India: Focus on Children Under Six

Submitted by crinadmin on

The Integrated Child Development Services of India has recently released Focus On Children Under Six (FOCUS), an action-oriented report on the wellbeing and rights of Indian children under the age of six years. It argues that child care is a social responsibility, and makes a case for universal child development services.

The report draws on a detailed survey – the “FOCUS survey” - of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the only major national programme addressed to children under six. The findings show that ICDS can make a big difference to the lives of children, provided that this programme receives the attention and support it deserves. Following on this, there is a special focus on “universalisation with quality” as the core objective of a plan of action for ICDS.

The report also covers a wide range of related issues, such as maternity entitlements, social exclusion, the politics of child rights, the concerns of anganwadi workers, alternative views of pre-school education, Supreme Court orders on ICDS, and Tamil Nadu’s pioneering work in the field of child development, among many others. More than 60 specific topics are discussed in concise “boxes” contributed by different authors.

FOCUS draws on two years of sustained reflection and dialogue among individuals and organisations committed to the rights of children under six. The report is written in an accessible style and ends with wide-ranging ideas for action.

Further information

pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/sen_nutrition.pdf

Organisation: 
Right to Food Campaign
Attachment Link: 
http://www.crin.org/docs/sen_nutrition.pdf

Countries

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.