CHILD WELFARE

 ROLE OF NGOs IN THE FIELD OF

CHILD WELFARE

 ROLE OF UNICEF FOR CHILD

WELFARE IN INDIA

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY :

DR. ANUPAM BAHRI PRANEET KAUR

UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF LEGAL STUDIES ROLL NO. 66/16

PANJAB UNIVERSITY SECTION- B

BA.LLB(hons)
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SR. TOPIC PAGE

NO. NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 3
2. DEFINITION AND MEANING OF CHILD 4
WELFARE
3. NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS 5
4. NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN 9
INDIA
5. INDIAN SCENARIO OF CHILD WELFARE 10
6. INTERNATIONAL NGOs 14
7. NATIONAL NGOs 21
8. LOCAL NGOs 39
9. ROLE OF UNICEF FOR CHILD WELFARE IN 40
INDIA
10. CONCLUSION 46
11. REFERENCE 47

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 Acknowledgment

I would like to thank my subject teacher Prof. Anupam bahri for giving me this opportunity
of selecting my own project topic . my project report on “child welfare – role of NGOs and
UNICEF”. This topic not only enhanced my knowledge but also cleared my concepts. I
would also like to thank my family and friends for their support and guidance.

Thanking you

Praneet Kaur

3
 INTRODUCTION

Every child has right to lead a decent life. The physical, mental and social well being of a
child depends upon the family to which she/ he belongs. In the process of socialisation during
childhood the family and school are two important institutions which play significant role for
integrated development of the child.

Child and their childhood both were not given any special treatment in the bygone era and
later thy were treated as ‘small adults’. As small adults they were expected to earn for their
survival and wee shoved in the work houses, farms, industries.

The World Wars and the civil wars raging in different parts of the world also wreaked the
lives of young children as they had no protection from the ravages of war. Welfare of the
child was largely neglected and was not high on the agenda of erstwhile governments for a
long period of time due to the fact that children had no voice; were not treated as individuals
having rights of their own; and were under the control of their parents and were not treated as
individuals having rights of their own.1

Initially efforts to provide for the welfare of the children during childhood were undertaken
by the voluntary organisations and individuals. Later on, international organisations brought
the issue of child welfare to the centre stage at the global level. Taking a cue from the
international organisations, nations started taking steps to provide for child welfare.

Till recently, in countries like India, childhood even eluded a common definition as
different legislations had different definition of a child.

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309124447_Development_of_the_Concept_
of_Childhood_and_Child_Welfare_in_India

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 DEFINTION AND MEANING
Child welfare is a continuum of services designed to ensure that children are safe and that
families have the necessary support to care for their children successfully. Child welfare
agencies typically: • Support or coordinate services to prevent child abuse and neglect

• Provide services to families that need help protecting and caring for their children

• Receive and investigate reports of possible child abuse and neglect; assess child and family
needs, strengths, and resources

• Arrange for children to live with kin (i.e., relatives) or with foster families when safety
cannot be ensured at home

• Support the well-being of children living with relatives or foster families, including
ensuring that their educational needs are addressed

• Work with the children, youth, and families to achieve family reunification, adoption, or
other permanent family connections for children and youth leaving foster care Each State or
locality has a public child welfare agency responsible for receiving and investigating reports
of child abuse and neglect and assessing child and family needs; however, the child welfare
system is not a single entity. Public child welfare agencies often collaborate with private
child welfare agencies, community-based organizations, and other public agencies to ensure
that families receive the services they need, such as supportive child care, parenting classes,
in-home family preservation services, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment.

Child welfare is a term used to describe a set of government services designed to

protect children and encourage family stability. These typically include investigation of
alleged child abuse and neglect ("child protective services"), foster care, adoption services,
and services aimed at supporting at-risk families so they can remain intact ("prevention
services" or "family preservation services").

The idea behind child welfare programs is that, in certain circumstances, the interests of the
child could be better served by removing children from the care of their parents and placing
them into state custody. While a preferred scenario is to support the family while keeping it
intact, the circumstances that are detrimental to the child may be too severe.

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NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
The 21st Century will be an era of NGOs.” — Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary General

Non governmental organisations or NGOs as they are called in the common parlance , are the
organisations which are involved in carrying out a wide range of activities for the benefit of
the underprivileged people and for the society at large .

As the name suggests , NGOs work independently , without any financial aid of the govt
although they may work in close coordination with the govt agencies for executing their
projects.

The term "non-governmental organization" was first coined in 1945, when the United
Nations (UN) was created.[21] The UN, itself an intergovernmental organization, made it
possible for certain approved specialized international non-state agencies — i.e., non-
governmental organizations — to be awarded observer status at its assemblies and some of its
meetings. Later the term became used more widely. Today, according to the UN, any kind of
private organization that is independent from government control can be termed an "NGO",
provided it is not-for-profit, non-prevention ,but not simply an opposition political party.

The term "NGOs" (Non-governmental Organizations) includes different categories of entities

that operate not to obtain financial gain, and also do not belong to the government sector.
Non-governmental Organizations' fields of activity were described in the International
Classification of Non-Profit Organizations (ICNPO)2.

NGOs are an integral part of a democratic society. Sociological sciences emphasize their
importance in enhancing social integration, implementation of the principle of subsidiarity,
building civil society, social dialogue and participatory democracy. The main tasks of NGOs
in the health system are providing services and health advocacy. Provision of services
includes medical, social and psychological services as well as, integration activities, care and
nursing, material and financial support, educational and information services and training.
Health advocacy is a combination of individual and social actions designed to gain political
commitment, policy support, social acceptance and systems support for a particular health
goal or program.

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23745379

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The World Bank defines NGOs as “Private organisations that pursue activities to relieve
suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social
services, or undertake community development.” In wider usage, the term, „NGO‟ can be
applied to any non-profit organisation which is independent from government. NGOs are
typically value based organisations which depend, in whole or in part, on donations and
voluntary service.

The United Nations describes an NGO as: Any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is
organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with
a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring
citizens‟ concerns to governments, monitor policies and 23 encourage political participation
at the community level. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning
mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements.

NGOs are mainly established for a cause and to combat primarily social issues – working for
the betterment of society or social welfare .

NGOs work for a wide range of causes like:

1. Child rights
2. Child welfare
3. Human rights
4. Health and nutrition
5. Literacy and education
6. Diseases control and others

NGOs are composed for experts with years of experience in executing social welfare
activities. Before rolling out a project, detailed analysis of the situation and possible solutions
are contemplated.

CHARACTERISTICS OF NGOs:

Though NGOs vary in different aspects like nature, structure and ideology but they have
some characteristics which make them fall into a category of non-government organizations.
In general, following are the common characteristics of NGOs:

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i) The NGOs are not created for profit making, they are non–profit making
organizations. The profit generated, if any is used for working of organization’s
programmes and is not distributed among its members.
ii) NGOs are independent of government.
iii) The NGOs are formed on voluntary basis and possess spirit of voluntarism.
iv) The NGOs have legal status/ identity. They need to be registered under appropriate
Act (e.g. Trust Act, Society Registration Act or Companies Act). For obtaining
foreign funding, they need to be registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation
Act (FCRA) with Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
v) All NGOs are formed to serve a common purpose of benefit and / or development of
community. They aim towards helping the needy.3

In short there is :

i) Community cooperation
ii) Structure of voluntary association
iii) Network of public communication

NEED FOR NGOs :

To solve social problems and address issues which are not being covered / inadequately
covered by the governments.

