National Policy for Children-2012
Fundamental Rights [Article 15(3)] empowers the State to make
special provisions for children. The Directive Principles of State Policy
(Article 39) in the Constitution specifically guide the State in securing the
tender age of children from abuse and ensuring that children are given
opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner in conditions of
freedom and dignity.Ensuring survival, health and nutrition as an inalienable
right of every child and special care for kids caught in sectarian violence are
some of the features of the government’s Draft National Policy for Children,
2012. The Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry, which has revised the
National Policy for Children for the first time since it was adopted in
1974, has now put the draft policy, which defines any individual below the age
of 18 years as child, in public domain inviting views before it is
finalised.According to ministry officials, the policy would guide and inform all
laws, policies, plans and programmes affecting children and all other actions of
national, state and local Governments in relation to population below 18 years.
Amongst the key priorities listed in the draft are making survival, health,
nutrition, development, education, protection and participation undeniable
rights of every child. As per the policy draft, every child has a right to be
safeguarded against hunger, deprivation and malnutrition and the State would
commit to securing this right through access, provision and promotion of
required services and supports for holistic nurturing.
The State shall also take all necessary measures to improve
maternal health care secure the right of the girl child and address
discrimination of all forms in schools and foster equal opportunity. As per the
draft policy, the state would take special protection measures to secure the
rights and entitlements of children in difficult circumstances, in particular
but not limited to, children affected by migration, displacement, communal or
sectarian violence, civil unrest, disasters etc. Children of women in
prostitution, children forced into prostitution and other abused and exploited
children, those affected by HIV/AIDS, children with disabilities would also be
eligible for state protection by the state.
The Cabinet approved the National Policy for Children, 2012
which recognises child survival, health, nutrition, education, development and
protection as undeniable rights of every child. As per the National Child Policy
every person below the age of eighteen years as a child and that childhood is an
integral part of life with a value of its own. According to the policy, a long
term, sustainable, multisectoral, integrated and inclusive approach is necessary
for the harmonious development and protection of children. The policy lays down
the guiding principles that must be respected by national, state and local
governments in their actions and initiatives affecting children, a statement
released by the government here said. The key guiding principles of the policy
are the right of every child to life, survival, development, education,
protection and participation, equal rights for all children without
discrimination.
The best interest of the child should be a primary concern in
all actions and decisions affecting children and family environment as the most
conducive for all-round development of children. “The policy has identified
survival, health, nutrition, education, development, protection and
participation as the undeniable rights of every child, and has also declared
these as key priority areas,” the statement released here said. The National
Child policy also strives to create convergence and co-ordination across
different sectors and levels of governance, partnerships with all stakeholders,
setting up of a comprehensive knowledge base, provision of adequate resources;
and sensitisation and capacity development of all those who work for and with
children. The Policy reaffirms the government’s commitment to the realisation of
the rights of all children in the country. It recognizes every person below the
age of eighteen years as a child and that childhood is an integral part of life
with a value of its own, and a long term, sustainable, multisectoral, integrated
and inclusive approach is necessary for the harmonious development and
protection of children. The policy lays down the guiding principles that must be
respected by national, state and local governments in their actions and
initiatives affecting children. Some of the key guiding principles are: the
right of every child to life, survival, development, education, protection and
participation; equal rights for all children without discrimination; the best
interest of the child as a primary concern in all actions and decisions
affecting children; and family environment as the most conducive for all-round
development of children. The policy has identified survival, health, nutrition,
education, development, protection and participation as the undeniable rights of
every child, and has also declared these as key priority areas. As children’s
needs are multisectoral, interconnected and require collective action, the
policy aims at purposeful convergence and strong coordination across different
sectors and levels of governance; active engagement and partnerships with all
stakeholders; setting up of a comprehensive and reliable knowledge base;
provision of adequate resources; and sensitization and capacity development of
all those who work for and with children. A National Plan of Action will be
developed to give effect to the policy and a National Coordination and Action
Group (NCAG) will be constituted to monitor the progress of implementation.
Similar plans and coordination and action groups will be constituted at the
state and district levels. The National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights are to ensure that
the principles of the policy are respected in all sectors at all levels. There
is a provision for review of the policy every five years. The Ministry of Women
and Child Development will be the nodal ministry for overseeing and coordinating
the implementation of the policy and will lead the review process.
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