The Government
of India adopted a National
Policy for children in
August 1974.

“It shall be the policy of the state to
provide adequate services to
children both before and after birth
and through the period of growth, to
ensure their full physical, mental
and social development. The state
shall progressively increase the
scope of such services. So that
within a reasonable time all children
in the country enjoy optimum
conditions for their balanced
growth.”

According to the declaration, the
development of children has been
considered as integral part of
national development.
The policy recognizes children as
the “Nation’s supremely
important asset” and declares that
the nation is responsible for their
“Nurture and Solicitude”.

It also emphasizes the priorities
of children’s program and
special focus on child health,
child nutrition and welfare of
the handicapped and destitute
(extremely poor) children.

A number of programs were
introduced by the Govt.of
India, after the declaration of
national policy for children.
The important programs are:

 ICDS Scheme
 Programs of supplementary
feeding
 Nutrition education
 CSSM programs etc.

1. To achieve an acceptable standard of
good health amongst the entire
population in children of the country.
2. To provide the framework for assigning
priorities to different needs of children
and respond to them in an integrated
manner.
3. To make all available resources to
provide quality nursing care for
children.
4. To ensure a more equitable access to
health services in children.

Public intervention aimed at establishing,
maintaining and strengthening the
political, economic, social, and cultural,
structured determinants of good health.
Public policies aimed at individuals and
focussed on changes in individual
behaviour and lifestyles.
3rd type of public intervention include
socialising and empowering determinants.

1. A comprehensive health
program for all children and
provision of nutrition services
for children.
2. Provision of health care,
nutrition and nutrition education
for mothers.

3.Free and compulsory education
up to the age of 14years,
informal education for
preschoolers and efforts to
reduce wastage and stagnation in
schools.
4.Out of school education for
those not having, access to formal
education

5.Promotion of games,
recreation and extracurricular
activities in schools and
community centers.
6.Facilities for education,
training and rehabilitation for
children in distress.

7.Protection against neglect,
cruelty and exploitation.
8.Banning of employment in
hazardous occupations and in
heavy work for children.

10.Special treatment, education,
rehabilitation and care of
physically handicapped,
emotionally disturbed or
mentally retarded children

11.Priority for the protection
and relief of children in times
of national distress and
calamity.
12. Special programs to
encourage talented and gifted
children, particularly from the
weaker sections.

13.Paramount consideration in all
relevant laws is the “Interests of
children”.
14. Strengthening family ties to
enable children to grow within
the family, neighborhood and
community environment.
15. Provision of nutrition in
schools

16. Immunization programme.
17. School health programme.
18. Maternal and child health
services.
19. Health education
20. Monitoring and review of
progress

•1. Survival, Health and
Nutrition
•2. Education and
Development
•3. Protection
•4. Participation
The rights of the children are
categorized under four Key
Priority Areas which are:

The Children Act 1960 in India,
provides for the care maintenance,
welfare, training, education and
rehabilitation of the deliquent child.
It covers the neglected, destitute, socially
handicapped, uncontrollable, victimised
and deliquent children.

1. The Juvenile Justice (Care and
Protection of Children) Act,
2000
It provides a comprehensive
scheme for care, protection,
treatment, development and
rehabilitation of deliquent
juveniles.

2.The Child Labour (Prohibition and
Regulation) Act, 1986.
3.The Child Marriage Restraint Act
1929
4.The Hindu Adoptions and
Maintenance Act 1956.

5. The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding
Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of
Production, Supply and Distribution)
Act, 1992.
6. The Pre-Conception and Pre-natal
Diagnostic Technique(Prohibition of Sex
Selection) Act, 1994.
7. The Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and
Full Participation) Act, 1995

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