1. http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/34847/7/07_chapter%202.pdf

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NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
IN INDIA
NGO have a long history in India. In the past, people in this country have been found to have
provided help to others in trouble. Since centuries there exists the tradition of voluntary
service to the needy and helpless in the country. A significant growth of NGOs started after
India achieved independence. Democracy was established and people had started
understanding the meaning of freedom of speech, the charm of equality and the value of
humanity and brotherhood. NGOs have immense role in bringing about social change and
development and it is being experienced from different parts of the country.

Development, as we have read earlier, is a multi- faceted process, which essentially involves
the aggressive participation of the people that would not be possible unless they are educated,
awakened and motivated. NGOs are taking up this job sportingly and successful. Thousands
of NGOs have thus emerged in India making significant contributions to the processes of
development of society.

India has at least 31 lakh NGOs meaning more than double the number of schools, 250 times
the number of government hospitals.
These statistics were disclosed after CBI collated information in 2105 from all states and
Union Territories to list NGOs registered under the Societies Registration Act,1860.
The findings also stated that one NGO covers 400 people as against one policeman for 709
people.4 The move came after Supreme Court's direction to the CBI to collect information
about NGOs and inform whether these NGOs have filed balance sheets, including income-
expenditure statements, to ascertain compliance with accountability norms.
there are a total of around 31 lakh NGOs in 26 states. Besides, more than 82,000 NGOs are
registered in seven Union Territories.
Uttar Pradesh tops the list with more than 5.48 lakh NGOs, followed by Maharashtra which
has 5.18 lakh NGOs.

4.https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/over-31-lakh-ngos-registered-in-india-
53294.html

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 THE INDIAN SCENARIO OF CHILD
WELFARE
With more than 400 million children below the age of 18 years, India can either boast of or
grieve at being the country with the world’s largest child population. However, today, not
every child in our country enjoys the benefit of a ‘normal childhood’. For many, each day is a
struggle to live and lead a dignified life without parents, education or even proper shelter at
times while many other children lead a life of comfort.

It was to confront and change this inequality that the Indian Council for Child Welfare
(ICCW) was set up in 1967. The council has worked relentlessly to make the country a better
place for children, especially those from the lesser privileged and vulnerable sections of the
society and has been a beacon of hope. With various projects like shelter homes, crèches,
adoption homes and psycho social support programs the council strives to work for the
welfare of abandoned, orphaned, relinquished or poor children below the poverty line up to
the age of 18 years.

ROLE : Child welfare is a continuum of services designed to ensure that children are
safe and that families have the necessary support to care for their children successfully. Child
welfare agencies typically:

 Support or coordinate services to prevent child abuse and neglect

 Provide services to families that need help protecting and caring for their children
 Receive and investigate reports of possible child abuse and neglect; assess child and
family needs, strengths, and resources
 Arrange for children to live with kin (i.e., relatives) or with foster families when safety
cannot be ensured at home
 Support the well-being of children living with relatives or foster families, including
ensuring that their educational needs are addressed
 Work with the children, youth, and families to achieve family reunification, adoption, or
other permanent family connections for children and youth leaving foster care.

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Tens of millions of Indian children are made the victims of exploitative practices like child
labour, sexual abuse and trafficking. Despite aggressive attempts to implement a pro-child
rights policy environment, India still needs the support of civil society, and concerned
citizens to help children. At every stage, India’s children face difficult challenges. The many
improvements made for children’s welfare can be credited to India’s NGOs, which have
tirelessly provided on-ground support and activism while working with officials.

Here is how India’s NGOs are working as child development NGOs and giving
underprivileged children their due:

1. Eliminating child labour

Ten million children today are forced to work 14-16 hour shifts in horrible working
conditions, in sectors like farming, stone cutting sector, embroidery and mining industries.

India ranks among the 74 countries with ’significant incidence of critical working conditions’
(US Department of Labor report - List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor).

To end child labour, NGOs offer intervention, both at the demand and supply side.

i. Demand: NGOs educate trade organisation to reach out to business owners and educate
them about the evils of child labour. If necessary, NGOs like Save the Children perform
regular raids at workplaces like farms and factories where child labour is practiced, and free
these children from the practices of bonded labour.

ii. Supply: NGOs also develop relationships with locals in villages and cities to report child
labour within businesses. Families are advised to push their child towards higher education,
with the support of NGO scholarships and other programs. Access to education and essential
services are enabled to prevent families from taking the desperate decision of selling their
child into a life of slavery.

2. Education and enrolment

India faces low literacy due to low enrolment, as well as high dropout rates.

How Save the Children is working for child education:

i. Emphasising the importance of education to children and communities

ii. Working to establish ‘safe schools’ that do not discriminate on gender, caste or socio-
economic background

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iii. 'Inclusive Learner Friendly Environments’ (children aged 3-18 years)

iv. Pushing for a financial framework supporting the Right to Free and Compulsory
Education Act 2009

v. Create fun school environments, using child-friendly and interactive methods

vi. Driving funding for libraries, computers, sports equipment and Mobile Learning Centers

vii. Bringing out-of-school children back to the classroom

viii. Bringing street children and child labourers back to school

3. Rehabilitation and relief

Through awareness campaigns on nutrition and essential health care, NGOs like Save the
Children reduce newborn and child deaths. The NGO’s programs are closely linked with
Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, Department of Health and Family Welfare
and Panchayat Raj Institutions, through whom it pushes for better policies and their
implementation.

Additionally, it provides on-ground assistance to Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) so

they can help mothers, newborns and pregnant women. Communities are educated about the
importance of natal checkups, hospital deliveries, breastfeeding, and access to nutrition.
Malnourished mothers and children are provided cooking demonstrations as well as health
camps. In disaster situations, the NGO generates massive fundraising to provide non-stop aid
to communities. It does so by reaching out to lakhs who support an NGO rescue operations
at such an adverse time.

4.Sexual abuse , expoitattion , child trafficking

Sexual abuse, exploitation, trafficking are nightmares for femininity especially for
disadvantage groups and trafficking is the most heinous of all. Government as well as Non-
Government Organizations is working for Prevention, Protection, Rehabilitation and
Reintegration of trafficked victims and population at risk. Though among these, Prevention is
the most effective to reduce or eliminate human trafficking it is least utilized. Perhaps lack of
mechanisms by which to measure success or outcome of prevention activities is the cause of
this.

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Still some NGOs are working on it. In fact NGOs have been the pioneers in bringing this
invisible crime into the public domain by their continuous efforts. They do conduct
prevention activities like mass-awareness raising, capacity building and income generating
activities and so on. These activities definitely have impact on the society which is reflected
in people’s growing concern about trafficking and in number of trafficking which if not
reduced has not increased noticeably; though the impact is very low in comparison to
urgency. These NGOs rehabilitate victims of such persons affected by these crimes.5

All these activities are designed keeping one fundamental goal - the rights of a child are not
snatched away from them. The idea is to ensure that every child gets what they truly deserve,
a healthy start in life, quality education and protection from harm. Save the Children's
campaigns have reduced infant mortality, chronic malnutrition and child trafficking, and
increased access to primary and secondary education. The NGO works closely with
governments, civil society and community members at a pan-India scale, necessitating heavy
investment and infrastructure around the clock as there is always a cause the NGO is
tirelessly working for.

NGOs in india work at three lvels :

1. International level NGOs working in India

2. National level NGOs
3. Local level NGOs.

5. http://www.mppg-nsu.org/attachments/339_Thesis-Kawshar%20Jahan.pdf

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INTERNATIONAL NGOs WOKRING IN INDIA

1.CHILDFUND , INDIA

ChildFund is a child development organization representing the voice of deprived,

excluded and vulnerable children in India regardless of their race, creed and gender,
since 1951. Presently, they are assisting over 2 million children and families across
the country with our unique child-centric intervention programs. There are 2 entities
of ChildFund in India: ChildFund International in India and ChildFund India
registered as a Society. ChildFund International is a global child development and
protection agency, headquartered in US, serving more than 19 million children and
family members in 25 countries. ChildFund International is a member of the
ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 11 organizations which assists millions of
children and families across 63 countries.

