Many children still in clutches of malnutrition in MP

Staff Reporter : Thirty years after global leaders adopted United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (UNCRC), child rights is still an unfinished agenda. Many children are still not in school, facing poverty, exploitation, violence, neglect and abuse. According to National Family Health Survey- 4, 42 per cent children in the State are still malnourished. According to the same survey, percentage of marriages in age below 18 has decreased from 57.3 percent to 32.4 per cent.

It is high time the State Government implements Child Rights Act on the basis of UNCRC and SDG and lay special focus to curb malnutrition in State, the report said. These discussions were a part of Child rights report release event which was organised at Hotel Palash on Thursday. Dr Pankaj Shukla, Deputy Director National Health Mission, was present as special guest. He highlighted issues of malnutrition in the State and said that Health Department is continuously monitoring the situation as surveys are being conducted to identify any malnutrition cases in area. Naki Jahan Qureshi, Deputy Director, Women and Child Department was also representatives chief guest.

She said that there is need to ensure child participation and accountability mechanism and children’s voice is not ignored in taking decisions on issues related to children. Focus also needs to be given to ‘Increase investment on children’ - Increase investment on children’s health, nutrition, education and safety. Ingrid mendonda from joining forces India said that t he main points includes Completely fulfilling the ‘no child left behind’ pledge-to ensure that no child is left out in the development policy and program related to children. Secondly ‘Prevention of Violence Against Children’ - Right to Education Act, Child Marriage Prohibition Act, JJ Act and PCPNDTACT effective implementation and giving equal rights of free life to boys and girls. Besides Compilation of data related to issues related to children’ - Government and social institutions to prepare a reliable collection of data related to issues related to children so that effective policies can be made.

‘Child Rights in India - An incomplete agenda ‘states that according to the National Crime Records Bureau, the rape of children has increased five-fold from 1994 to 2016 in the country , which is a major concern for child protection in the country. This report has been made by Joining Forces for Children- India. Joining Forces for Children- India is a coalition of six major organizations of India. This report states that India has recorded historical progress in combating deaths of children below five years due to preventable diseases. India has made progress on a number of child rights related indicators, including many laws and policies which are highly commendable. However, the violation of child rights is a very serious matter. Experts said that the government to develop a strong and robust system to fulfill the obligations of the child rights of the country to ensure that every child has the right to development, protection and participation.