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Child Welfare*
Kerala has around 40.37 lakh children, that is, 13% of Kerala’s population, who are below the age of 6 years. A large number of them live in economic and social environment which impedes the child’s physical and mental development. These conditions include poverty, poor environmental sanitation, prone to disease, infection, inadequate access to primary health care, inappropriate child care and feeding practices. Government of India proclaimed a National Policy on Children in August 1974 declaring children as, “supremely important asset”. The policy provided the required frame work for assigning priority to different needs of the child. More...
The programme of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme was launched in 1975 seeking to provide an integrated package of services in a convergent manner for the holistic development of the child.
The scheme provides a package of services as indicated below to children below six years and pregnant women and nursing mothers;
1. Supplementary nutrition
2. Immunization
3. Health check-up
4. Referral services
5. Pre-school non-formal education
6. Nutrition and health education
The present status of ICDS functionaries based
on category and post sanctioned are given below
| Sl.No. |
Category |
Posts
sanctioned |
| 1 |
C.D.P.O. |
163 |
| 2 |
A.C.D.P.O. |
25 |
| 3 |
Supervisor |
1156 |
| 4 |
Anganwadi
Worker |
32268 |
| 5 |
Anganwadi
Helper |
32268 |
National Nutrition Mission
The Prime Minister announced the launching
of this Mission with the objective of reduction
of Malnutrition, elimination of micro-nutrient
deficiencies relating to iron, iodine, Vitamin-A
etc. The basic objective of the mission is to
address the problem of malnutrition in a holistic
manner and to accelerate reduction in various
forms of malnutrition particularly among women
and children. In Kerala, Palakkad and Malappuram
districts have been selected to implement this
programme for which Rs.469.96 lakh was provided.
It includes 6453 Anganwadi Centres consisting
of approximately 113850 beneficiaries.
Kishori Sakthi Yojana
This scheme is viewed as a holistic initiative
for the development of adolescent girls which
was launched in 2000-01 as part of the ICDS
scheme. Kishori SakthiYojana is being implemented
through Anganwadi Centres in both urban and
rural areas. The main objective of the scheme
is to improve the nutritional and health status
of the girls in the age group of 11- 18 years.
Balika Samridhi Yojana
Government of India started Balika Samridhi Yojana
on 15th August, 1997 with the objective of changing
the negative attitude towards the girl child at
birth, to improve enrolment and retention of girls
in schools, to raise the age of marriage, to assist
the girls to undertake income generating activities
etc. During the last two financial years Central
assistance was not given.
Udisha Training Programme
Government of India has introduced this project
for the provision of training of ICDS functionaries
to provide better quality care for early childhood
and development. It is carried out in all the
163 ICDS projects. The components of the scheme
include job training, orientation training, IEC
materials and other training. During 2007-08,
job training course and refresher training are
given to 140 and 7641 beneficiaries respectively.
Child
Development - Government of India Programs and
Policies
• Integrated Child Development Services
(ICDS): Launched in 1975 to improve the nutritional
and health status of children below six years,
pregnant and lactating mothers adolescent girls,
etc.
• Creches/Day care Centers for Children
of Working and Ailing Mothers: Launched for Children
adopted in 1974. The scheme aims to provide day
care services to children 0-5 years of parents
whose monthly income does not exceed Rs. 1800
per month.
• National Creche Fund: Set-up in the year
1993-94 to meet the growing requirement for creches
through voluntary organisations, mahila mandals
to convert Anganwadi Centers into Anganwadi-cum-creche
Centre.
• National Charter for Children: A policy
document adopted by the Government highlighting
the roles and responsibilities of the Government
and the community towards children.
• Co-operation with UNICEF: DWCD is the
nodal department for coordinating the implementation
of the Master Plan of operations so as to empower
families and communities with knowledge and skills
to care and protect children etc.
• National Commission for Children: The
National Commission for Children Bill 2003 was
introduced in Parliament in December 2003 but
got lapsed due to elections. It was considered
with certain changes that include more power,
constitution of State Commissions and Children's
Courts in States.
• Assistance of Voluntary Organizations
for Providing Social Defense Services: Assistance
is given to voluntary organizations working in
the field of child and women welfare.
• Universal Children's Day: India observes
Universal Children's Day on 14 November every
year. National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievement
will be presented.