Worldwide, 570 million children live in extreme poverty, vulnerable to many factors
that threaten their well-being. Children need protection, support and care at each stage
of childhood to stay safe, healthy, learning and on track to achieve their potential.
ChildFund works with local partner organizations, governments, corporations and
individuals to help create the safe environments children need to thrive.

 MISSION
Help deprived, excluded and vulnerable children have the capacity to improve
their lives and the opportunity to become young adults, parents and leaders
who bring lasting and positive changes in their communities. Promote
societies whose individuals and institutions participate in valuing, protecting
and advancing the worth and rights of children. Enrich supporters’ lives
through their support of our cause.6

6. https://childfundindia.org/about-us/

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  APPROACH
Through innovative solutions that help children living in poverty achieve their
potential, ChildFund is changing the world — one child at a time. Working
through local partner organizations, we ensure children are protected and have
what they need to achieve their potential at every age.

CHILD PROTECTION
At ChildFund, we focus our work on children’s right to protection throughout their lives,
tailoring our efforts to the distinct needs of each age group. For infants and toddlers, the
primary risk is violence in the home. School-age children often face violence in their schools
or are forced to work in the worst forms of child labor. Before they reach young adulthood,
girls face the likelihood of child marriage and dropping out of school, and boys are at
increased risk for gangs, violence and suicide. ChildFund’s approach to keeping children safe
and protected envisions children and their environment as a series of rings of protection with
the child at the center. The family is the first ring, surrounded by the community and then
local institutions, which are encompassed by national and then international structures.
ChildFund’s efforts touch all of these levels of protection, because each environmental
support reinforces the others and because protecting children requires all these levels.
We help children to understand the law and their own rights and responsibilities. We
help children become agents of change, advocating for themselves and others.
We work to strengthen families’ abilities to promote their children’s well-being
within safe environments. This means educating caregivers about how to help
advance their children’s development, and it also includes social and economic
strengthening to build family stability.
We educate members of the community and help raise awareness in communities by
creating and strengthening mechanisms that support children’s well-being and
protection, such as child protection committees, guide mothers and parent-teacher
associations, teaching them to make effective use of local institutions responsible for
preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence that may affect
their children. We work with decision makers at the national level to support
governments in upholding international treaties, laws, services and organizations in
promoting the best interests of the child.
We advocate for international policy changes, calling upon world leaders to make
protecting children a global priority.

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  SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

All aspects of a child’s life are interconnected. ChildFund India’s approach mirrors this
interconnectedness, providing an integrated package of evidence-based services that address all
elements needed for a child’s long-term well-being. That is the reason why its programs support
children from birth to age 24. ChildFund India implements and supports locally led, community
based initiatives that strengthen families and communities, helping them break the cycle of
poverty and protect the rights of their children.

 HEALTHY AND SECURE INFANTS

ChildFund India‘s health based programs ensure underserved children, youth and families
have access to quality health and adequate nutrition, educate parents and caregivers about
their role in preserving maternal and child health, and help youth gain life skills, practice
healthy behaviors, form positive relationships, access essential services, and live free from
sexual exploitation and abuse.

ChildFund India’s health programs are implemented in 60 districts in 14 states

 EDUCATED AND CONFIDENT CHILDREN

ChildFund India’s early years education programs focus on providing home and centre based
quality learning stimulation, positive parenting skills, and skills required to detect potential
development disorders through ChildFund-run Balwadis and collaboration with Integrated
Child Development Centers.

When children enter formal schooling, we intervene in the following ways:

 Provide financial support to Deprived, Excluded and Vulnerable children.

 Improve learning levels through in-school and out-of-school processes.
 Improve school infrastructure by working with School Management Committees.
As they become adolescents and young adults, the program develops to provide counseling,
to mentor, and to empower them with employable vocational, professional and life skill
education.

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 2. PLAN INDIA

Plan India is a nationally registered not for profit organisation striving to advance children’s
rights and equality for girls, thus creating a lasting impact in the lives of vulnerable and
excluded children and their communities.
Since 1979, Plan India and its partners have improved the lives of millions of children and
young people by enabling them access to protection, quality education and healthcare
services, a healthy environment, livelihood opportunities and participation in decisions which
affect their lives.
Plan India is a member of the Plan International Federation, an independent development and
humanitarian organisation that advances children's rights and equality for girls. Plan
International is active in more than 70 countries.
Founded in 1937, Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization
that advances children's rights and equality for girls. They strive for a just world,
working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners.

 Plan International's Global Strategy 2017-2022

We want to fulfil the promise of the 2030 Global Goals and strive for a just world that
advances children's rights and equality for girls.
Our strategy is to work with vulnerable children and especially girls so that they
can learn, lead, decide and thrive. Within the strategy we have an ambition to
transform the lives of 100 million girls. Child sponsorship and grassroots community
work are central to our strategy and achieving this ambition.

 OBJECTS
Plan International is committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of the most
vulnerable and excluded children while promoting greater equality for girls. We aim
not only to improve the daily lives of girls but also to advance their position and value
in society, whilst actively working with boys and young men to champion gender
equality. We believe in advancing children’s rights in all contexts, including during
conflict and emergencies, where girls are faced with additional dangers. Our
programmes deliver lasting change against discriminatory norms, policies and laws.
We listen to the voices of children in the community, especially girls whose views

17
 and needs are frequently overlooked, to ensure that our work is relevant and effective.
We work to strengthen the capacities of governments and encourage them to meet
their obligations towards child protection and fulfilling children’s rights. We form
effective partnerships to address the systemic and structural causes of child rights
violations and inequality, and support other humanitarian groups in order to extend
our reach beyond the communities we work in.

 STRATEGIC PROGRAMS

Plan India implements high quality programmes that create a lasting impact in the lives
of vulnerable and excluded children and their communities through the following
strategic objectives:

1. Adolescent and Maternal Health, Child Survival and Optimal

Development: Plan India's health programme will work towards improving
the health of mothers, children and adolescents by adopting a life cycle
approach and promoting optimal growth and development of all children,
especially girls.
2. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: The WASH domain of Plan India
encompasses a number of initiatives including adopting community led
approaches focusing on collaborative behaviours to drive change at
school/Anganwadi Centres (AWC)/household level leading to an increase
in the number of Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages/slums; and
concerted efforts to ensure girls have access to WASH facilities at
3. Quality and Holistic Education: Our work in the education sector is
focused on providing quality education (including Early Childhood Care
and Education) to all children, particularly girls. This includes enhancing
pedagogical skills of all teachers. Simultaneously, School Management
Committees will be strengthened to support schools in delivering quality
learning outcomes among children. As a result, all children would achieve
age and grade appropriate learning outcomes with a higher rate of
transition between critical grades.

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 4. Child Protection: Plan India's work in child protection will aim towards
strengthening the reporting and responding mechanism, which will be
complemented by the participation of children, families, communities,
government officials and other relevant stakeholders. This will contribute
to reducing abuse/neglect/exploitation and violence against children,
especially girls.

3. EDUCATE A CHILD

There are 63* million children around the world deprived of their fundamental right to
primary education. These children, the majority of whom live in the most
marginalised sectors of society, have no access to quality primary education due to the
tremendous obstacles they face including extreme poverty, living in areas affected by
armed conflict, limited resources, poor infrastructure, natural disasters, or other
factors that make education out of reach. They face increasing vulnerabilities as
young girls, children with disabilities, refugees, or as members of religious, ethnic or
linguistic minorities.

