Family and Child Welfare

Family and Child Welfare 3 (3+0)

Lesson 47 : Child Development Schemes

Introduction

• To ensure that children get protection against neglect, abuse and exploitation, the department has taken up programmes and schemes to guarantee the basic human rights including survival, development and full participation in social, cultural, educational and other endeavors for their individual growth and well being.
• Children below 6 years constitute 17% of the total population of India i.e. about 17 crores. As compared to other developed countries, infant mortality rate in our country is very high.
• Even after 50 years of independence, more than 40% of the Indian population live below poverty line.
• Ignorance and illiteracy are still rampant among the rural people.
• Severe malnutrition on account of acute poverty which gives room for low-resistance and the consequential early childhood diseases are the main causes for this alarming situation.
• The emphasis on child development has been on improving the quality of services under Integrated Child Development Services and also to improve the delivery of the programmes, components through the convergence of services meant for women and children.