• Convention on the Rights of the Child: India ratified to the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child on 11 December 1992 for the cause
of children. A National Coordinating Group has
been constituted by the DWCD to monitor the implementation
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
• National Plan of Action for Children: The DWCD prepared the draft of the National Plan
of Action for Children by considering the goals
for children set in the UN General Assembly Special
Session on Children held in May 2002.
• National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement: Instituted in 1996 to give recognition to the
children of 4 to 15 age group with exceptional
abilities.
• National Award for Child Welfare: Instituted
in 1979 to honor five institutions and three individuals
for their outstanding performance in the field
of child welfare.
• Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award: Instituted
in 1994 to honor an individual who makes outstanding
contribution towards service for children.
Welfare of Juvenile
Justice
Juvenile Homes
In Kerala, in 2006, there were 7 Juvenile Homes,
14 Observation Homes and one Balasadanam (certified
as juvenile home). More than 7000 children in
the age group of 5 to 18 years are accommodated
in these homes. In 2007, it is reported that there
are 6 Juvenile Homes, 13 Observation Homes and
one Balasadanam functioning in the state where
more than 600 children are accommodated. The Government
of India gives maintenance grants @ Rs. 150 per
month per inmate and bedding grant @ Rs. 50 per
annum per inmate. The percapita maintenance charge
per inmate is about Rs.750 per month for food,
clothing, and bedding and for contingency charges.
During 2006-07, Rs.38.87 lakhs were allocated
and Rs.38.85 lakhs expended.
Adoption
The state government have approved and
declared the state policy, i.e., State Plan of
Action for the Child in Kerala 2004 and reiterated
its commitment to children. The major activities
proposed are; (i)to establish baby cradle centres
(Amma Thottils) in four district hospitals i.e.,
Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam (2)
strengthen/organize adoptive parents organization
in all districts and organize district level and
state level get-together conferences of adoptive
parents, adoptive children and other stakeholders
(iii) adoption awareness programme in each district
by involving state departments such as Local Self
Governments, Revenue, Police, Social Welfare,
Health, NGOs and other stakeholders (iv) minimum
standards of services and procedures for adoption
placement agencies and minimum standards of services
for all functionaries will be developed with the
help of expert academic institutions. Details
on adoption of children as in-country and inter-country
under Juvenile Justice Law from 2002-03 to 2006-07
are shown below:
Adoption
of Children in Kerala - 2002-2007 |
Year |
In-country
adoption |
Inter-country
adoption |
| |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
2002-03 |
125 |
136 |
261 |
12 |
19 |
31 |
2003-04 |
134 |
152 |
286 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
2004-05 |
115 |
104 |
219 |
12 |
13 |
25 |
2005-06 |
119 |
147 |
266 |
15 |
16 |
31 |
2006-07 |
114 |
132 |
246 |
14 |
17 |
31 |
| Source:
Social Welfare Department |
Adoption,
the best possible option available for rehabilitating
an orphan or destitute child, is a process by
which the child is brought up by a couple as their
own son or daughter. Unlike the case of biological
children where umbilical cord establishes the
bond between parents and children, the love for
children determines the bond in adoption. More...
ADOPTION CO-ORDINATING AGENCY
-KERALA
Head Office
Rajagiri College of Social Sciences
RajagiriP.O, Kalamassery-683104
Cochin, Kerala.
Ph–0484–2540727
Email : vca-kerala@eth.net
The Kerala State Council for Child
Welfare
Is a non-profit governmental
organisation, working for children’s welfare.
As the sole representative of the government
in the field, the Council runs an array of programs
aimed at children’s welfare.
Founded in 1949, as per the
advice of the International Union for Child Welfare(IUCW),
UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY
FUND (UNICEF)Geneva, and the Council is affiliated
to the Indian Council for Child Welfare. The Patron
of the Council is the Governor of the State of
Kerala. The Chief Minister is the President, and
the Social Welfare Minister the first Vice-President.
The day-to-day administration of the council is
entrusted to a committee elected from among its
life members. The working fund of the Council
consists of grants from the Union and State governments,
revenue generated by the Council’s activities
and donations from individuals and organisations
from across the world.
Contact Address
Kerala State Council for Child Welfare
Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014
Tel : +91-471-324932, Fax: +91-471-450541.
E mail: enquiry@childwelfarekerala.org
*Source: Economic Review:2007
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