Launched in November 2012, by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, Educate
A Child (EAC) is a global program of the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) that aims
to significantly reduce the number of children worldwide who are denied their right to
education.

EAC is, at its heart, is a commitment to children who are out of school to help provide them
with opportunities to learn and as such, it contributes to the UN's Sustainable Development
Goal 4: to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

6. https://www.planindia.org/our-programme-strategic-objectives

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  EAC’S VISION AND MISSION

Driven by Her Highness’s passion for quality education and the promises of new futures of
peace and prosperity that it brings, EAC has a vision of a world where every individual has
the opportunity to learn through a quality education.

EAC works with partner organisations toward its mission to trigger significant breakthroughs
in providing out of school children faced with extreme poverty, cultural barriers, and conflict-
affected environments an opportunity for a full course of quality primary education.

 EAC’s OBJECTIVES

 Influence the enrolment and retention of at least 10 million out of school children (OOSC)
 Support the development of education quality so that children who attend school stay in
school and have an opportunity to learn
 Contribute to mobilizing US$1 billion to support education and develop innovative financing
mechanisms to foster program sustainability
 Keep the issue of out of school children at the top of global and national agendas.


 PROJECTS

1. Bihar-SCERT Program for OOSC in Bihar State

An estimated 1.6 million children in India remain out of school despite significant increases
in access to primary schools through the government’s Education for All Movement. EAC
and its partner Gyan Shala are working to decrease the number of OOSC in Bihar State, India
by 226,664 through the implementation of the Bihar-SCERT Program for OOSC.

2. Expansion of Educate Girls Programme II

In collaboration with EAC, Educate Girls seeks to reach an additional 232,500 OOSC in
rural, tribal communities across the Indian States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh through the Expansion of Educate Girls Programme II project.

7. https://educateachild.org/our-partners-projects/country/india

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NATIONAL LEVEL NGOs WORKING FOR
CHILD WELFARE

1. CHILD RIGHTS AND YOU (CRY)

One of the leading and most well-known organisations, CRY has worked since the
1970s towards the eradication of child labour. Based on the motto that each of us can
be a small instrument of change, you can donate, volunteer, and work for them
towards the cause.

 History:
Way back in the 1970s, Rippan Kapur, a young airline purser, was driven by
the extraordinary dream to see a day when no Indian child would be deprived
of rights as basic as survival, participation, protection and development. Like
many of us, Rippan too was upset when he saw disparities between privileged
and underprivileged children. He hated to see children begging and working as
servants. Unlike most of us though, he did something about it. He joined his
school’s social service club and read to the blind, visited children in hospitals,
held reading and writing classes for street children, and started a free
dispensary at a slum the club adopted. To raise funds for these activities, the
club sold milk.
Uncharacteristically, given their backgrounds and motivations, they chose not to start
a grassroots-level implementing organisation working directly with and for
underprivileged children. They opted instead to make CRY a link between the
millions of Indians who could provide resources and thousands of dedicated people
and organisations at the grassroots-level who are struggling to function for lack of
them.

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  Vision

A happy, healthy and creative child whose rights are protected and honoured in a society that
is built on respect for dignity, justice and equity for all.

 Mission
 To enable people to take responsibility for the situation of the deprived Indian child
and so motivate them to seek resolution through individual and collective action
thereby enabling children to realise their full potential
 To make people discover their potential for action and change
 To enable peoples’ collectives and movements encompassing diverse segments, to
pledge their particular strengths, working in partnership to secure, protect and honour
the rights of India’s children.

 ISSUES AND VIEWS

CRY mainly focuses on –
Child labour , child marriage girl child , poverty , education and literacy, child
trafficking , gender inequality .

CRY’s efforts towards the prevention of child labour include:

 Identifying the root causes which force families and communities to allow children to
be engaged in labour
 Addressing these underlying issues by interacting with parents, community leaders
and children’s collective where the importance of child rights and the damaging
effects of child labour are discussed
 In instances of child trafficking and children forced into labour, CRY and grassroots
partners work on rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation of children through child
protection networks under the Juvenile Justice Care & Protection Act and the
Integrated Child Protection Scheme

22
CRY’s efforts to prevent malnutrition and eradicate it from the roots focuses on the
following:

 The pregnant mother, because with proper pre-natal care, adequate food and timely
health check-ups, a pregnant woman stays fit and gives birth a healthy child. Without
it she transfers her ill-health to her unborn child, and sets off a cycle of
malnourishment.
 Proper immunisation procedure, as lack of healthcare during the first two years of a
child’s life can contribute to a lifetime of ill health. Timely polio drops, immunisation
and monitored development, are crucial to preventing malnourishment.
 Wholesome nutrition because it is not enough to feed hunger. Without essential
micronutrients like iodine, iron and vitamins, children suffer brain damage, night
blindness, rickets, anaemia and even heart failure.

The way CRY works with this issue of child trafficking is:

• By spreading awareness about the issue among Children, Guardians, Schools, Community
and the Panchayati Raj Institutions on one hand and on the other hand by strengthening the
system for ensuring a safety net for vulnerable children

• Undertaking researches to identify the gap areas in order to advocate with the Government

• Engaging with the District Child Protection Officer and the Juvenile Justice System for
effective treatment of the cases of trafficking

• By facilitating the process of establishing inter-linkages between CRY partners in all states
working/facing the same issue/situation utilizing their expertise, Information Education
Communication materials, network and contacts to address the issue of Trafficking

• By providing need based support in the area of rescue, in alliance with the Police, C.I.D,
Child Line, Directorate of Social Welfare and the Juvenile Justice System.9

8. https://www.cry.org

23
  PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY CRY

CRY is currently working in 19 states of the country.

Uttar Pradesh – Rural Organisation for Social; Advancement (ROSA)
Gujrat - Sahyog Charitavle Trust
Tamil Nadu - Salem People’s Trust , etc
All these projects aim at improving the present conditions of the underprivileged
children by enrolling them in schools , opening schools , providing healthcare ,
medical facilities , preventing child marriages etc .

CRY believes that community mobilisation is one of the key aspects of ensuring sustainable
change.

For more than three decades, our approach has ensured that children, their parents and
communities are informed about their rights and engage with their local government bodies
to make sure that the root causes of their immediate problems are solved.
At CRY, we believe that sustainable change for children is possible only when we address the
root causes – such as non-functioning schools, child labour, unemployed parents, non-
availability of healthcare centers etc – that keep children away from their rights and
vulnerable.

Along with the support from over 200 grassroots-level partner NGOs, we work with children
and communities to make them aware of their rights, and empower them to address their
issues and demand what is rightfully theirs. Therefore ensuring not just a small change, but
an entire movement towards sustainable change in the lives of the children and their families.

 2017-18 CRY’S IMPACT

10,114 children immunized
13,330 children protected from malnutrition
3,64,818 children impacted
1,93,511 children enrolled in school
804 child labour free villages/ slums

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 2. SMILE FOUNDATION

Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 600,000 children and their
families every year, through more than 250 live welfare projects on education, healthcare,
livelihood and women empowerment, in over 950 remote villages and slums across 25 states
of India.

Education is both the means as well as the end to a better life: the means because it empowers
an individual to earn his/her livelihood and the end because it increases one's awareness on a
range of issues – from healthcare to appropriate social behaviour to understanding one's
rights – and in the process help him/her evolve as a better citizen.

 Vision

 Work as a catalyst in bringing sustainable change in the lives of underprivileged

children, youth and women, with a life-cycle approach of development.

 Enable the civil society across the world to engage proactively in the change
process through the philosophy of civic driven change.

 Adopt highest standards of governance to emerge as a leading knowledge and

technology driven, innovative and scalable international development organisation.

 Mission

 Smile Foundation is to empower underprivileged children, youth and women through

relevant education, innovative healthcare and market-focused livelihood programmes.

