GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES

The Ministry of Women and Child Development(External website that opens in a new
window) has come up with several schemes deciding the norms of child nutrition. These
are:

 National Guidelines on Infants and Young Child Feeding(File referring to

external site opens in a new window) : these guidelines emphasize the importance
of breast feeding. Breast feeding must commence immediately after birth and continue
exclusively for six months before other forms of milk are introduced. Appropriate and
adequate complementary feeding must commence there after and breast-feeding can
continue for up to two years.
 National Nutrition Policy(File referring to external site opens in a new
window) : was adopted by the Government of India in 1993 under the aegis of the
Department of Women and Child Development. It advocated a multi-sectoral strategy for
eradicating malnutrition and achieving optimum nutrition for all. The policy advocates the
monitoring the nutrition levels across the country and sensitising government machinery
on the need for good nutrition and prevention of malnutrition. The National Nutrition
Policy also includes the Food and Nutrition Board, which develops posters, audio jingles
and video spots for disseminating correct facts about breastfeeding and complementary
feeding.
 The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme(External website that opens
in a new window): is one of the most comprehensive schemes on child development in
the country and perhaps in the world. The Ministry of Women and Child
Development(External website that opens in a new window) has been running the scheme
since 1975 in pursuance of the National Policy for Children(External website that opens in
a new window). It aims at providing services to pre-school children in an integrated
manner so as to ensure proper growth and development of children in rural, tribal and
slum areas. This centrally sponsored scheme also monitors nutrition of children.
 Udisha(External website that opens in a new window): in Sanskrit means the first
rays of the new dawn. It is a nationwide training component of the World Bank(External
website that opens in a new window) assisted Women and Child Development
Project(External website that opens in a new window). Udisha has been cleared with an
outlay of about Rs.600 crores for five years. UNICEF is also a technical collaborator in the
Project. The programmes aims to train child care workers across the country. Its scope
reaches as far are remote villages.
o Training Programmes under Udisha(External website that opens in a new window)
o The Udisha Team(External website that opens in a new window)
o Udisha at the State level(External website that opens in a new window)
 National Policy for Children(External website that opens in a new window) lays down
that the State shall provide adequate services towards children, both before and after
birth and during the growing stages for their full physical, mental and social development.
 National Charter for Children emphasizes Government of India's commitment to
children's rights to survival, health and nutrition, standard of living, play and leisure,
early childhood care, education, protection of the girl child, empowering adolescents,
equality, life and liberty, name and nationality, freedom of expression, freedom of
association and peaceful assembly, the right to a family and the right to be protected
from economic exploitation and all forms of abuse.
 National Plan of Action for Children(External website that opens in a new
window) includes goals, objectives, strategies and activities for improving the nutritional
status of children, reducing Infant Mortality Rate, increasing enrolment ratio, reducing
drop out rates, universalisation of primary education and increasing coverage for
immunization.
 Child welfare

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. Under these conditions, children are removed on a
temporary basis while the parents, and possibly remaining siblings,
receive supportive services until the family is deemed in a position to
resume care of the child.

 Although removal of a child may be deemed better than remaining in a

situation of danger, either in the form of neglect or abuse, there are also
serious consequences to such actions. Children naturally form strong
attachment bonds to their parents, even when abused, and breaking
these bonds is psychologically traumatic. Thus, the decision to remove
a child cannot be taken lightly. Fundamentally, however, a child whose
situation is so bad that it warrants breaking up the family for the sake
of the child's welfare has already seriously damaged the child. To grow
up healthy, children need more than external things such as shelter,
food, and the material necessities of life and the absence of abuse.
Children also require the loving care of parents to nurture their
emotional and psychological development. Unfortunately, such support
cannot be imposed by any government program, and so many children
lack the love and security that they need to grow up to be healthy
adults.