People of India will always be grateful to those who fought for the vision of a self-reliant country. And one of them was the nation’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Apart from being a competent administrator, Jawaharlal Nehru is also famous for his affection for children. He said,
"Children are like the buds in a garden. They should be nurtured carefully and lovingly. The way we bring them up will determine the future of India."
He was fondly known by children as Chacha Nehru, who made several contributions towards children’s education in India. He:
• saw through the establishment of some important educational institutions like the AIIMS, IIT and IIM
• started the Children's Film Society India in 1955 to create native cinema exclusively for children
He did not discriminate between genders and believed in giving equal opportunities to everyone, especially the downtrodden. Therefore, even though India was already observing Children's Day on November 20 (the United Nations observes it on this day), the Parliament passed a resolution to mark Nehru’s birthday as Children's Day after his demise in 1964.
Ever since, schools and colleges observe this memorable day with songs, dance performances, plays, debates and many other colourful events. Although it has been around six decades since his demise, his core message of helping disadvantaged communities and their children rise, remains relevant even today.
Rights of children
While children from better-off families observe this special day in schools with fun and fanfare, 33 lakh children in India cannot learn, play or even access their basic rights due to financial constraints and hunger. As a result, they are often treated unfairly by being forced to work or get married.
A child in India is entitled to the below-stated fundamental rights:
Right to Survival:
A child in India has the right to be born and have access to nutritious food, shelter, clothing, health care, safe drinking water, a clean and safe environment, information to help stay healthy and live a life of dignity.
Right to Development:
A child in India has the right to learning, education, relaxation, play and all forms of development–emotional, mental and physical.
Right to Protection:
A child in India has the right to be safeguarded from neglect, violence, harmful drugs, physical and sexual abuse.
Right to Participation:
A child in India has the right to information and to take part in any decision-making that involves him/her directly or indirectly. He/she also has the freedom of expression, association and opinion.
If children in India cannot access their basic rights, it is bound to hinder the pace of progress for the country.
Today, we certainly have many Government initiatives like PM Poshan Abhiyaan, SHRESTHA and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao concerning the healthy development of children. But their effective implementation is possible only with support and contribution from the people to feed the hungry children in remote regions of the country.
About PM Poshan Abhiyaan and Anganwadi Feeding
Among others, food is the most crucial aspect of child rights, since it is the bedrock for all forms of development. The PM Poshan Abhiyaan is one scheme by the Government of India that takes care of child nourishment along with incentivising underprivileged children to come to school. When they attend school, they can also exercise other rights such as education, play, relaxation and protection.
PM Poshan Abhiyaan is a new version of the Mid-Day Meal Programme (MDM) that provides lunch to primary school students in Government and Government-aided schools throughout the academic year. However, the revamped model of MDM comes with added benefits. It:
• nourishes children of pre-primary school or Bal Vatika while providing supplementary nutrition for anaemic children
• mandates specialists to keep a check on the nutrition, haemoglobin levels, BMI and weight of school children
• teaches children to grow food for a “first-hand experience with nature and gardening” with nutritional gardens
• supports women’s self-help groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by procuring locally produced raw materials
• authorises for inspection by college and university students to ensure ground-level execution
• encourages communities to provide food to children during festivals
Additionally, nutrition in the first few months after a child is born determines the level of development of his/her vital organs. Thus, like PM Poshan Abhiyaan, Anganwadi Feeding is also a Government initiative that was started as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme in 1975 to give a healthy start to pregnant women, nursing mothers and their children. Under this initiative, they are given care and nourishment in Anganwadi centres.
NGO for children
In the past few decades, many NGOs have worked tirelessly to protect child rights with support from compassionate and responsible global citizens.
Akshaya Patra is one such well-known NGO in India that has dedicated programmes feeding millions of children daily. They support the Government’s vision with PM Poshan Abhiyaan and Anganwadi Feeding.
The NGO is registered under the Indian Trusts Act of 1882 and is recognised for running the world’s largest school lunch programme. By donating to Akshaya Patra, you can also avail 50% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act as the Foundation is registered under section 12 A of the IT Act.
So let’s see through the execution of the vision our founding fathers had for India. This Children’s Day, let’s donate for children who need our support!