 Smile Foundation is to deploy best possible methodology and technology for

achieving ideal SROI (social return on investment), to practice and promote good
governance. To link business competitiveness of the corporate with social
development initiatives; also to sensitize privileged children, youth and citizens in
general to promote Civic Driven Change

25
  WORK DONE

Children are the future of a nation. For an emerging country like India, development of
underprivileged children holds the key to the progress of the nation itself, and their
education is the cornerstone of this progress. But education for children cannot be
achieved without ensuring the welfare of the family – a child can go to school regularly
only when the family, particularly the mother is healthy and empowered; the family has
decent livelihood opportunities and a steady income.

Realizing this, Smile Foundation, beginning in the corridors of education, has adopted a
lifecycle approach with intensive programmes focused on family health, livelihood and
community engagement through women empowerment, which addresses the needs of less
privileged children, their families and the larger community.

Mission Education

Mission Education is a national level programme of Smile Foundation, which is committed to

providing basic education and healthcare to underprivileged children.

Smile Foundation’s educational initiatives include Pre-school [3-6 yrs], Non Formal
Education [6-14 yrs non-school going], Remedial Education [6-14 yrs school going] and
Bridge Course [14-18 yrs drop-outs]. It works for education for underprivileged children who
are under difficult circumstances, such as child labour, children of poorest of the parents,
children inflicted and affected with HIV/AIDS, street and runaway children, children with
rare disabilities, disaster struck children and slum children. Special emphasis is given on girl
education and women education, so that they and their families get empowered.

Since its inception in 2002, more than 200,000 underprivileged children have directly
benefitted from the Mission Education programme.

Healthcare

mobile healthcare services delivery system is the most practical mechanism. And in
subscription to this view, Smile Foundation has initiated the Smile on Wheels programme.
This is a unique mobile hospital programme that seeks to address problems of mobility,

26
accessibility and availability of primary healthcare with a special focus on children and
women, in urban slums and remote rural areas.

The Smile on Wheels programme has so far provided free healthcare services to more than
10 lakh children and families.

Child For Child

Children are the future of a nation. They are the best change agents, be it in the family or the
community in which they live. It is therefore crucial to help the children, catch them young
and inculcate in them feelings of empathy and conscience so that they grow up as responsible
individuals. Sensing this need, Smile Foundation came up with Child For Child (CFC)
programme in 2006. Sensitization of privileged children and their parents, towards the
existing inequalities around them, is an important objective of CFC.

Privileged children are sensitized about the deprivation and pain endured by the
underprivileged kids. CFC seeks to inculcate a conscience and value system in the children so
that they grow up to become responsible citizens and change makers. Before their minds are
set with age, the CFC programme tries to make them count their own blessings and
understand the plight of less privileged ones

Under Child For Child programme, Smile Foundation visits various schools and conducts
engaging sessions for the young minds. It sensitizes children towards various causes and let
them realize their privileged status.

CFC currently reaches out to nearly one million privileged children in 900 schools spread
across 417 districts of India, every year.

 CAMPAIGNS

1. Every Child in School: A shocking 17.7 million children in India are out of school.
Working in hazardous conditions, living on the street, braving hunger, poverty and violence,
childhood for them has become an endless struggle to survive.

But despite their circumstances, they have not stopped dreaming. Their dreams are as
colourful as any other child’s and they have just as much potential to fulfil them. What they
lack is a fair chance – an opportunity to go school, to hone their talents, to even have a happy
and carefree childhood that every child deserves.

27
The Mission Education programme of Smile Foundation which is an NGO in India identifies
such out-of-school children from remote villages, tribal areas and urban slums, and provides
them quality education. In addition to this, it also looks after their health, nutrition, and
holistic development through participation in co-curricular activities.

2. She Can Fly : Smile Foundation’s initiative ‘She Can Fly’ is an effort to enable, equip
and empower girl children with quality education, proper nutrition, good health, adequate
skills, and above all a lot of self-confidence to help them live their lives to their fullest
potential.

This is also a step towards sensitizing the civil society at large and helping create a girl
child/women friendly society to help her thrive.10

9. https://www.smilefoundationindia.org

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 3. BACHPAN BACHAO ANDOLAN

Started in 1980, Bachpan Bachao Andolan is India’s largest movement for the
protection of children that works with law enforcement agencies and policy
makers to strengthen the system.

Kailash Satyarthi has been battling relentlessly for the rights of children for
over 3 decades. Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), the
grassroots movements founded by him, has liberated more than 87,000 children
from exploitation. He is also the founder of the Global March Against Child
Labour, the single largest civil society network, consistin g of a coalition of
NGOs, Teacher´s Unions and Trade Unions active in 103 countries for the
world´s most exploited children. Mr. Satyarthi´s efforts led to the adoption of
ILO Conventions 138 and 182 on worst forms of child labour in 1999. He is
also the Founding President of the Global Campaign for Education, a civil
society movement working to end the global education crisis, and GoodWeave
International, which was one of the first consumer awareness programmes and
the earliest example of modern corporate social responsibility. In 2014, he was
jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for the rights of all
children.

 VISION:

To create a child-friendly world where all children are free from exploitation and abuse.

 MISSION

To identify, release, rehabilitate and educate children in servitude through prevention, direct
intervention, coalition building, mass mobilization, legal action and for the creation of a child-friendly
society where all children are free from exploitation and receive free and quality education.

29
  WORK DONE

1. VICTIM ASSISTANCE

Over one lakh children go missing from various parts of the country every year
and most of them are forced to work as bonded labour in industries, homes and
farms. Victims Assistance works for the identification, liberation and
rehabilitation of all such victims.

 Rescue
Operations are conducted by developing local reporting mechanisms and
creating vigilant squads in suspected areas for identification of the
victims. Support and partnership with local administration and
government authorities is an important aspect of this intervention to
avoid any violation of law. Since 1980s, more than 87,000 children have
been liberated from bonded labour and servitude. Over 400 rescued
children are given immediate care and protection every year. Follow -ups
are done to ensure their access to education, schemes and thereby
assuring zero risk of re-trafficking.

 Rehabilitation
We believe that rehabilitation of victims is a long process which not only
includes their reintegration into the society but also their psychological
recovery from the trauma they have gone through by providing them with a
sense of liberty in a safe space. BBA launched a short -term home called Mukti-
Ashram in 1998 to provide a safe and immed iate response transitory
environment to rescued boys. They are provided with medical help, food,
clothing, recreational facilities, sports, theatre, and counselling during their
stay until all legal formalities and their repatriation is completed.

30
 4. ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Our most recent programme, Access to Justice was started in 2017 to ensure
that the institutes are capable, accountable and convergent to protect the
victims of child abuse and exploitation. It works to establish a smooth
coordination between different bodies of child protection like State
Commission for Protection of Child Rights, State Legal Services Authority and
National Legal Services Authority.

 Child Protection

It is achieved by creating a focused system in the country that is not only chi ld
friendly but provides accountability and sustainability of the agencies. It deals
with initiatives to ensure timely justice to the victims, percolating the same till
district level. This is done through partnership with NALSA and bringing
together Sate Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) and State
Legal Services Authority (SLSA) on a common platform to discuss child issues
in the states. Strong engagements with SCPCR are carried out to gain a stock of
cases registered in all the states. We are also establishing a close network of
NGOs across the country to identify state specific issues and effective tracking
of child related cases.

 Institutional Building

There are multiple child protection institutions in the country. Yet, there
are gaps in coordination and fixing accountability. We work to enhance
their abilities, skills and knowledge. We have launched initiatives to
strengthen the process of protection and prosecution mechanisms in cases
of crime against children, through capacity build ing of state
governments. We conduct trainings and workshops for various
stakeholders including police, lawyers, Child Welfare Committees,
Juvenile Justice Board, NGOs, activists and other implementing agencies
along with creating Standard Operating Proced ures for issues pertaining
to child protection.

