule was a strong advocate for girls education at a time when it was widely
neglected in India.
She established the first school for girls in Pune in 1848, providing them with access to
education that was previously denied to them.
She aimed to empower them and break the cycle of oppression and discrimination.
Independence and Constitution

After gaining independence in 1947, India recognized the need to protect the rights of children.

The Constitution of India, adopted in 1950, included provisions for the protection and welfare of children.

i. Article 15(3) allowed the state to make special provisions for children.

ii. Article 24 prohibited the employment of children in hazardous industries.

Formation of Policies and Institutions
In the 1970s and 1980s, several policies and programs were implemented to address child rights issues.

i. The National Policy for Children was formulated in 1974, focusing on children's rights, health, education,
and welfare.

ii. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was launched in 1975 to address the nutritional,
health, and developmental needs of young children.

iii. The Tamil Nadu Integrated Nutrition Project (TINP) was implemented in the late 1980s to address child
malnutrition and improve maternal and child health.
Legislation and Legal Reforms:

The legal framework for child rights in India was strengthened through the enactment of various laws.
i. The Juvenile Justice Act was first passed in 1986 to provide for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of
neglected and delinquent children.
ii. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act was enacted in 1986 to prohibit the employment of
children in certain hazardous occupations.
iii. The Right to Education Act (RTE) was passed in 2009, making education a fundamental right for
children aged 6 to 14.
iv.The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act was enacted in 2015 to address the needs
of children in conflict with the law.
Focus on Education and Health

Efforts have been made to improve access to quality education and healthcare for children in Tamil Nadu
and India.

i. Programs like Samagra Shiksa (formerly Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)) and Rashtriya Madhyamik
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) aim to provide free and compulsory education to all children.

ii. The National Health Mission (NHM) and the Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent
Health strategy focus on improving maternal and child health.
Child Protection and Welfare
The government and civil society organizations have been working to address child protection issues and
promote the overall welfare of children.

i. Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile justice boards (JJBs) and State Commissions for Protection
of Child Rights (SCPCRs) were established to ensure the implementation of child protection laws.

ii. Various schemes and programs, such as the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), aim to prevent
and respond to child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
 Reform and Social Justice movements in Tamil
Nadu

Various movements, campaigns, coalitions and networks that are working for the rights of children in Tamil
Nadu.

There are several movements, campaigns, coalitions, and networks actively working for the rights of
children in Tamil Nadu. These initiatives aim to advocate for children's rights, address issues related to
education, health, child labour, child protection, and overall well-being.
1. Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW): TNCRW is a network of individuals and
organizations working towards the promotion and protection of child rights in Tamil Nadu. It
conducts research, advocacy, and campaigns to raise awareness about child rights issues and push
for policy changes.
2. Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL): CACL is a coalition of organizations and individuals
dedicated to eradicating child labour in Tamil Nadu. They work towards ensuring that children are
protected from exploitative labour practices and have access to education and a safe environment.
3.Right to Education (RTE) Forum Tamil Nadu: The RTE Forum Tamil Nadu is a network of organizations and
individuals advocating for the effective implementation of the Right to Education Act in the state. They work towards
ensuring free and quality education for all children, addressing issues like access, infrastructure, teacher training, and
inclusive education.
4.Children Movement for Climate Justice -CMCJ Children from marginalized farming families of Seven States of
India between the age group of 12 to 18 united with commitment to protecting the only earth we have to make it a
livable one for every human being, especially for us as well future children, and concerned about protecting the same.
Children Movement for Climate Justice – CMCJ’ stems out of the Rights Based Approach practiced by the “Palar
Panchayat” under the wider support of Child Focused Community Development (CFCD) intervention initiated by
Kindernothilfe (KNH), Germany and Resource Centre for Participatory Development Studies, (RCPDS) Madurai.
These movements, campaigns, coalitions, and networks play a vital role in raising awareness,

advocating for policy changes, providing services, and working towards the holistic development

and protection of children in Tamil Nadu. They collaborate with various stakeholders and

contribute to creating an enabling environment for the fulfilment of child rights.

Conclusion
Reformers played a crucial role in challenging social norms and fighting for the rights and well
being of children in Tamil Nadu during the pre-independence era.

These efforts laid the foundation for subsequent advancements in child rights and welfare in the
state and continue to inspire future generations.