31
 5. POLICY AND LEGAL REFORMS

We believe in existing constitutional provisions to enforce the fundamental

rights of children. But we also advocate for new laws and amendment in the
existing ones, whenever we find gaps in the legislation and governance.

 Legal Actions

Our legal interventions include filing Public Interest Litigations (PILs) for
mobilizing support towards the issue of child protection. We have filed a
number of writ petitions over the last few decades and are behind some of the
landmark judgments made by Supreme Court on the protection child rights.
This has led to significant policy changes helping us to create a safe and
friendly environment for children in th e country. We started All India Legal
Aid Services on Child Rights (AILASCR) in 2009 with an aim to ensure access
to justice in cases of crimes against children. It was established in
collaboration with National Legal Services Authority and Delhi State Leg al
Services Authority.

 Policy

As India’s leading child rights organization and a subject matter expert, we

participate in the law drafting process of the government and provide
consultancy in policy formation. From trainings, workshops, consultations and
lectures at various platforms t o preparing learning material for manuals and
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), we work to create an all -encompassing
learning and developing environment for child protection in the best possible
manner. We draft SOPs for the governments to lay down th e ideal code of
conduct with regard to specific issues pertaining to child protection. 1 1

10. http://bba.org.i

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 4. CHILDLINE INDIA FOUNDATION

CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) is the central nodal agency for the replication of the
CHILDLINE service. It was established on 28th May 1999 and registered under the Society's
Registration Act of 1960 and the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1890.

What was coming across in those early days was the need for a toll free , 24 hour service,
that could work across cities, which children could access from anywhere at anytime!

CHILDLINE was founded by Ms. Jeroo Billimoria, who was then a professor at the Tata
Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai. Initiated in June 1996 as an experimental
project of the department of Family and Child Welfare of TISS, CHILDLINE has come a
long way today, to becoming a nationwide emergency helpline for children in distress.

 VISION

A child-friendly nation that guarantees the rights and protection of all children.

 MISSION

CHILDLINE will reach out to every child in need and ensure their rights and protection
through the Four Cs.

 CONNECT through technology to reach the 'last mile'.

 CATALYSE systems through active advocacy.
 COLLABORATE through integrated efforts between children, the state, civil society,
corporates and community to build a child friendly social order.
 COMMUNICATE to make child protection everybody's priority.

CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) is the nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Women
and Child Development acting as the parent organisation for setting up, managing and
monitoring the CHILDLINE 1098 service all over the country. CIF is the sole agency/body
responsible for establishing the CHILDLINE service in the cities/districts of the country,
monitoring of service delivery and finance, training, research and documentation, creating
awareness, advocacy as well as resource generation for the service.

33
 CHILDLINE 1098 service is a 24 hour free emergency phone outreach service for children in
need of care and protection. CIF undertakes replication of CHILDLINE, networking and
facilitation, training, research and documentation, and Communications and Strategic
Initiatives both at the national and international level.

CHILDLINE is a platform bringing together the Ministry of Women & Child Development,
Government of India, Department of Telecommunications, street and community youth, non-
profit organisations, academic institutions, the corporate sector and concerned individuals.

We work for the protection of the rights of all children in general. But our special focus is on
all children in need of care and protection, especially the more vulnerable sections, which
include:

 Street children and youth living alone on the streets.

 Child labourers working in the unorganised and organized sectors.
 Domestic help, especially girl domestics.
 Children affected by physical / sexual / emotional abuse in family, schools or institutions.
 Children who need emotional support and guidance.
 Children of commercial sex workers
 Child victims of the flesh trade
 Victims of child trafficking
 Children abandoned by parents or guardians
 Missing children.
 Run away children.
 Children who are victims of substance abuse
 Differently-abled children
 Children in conflict with the law
 Children in institutions
 Mentally challenged children
 HIV/ AIDS infected children
 Children affected by conflict and disaster
 Child political refugees
 Children whose families are in crises

34
 Objectives »

 To reach out to every child in need of care and protection by responding to emergencies on
1098.
 Awareness about CHILDLINE 1098 amongst every Indian child.
 To provide a platform of networking amongst organisations and to provide linkages to
support systems that facilitate the rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection.
 To work together with the Allied Systems (Police, Health Care, Juvenile Justice, Transport,
Legal, Education, Communication, Media, Political and the Community) to create child
friendly systems.
 To advocate services for children that are inaccessible or non existent.
 To create a body of NGOs and Government organisations working within the national
framework and policy for children.
 To be a nodal child protection agency in the country, providing child protection services to
children in need of care and protection.
 To contribute and work towards strengthening and participating in a global movement that
addresses issues related to child protection and ensures that children's voices are heard.12

11. http://www.childlineindia.org.in/1098/b1a-telehelpline.html

35
 5. SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE , INDIA

Working with abandoned children and orphans, this institution tries to bring children under a
protected umbrella. We are an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organisation
working for the holistic development of parentless children, women and children belonging
to vulnerable families. Founded in 1949 in Austria, SOS Children's Villages began its
operations in India in 1964. For over 50 years, we have reached out to over 25,000
children through our 32 SOS Children's Villages and 32 community projects in India.

SOS Children's Villages of India was established in 1964 at Faridabad near Delhi. SOS India
has worked with children, communities, disaster struck and disaster prone areas, giving hope
to weary communities and families. SOS India is the largest operation within the SOS
International Federation of 134 countries.

At SOS Children’s Villages of India, we are committed to the welfare of parentless and
abandoned children and to strengthening families and communities as a preventive measure
in the fight against abandonment and social neglect.
The organisation’s work is based on the following four pillars:

 The Mother: Every child has a caring parent

 Brothers and Sisters: Every child has family ties and he or she grows up with a sense
3of responsibility and a spirit of sharing
 The House: A place where the child feels secure and has a sense of belonging
 The Village: A community that surrounds the child so that every child has familial
root

 VISION AND MISSION

In India, the organization caters to over 25,000 children and there are 32 SOS Children's
Villages in 22 states in India.

As an independent non-governmental social development organization:

 We take action for children in need of care and protection.

36
  We respect varying religions and cultures, and we work in communities where our
mission can contribute to development.

 We work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and
we promote these rights through our flagship programmes, namely the Family Based
Care and the Family Strengthening Programme.

With the SOS Children's Village concept, our organization has pioneered a family approach
to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children in India.

 WORK DONE

At SOS Children’s Villages of India, we are committed to the welfare of parentless and
abandoned children, often throughout the whole of their childhood and to strengthening
families and communities as a preventive measure in the fight against child abandonment and
social neglect.

1. FAMILY BASED CARE (FBC)

FBC, a curative programme of SOS Children's Villages of India, reaches out to over 6,500
once parentless or abandoned girls and boys in 32 SOS Children's Villages across India. Each
children's village has 12-15 family homes, with every home consisting of 10 children on an
average along with an SOS Mother. All round development including education, nutrition,
health and psychological development is taken care of till the children are settled in their
lives.

2. FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMME (FSP)

FSP, a preventive community intervention programme, covers over 17,000 children at

32 locations across India. Designed to prevent children from losing parental care or from
being abandoned, this programme runs in slums and rural areas, within a 30km radius of an
SOS Children's Village. The beneficiaries of this programme are children of the most
vulnerable lot i.e. children of widows, single women, and Below Poverty Line (BPL)
families. Spanning 3 to 5 years, the programme aims to enable families to move out of the
vicious cycle of poverty towards greater dignity and self-reliance by ensuring education of
children and income generating capacity development of the care givers. In the process it
strengthens not only the families and their children whose upliftment it basically aims at, but

37
also creates a vibrant network within the community that will last much longer and become
sustainable in caring for the vulnerable families for a very long period.

At present SOS India reaches out to more than 17,000 children and their families through the
programme. It is being implemented at 32 locations in 22 states and is supported by local
partners and communities.

3. CHILD RIGHTS
The work of SOS Children’s Villages is based on children’s rights. The United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child is a reference for any NGO working with and for
children and therefore for SOS Children’s Villages of India. SOS Children’s Villages of India
works in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and promotes
these rights through its unique family based care model across 22 states in India.
SOS Children's Villages of India was invited by Delhi Commission for Protection of Child
Rights to spoeak on "Strengthening Family Care programme" on 10th December 2013. SOS
model of care was presented during the session on "Foster care and community based care"

The organization actively participated in National Consultation on United Nations -

Stakeholders Workshop: Developing the agenda post 2015 MDG (Millenium Development
Goal). It also participated in a seminar on creation of National Action and Coordinating
Groups on Violence Against Children (NACG) in India which was organized by UNICEF.

4. EDUCATION

At SOS Children’s Villages of India, we not only provide abandoned and parentless children
a loving home but also ensure that they receive proper education. We want our children to
become capable, contributing members of society, which is why all our efforts are directed
towards helping them realise their highest potential in this competitive world.
SOS India has set up Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools, Professional Institutes
and Vocational Training Centres across India. These institutes not only cater to the
educational needs of children under our care but also in the neighbourhood communities.

12. https://www.soschildrensvillages.in/

38
 LOCAL NGOs – CHANDIGARH
It is true that Chandigarh is a city of people with big heart and that is why the city has
numerous philanthropists to support the noble cause of the society. The city beautiful alone
has various NGOs in Chandigarh out of which some are working for women and child
welfare, some are working to support and help the economically weaker section of the
society, while some are working to help the old aged and others for the road safety.

1. 1. Saarthi
In the list of famous NGOs in Chandigarh, Saarthi is one of those organizations that work for
the cause of educating underprivileged children. It aims at empowering youth to channelize
their skills and quality in acquiring better lives for themselves and get better earning options.
As the name of the organization suggests it follows its motto of enlightening the pathway of
those who have fewer resources to basic education and the basic standard of the livelihood.

2. Smile foundation Chandigarh

This Mission Education project imparts education to underprivileged children of Chandigarh.

It mainly focuses on children coming from the slums, streets and resettlement colonies of the
union territory. With six centres operating in different parts of the city, this programme is
benefitting over 300 impoverished kids by providing education, basic healthcare and
nutritional support.

2. 3. Right way child and women welfare Society

Right way child and women welfare society is a Registered Charitable society in Chandigarh
with 9 years of experience, working towards creating sustainable change in the field of
Women empowerment, educating disabled children and street children across Chandigarh
and surroundings. We provide safety net, shelter, education, nutritious food, health-care,
counseling and vocational training to help children develop to their full potential and live a
dignified life. Right way child and women welfare society is committed to rescuing,
safeguarding, rehabilitating helpless women through its unique programmes for women in
extremely difficult circumstances.

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ROLE OF UNICEF FOR CHILD WELFARE
IN INDIA
UNICEF stands for United Nations Children's Fund. It's a United Nations (UN)
programme headquartered in New York City that provides humanitarian and developmental
assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

UNICEF has been working in India since 1949. The largest UN organisation in the country,
UNICEF is fully committed to work with the Government of India to ensure that each child
born in this vast and complex country gets the best start in life, thrives and develops to his or
her full potential. . The organisation began its work in India in 1949 with three staff members
and established an office in Delhi three years later. Currently, it advocates for the rights of
India’s children in 16 states.

The challenge is enormous but UNICEF is well placed to meet it. The organisation uses
quality research and data to understand issues, implements new and innovative interventions
that address the situation of children, and works with partners to bring those innovations to
fruitition.

UNICEF India recognizes that the health, hygiene, nutrition, education, protection and
social development of children are all connected. Targeting efforts for them at all stages of
their growth – infant and mother, child and adolescent – and on a range of traditional
programme fronts will see that inroads are made to ensure children not only survive, but
thrive too.

 HISTORY OF INITIATIVES

1949- India’s first Penicillin Plant Established India’s first penicillin plant set up at Pimpri.
It was the first public sector undertaking in the Drugs & Pharmaceutical Sector. UNICEF
provided equipment and technical assistance.

1963 -Applied Nutrition Programme A nationwide village–based Applied Nutrition

Programme was introduced in 1963. India signed a master plan of operation with UNICEF
and its sister agencies, WHO and FAO; UNICEF assisted ANP with equipment and supplies.

40
1975 - Integrated Child Development Services The Government launched the Integrated
Child Development Services scheme to improve nutrition and health for children under six as
well as expectant and nursing mothers. The scheme now reaches nearly forty million
children.

1985 - National Mission on Immunization UNICEF supported Prime Minister Rajiv

Gandhi's National Mission on Immunization. At the end of 1990, India announced that
immunization coverage for children under the age of one had surpassed 80%.

1989- Mahila Samakhya –Education for women’s equality Mahila Samakhya (meaning
education for womens equality), launched in 1989, is now active in 12,000 villages, over 60
districts in 9 states including Bihar, where UNICEF and Mahila Samakhya have long been
partners.

2005- Joyful Learning Since 1991, joyful learning has emerged as a powerful concept to
change the way schools and classrooms are managed. Whether it is in Nalli Kalli of
Karnataka, the Quality Education Schools in UP or elsewhere - UNICEF has supported joyful
learning.

2012–Polio Campaign Polio cases in India fell from 559 in 2008 to cero cases in 2012. The
Government, in partnership with UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention contributed to almost universal awareness of the need to vaccinate all children
under five against polio. As a result of these efforts, India was removed from the list of
endemic countries in 2014.

2013- Reduction in MMR UNICEF’sSupport to the National Health Mission (NRHM) and
the second phase of the Reproductive and Child Health programme resulted in increased
access to institutional and community-based maternal, neonatal and child health services.
This contributed to a reduction in the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)from 254 in 2004-06 to
167 in 2011-13, and the Infant Mortality Rate(IMR)from 66 in 2001 to 40 in 2013.In
February 2013, India launched its Call to Action to reduce the under-five mortality. The CTA
has brought together state governments, development partners, such as UNICEF, NGOs, the
corporate sector and other key stakeholders under the umbrella to ensure harmony in efforts
to accelerate inroads in child survival.

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2013 -Communication Campaign on Maternal and Child Nutrition The Ministry of
Women and Child Development (MWCD) successfully launched a nationwide
Communication Campaign on Maternal and Child Nutritionin November 2012, jointly with
Mr. Aamir Khan, the renowned actor and UNICEF Ambassador promoting nutrition for
children. This was one of the largest public service campaigns in the country, reaching people
across India, through diverse means of communication in 18 languages

2014 – India Newborn Action Plan launched This Action Plan, the first of this kind in the
region, builds upon the existing commitments for newborn under Call to Action, the
RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health + Adolescent) Strategic
Framework and the National Health Mission, and is part of a series of initiatives taken by
MOH to reduce child deaths giving simultaneous focus on pneumonia and diarrhoea. It aims
at achieving a single digit neonatal mortality and still birth rate by 20130.

 ROLE OF UNICEF FOR CHILD WELFARE IN INDIA

NEW DELHI, August 22, 2013 – Violence against children is all too often unseen, unheard
and underreported, said UNICEF India today, announcing an initiative that urges citizens,
lawmakers and government "

UNICEF uses the term ‘child protection’ to refer to preventing and responding to violence,
exploitation and abuse against children – including commercial sexual exploitation,
trafficking, child labour and harmful traditional practices, such as child marriage.

UNICEF’s child protection programmes also target children who are uniquely vulnerable to
these abuses, such as when living without parental care, in conflict with the law and in armed
conflict. Violations of the child’s right to protection take place in every country and are
massive, under-recognized and under-reported barriers to child survival and development, in
addition to being human rights violations.

Children subjected to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect are at risk of death, poor
physical and mental health, HIV/AIDS infection, educational problems, displacement,
homelessness, vagrancy and poor parenting skills later in life.

Child protection is an issue in every country and a high priority for UNICEF. Under the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international treaties, all children have the

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right to be protected from harm. UNICEF activities are guided by the existing international
normative framework for the rights of the child, as well as decisions and policies agreed in
United Nations intergovernmental bodies.

 A Protective Environment for all Children

Preventing and responding to violence, exploitation and abuse is essential to ensuring

children’s rights to survival, development and well-being. The vision and
approach of UNICEF is to create a protective environment, where girls and boys are free
from violence, exploitation, and unnecessary separation from family; and where laws,
services, behaviours and practices minimize children’s vulnerability, address known risk
factors, and strengthen children’s own resilience.

This approach is human rights-based, and emphasizes prevention as well as the accountability
of governments.

This protective environment rests in 2 strategic pillars: strengthening of national systems and
social change, which translate into the following 8 key strategies:

1. Governmental commitment to fulfilling protection rights: includes social welfare policies,

adequate budgets, public acknowledgement and ratification of international instruments.

2. Legislation and enforcement: includes an adequate legislative framework, its consistent

implementation, accountability and a lack of impunity.

3. Attitudes, traditions, customs, behaviour and practices: includes social norms and
traditions that condemn injurious practices and support those that are protective.

4. Open discussion, including the engagement of media and civil society: acknowledges
silence as a major impediment to securing government commitment, supporting positive
practices and ensuring the involvement of children and families.

5. Children’s life skills, knowledge and participation: includes children, both girls and boys,
as actors in their own protection through use of knowledge of their protection rights and ways
of avoiding and responding to risks.

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6. Capacity of those in contact with the child: includes the knowledge, motivation and
support needed by families and by community members, teachers, health and social workers
and police, in order to protect children.

7. Basic and Targeted Services: includes the basic social services, health and education to
which children have the right, without discrimination, and also specific services that help to
prevent violence and exploitation, and provide care, support and reintegration assistance in
situations of violence, abuse and separation.

8. Monitoring and oversight: includes effective systems of monitoring such as data collection,
and oversight of trends and responses.

 UNICEF and Child Protection in India

The goal of the programme is to prevent violence against children and to strengthen
protection services for children in vulnerable situations.

1. It supports the implementation of the Government of India’s newly launched

Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) to create a protective
environment for children through the improvement and expansion of services
for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with the law
under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and related legislation.

2. UNICEF also supports the government in order to contribute to a reduction of

child labour by strengthening child protection structures to adequately protect
children against exploitation and abuse, improving the quality of education to
increase enrolment and retention, raising awareness and empowering families
and communities so that they take collective action against child labour, and
addressing exclusion of vulnerable families to service provision and social
protection schemes.

3. UNICEF also works closely with the Ministry of Women and Child
Development and other stakeholders to reduce the incidence of child marriage,
ensuring implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and
addressing the social norms that underline this practice.

4. Other areas where UNICEF supports the Government of India and other
partners are on the prevention of child trafficking and the rehabilitation,
return, and integration of trafficked children; the fight against corporal

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 punishment; promotion of birth registration; and strengthening its knowledge
base on the situation of children and child protection issues in the country.

 COUNTRY PROGRAMME
The overall goal of the 2013-2017 country programme is to advance the rights of children,
adolescents and women to survival, growth, development, participation and protection by
reducing inequities based on caste, ethnicity, gender, poverty, region or religion.

The CPAP document is a culmination of months of joint efforts and consultations between
UNICEF, government counterparts across several ministries and departments. I would like to
take a moment here to acknowledge the role of our nodal Ministry - Ministry of Women and
Child Development, in providing key inputs to our Country Programme Document, which
was approved by the Executive Board in September 2012.

Based on the broad strokes of our new country programme as outlined in the Country
Programme Document, we have developed the CPAP. It details our programmatic objectives
and strategies of the programme of cooperation with the Government which aims to be:

 Relevant to the rapidly changing context in India, and what added value
UNICEF can bring
 Aligned to national priorities as enshrined in the Government’s 12th Five Year
Plan Approach Paper on “Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth”
 Convergent in its approach: so that all programmes work together to achieve
outcomes for children and women throughout their life cycle
 Effective and equitable by taking informed decisions so as to reach the most
marginalised and the vulnerable.

The life cycle approach is the core principle of the Country Programme 2013-2017. This is
based on the acknowledgement that children and women face multiple deprivations at
different stages of their life and that multi-dimensional problems need multi-pronged, inter-
sectoral solutions

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 CONCLUSION
A country like with exploding population and limited resources per person , competition for
survival becomes obvious .it there when the most vulnerable section of the society becomes
the easy target. They become prone to illegal activities , exploited by the influential just to
earn their livelihood.

The role played by both NGOs and UNICEF in India in the field of child welfare cannot be
denied . these organisations stood for the those who are assumed to have no voice of their
own . but coming NGOs , the scenarios has changed today, some of the NGOs have become a
entre of child exploitation , child prostitution , child labour etc . there is a need on the part of
the Indian govt to take strict action against such offenders and conduct regular inspections ,
surprise visits to such NGOs for keeping them within the law . some cases, NGOs become
spokespersons or ombudsmen for the poor and attempt to influence government policies and
programs on their behalf. This may be done through a variety of means ranging from
demonstration and pilot projects to participation in public forums and the formulation of
government policy and plans, to publicizing research results and case studies of the poor.
Thus NGOs play roles from advocates for the poor to implementers of government programs;
from agitators and critics to partners and advisors; from sponsors of pilot projects to
mediators.

The initiates undertaken by UNICEF are a way for creating a better , positive environment for
the child , its proper development . . Basic and Targeted Services: includes the basic social
services, health and education to which children have the right, without discrimination, and
also specific services that help to prevent violence and exploitation, and provide care, support
and reintegration assistance in situations of violence, abuse and separation.

But child welfare cannot solely depend on these two agencies, holistic contribution of the
government , the people are equally important for the implementation of the visions ,
missions of these organisations .

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 REFERENCE

Webliographgy :
1. http://bba.org.i ( accessed on 20 Aug 2018 at 6:00pm )
2. http://www.childlineindia.org.in/1098/b1a-tebilehelpline.htm (accessed on 20 Aug
2018 at 7:00pm)
3. https://www.cry.org (accessed on 20 Aug 2018 at 7:15 pm)
4. https://educateachild.org/our-partners-projects/country/india accessed on 23 Aug 2018
at 9;00pm)
5. http://www.mppg-nsu.org/attachments/339_Thesis-Kawshar%20Jahan.pdf (accessed
on 25 Aug 2018 at 3:00pm)
6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309124447_Development_of_the_Concept_
of_Childhood_and_Child_Welfare_in_India (accessed on 1 September 2018 at
6:00pm)
7. https://www.smilefoundationindia.org (accessed on 1 September 2018 at 7:00pm)
8. https://www.soschildrensvillages.in/ (accessed on 1 September 2018 at 9:00pm)

Bibliograpghy
5. Child welfare in India: an integrated approach, Ministry of Education,
Government of India, 1963
6. Child Welfare Needs: Assessment and Recommendations
Indian Association of Alberta , The Association , 1987

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