Children in India: 2020 and Beyond

 

India is home to the largest child population in the world. The Constitution of India has made the State responsible for ensuring the protection of childhood from exploitation and moral and material abandonment. This is the high time that we should see how safe and protected our children are in 2020 and what we expect their condition beyond this decade.

As per Census 2011, India, with a population of 121.1 crore, has 13.59 % (16.45 crore) of its population in the age group 0-6 years and 30.76% (37.24 crore) in the age group of 0-14 years.

(In crores)

Total				Rural			Urban
	Persons	Male	Female	Persons	Male	Female	Persons	Male	Female
Total Population	121.9	62.33	58.76	83.37	42.78	40.60	37.71	19.55	18.16
0-6 years	16.45	8.58	7.88	12.13	6.31	5.82	4.32	2.27	2.05
0-14 years	37.24	19.44	17.81	27.36	14.23	13.12	9.88	5.20	4.68

 

In rural India, 33% of its population belonged to the age group of 0-14 years whereas in urban areas, 26% of the total population is in the age group of 0-14 years.

Mortality among children

The status of mortality related indicators for children in India shows the extent of threats to the health of the children. India still has high child mortality rate. At national level, SRS data estimates pre-natal mortality rate to be 23 and ranges from 26 in rural areas to 14 in urban areas. Kerala and Odisha are the two extremes in PMR. As per 2016 SRS report, the neo- natal mortality rate of the country is 24 and ranges from 14 in urban areas to 27 in rural areas. The neo natal mortality ranges from 32 in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh to 6 in Kerala.

As per CRS 2015, the share of rural area in infant deaths (less than one year old) is 28.8% while that of urban area is 64.2% in total registered infant deaths during 2015. Non registration of infant deaths in rural areas is a cause of concern. As per SRS 2016 at the national level, IMR is 34 and varies from 38 in rural areas and 23 in urban areas.

The SRS 2016 revealed that at the national level, child mortality rate (aged 0-4 years) was estimated at 9.4 and it varies from 10.7 in rural areas to 6.0 in urban areas. Under-5 Mortality Rate was estimated at 39 and it varies from 43 in rural areas to 25 in urban areas in 2016.

In 2016, SRS revealed that the death rate for age group 5-14 years is estimated at 0.6. Rural – urban differentials exist with the urban areas registering lower death rates as compared to rural areas.

Health and nutritional status 

Good nutrition is essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, health and well being across the entire life span. NFHS-4 (2015-16) shows that 28% of children had mild anaemia, 29% had moderate anaemia and 2% had severe anaemia. Anaemia rate was high in rural areas. 

Education

School education lays the foundation stone for the child’s future. The literacy rate among children (7-18 years) stands at 88.3% and the gender gap observed for this age group is 2.9 percentage points in 2011 (Census 2011).

Years	Age group	7-9	10-14	15-19
2001	Male	74.1	86.0	85.0
	Female	67.7	77.0	72.7
	Persons	71.0	81.7	79.3
2011	Male	83.2	92.2	91.2
	Female	81.2	90.0	86.2
	Persons	82.2	91.1	88.8

Average Drop-out rate

Classes/year	Primary			Upper Primary			Secondary
	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
2012-13	4.68	4.66	4.67	2.30	4.01	3.13	14.54	14.54	14.54
2013-14	4.53	4.14	4.34	3.09	4.49	3.77	17.93	17.79	17.86
2014-15	4.36	3.88	4.13	3.49	4.60	4.03	17.21	16.88	17.6

(Educational Statistics at a glance 2016: School Education in India)

Child Protection

Child protection is about recognising that children are vulnerable and reducing their vulnerability by protecting them from harmful situations. The children from disadvantaged groups, marginalised communities, children with disabilities, girls, street children, children hit by crime, disasters and displacement need due consideration in a sensible nation.

The Census 2011 reports 1.01 crores working children in the age group of 5-14 years as compared to the child population of 25.96 crores in the same age group. . It also revealed that 2% of the children aged 5-9 years and 6% of the children aged 10-14 years are working. 4.15% of the boys and 3.63% girls of the age group of 5-14 years are workers. In 2011, among the child workers, 75% belonged to the age group of 10-14 years and 25% were from the age group of 5-9 years.

Crimes against children in India have been reportedly increasing over the years. The total number of crimes against children reported in 2016 as per NCRB IS 106958. Cases registered under POCSO, 2012 were reported as high as 34%. Rape is a big category of crime against children amounting to more than 18% of all crimes against children.  As per NCRB data, a total of 111569 children below 18 years comprising 41175 boys and 70394 girls were reported missing by the year 2016.

In the year 2016, 35,849 cases of juveniles in conflict with the law were registered. NFHS 4 (2015-16) reveals that overall, 5% of children under-18 years of age are orphans.

The Census 2011 showed that in India, 20.42 lakhs children aged 0-6 years are disabled which constitute 1.24 % of all 0-6 age group children. The number of disabled persons is highest among the age group 10-19 years (46.2 lakh). Out of the total disabled (0-19 years), 20% are having disability in hearing following 18% with disability in seeing. 9% have multiple disabilities.

Although decreasing, child marriage is also a problem still persisting in India. The 21^st century has raised the cost of living so high that both the parents are always at work, rather than spending time with their children. The nuclear family system and lack of time of parents for their children make them vulnerable, selfish, disrespectful to elders and authoritarian. With this, the movies and video games, poverty, lack of discipline, cell phones and the internet and increasing atheism is gradually eroding the human value system and a healthy family life. The new generation is heading towards a disorganised society, from organic solidarity to mechanical solidarity and a greater disaster of individual units rather than a cohesive society.

With the rise in population, decreased opportunities will lead to depression and the parental pressure for financial success would inspire the children to deviate from the social norms and to get success at any cost. However, the policy makers and our social thinkers need to engage themselves in focusing for a safe, protected, dignified and disciplined moral based childhood for a better and developed nation beyond our generation. Ultimately the nation is bound to address three basic things i.e. eradication of poverty, education and health needs for our buds to bloom to their full potential.  

AGNI DASH

 

COVID-19 and Children of India

 

The COVID-19 pandemic and the concurrent preventive measures for spreading have disrupted nearly every aspect of children’s lives including health, development, learning, behaviour, their families’ economic condition, protection from violence and abuse.

About 41% of India’s population is less than 18 years of age and their mental health issues are of great concern during and post-pandemic period. These effects are not limited to health and well-being only, but extend into many dimensions of children’s lives including their education, safety and poverty (UNICEF).

There is a general perception that the Corona virus does not affect children, but there are reports of children below 12 years of age becoming infected in India, although fewer as compared to other age groups (New Indian Express).

Due to lockdown, many children had no physical access to friends, school-mates and relatives for over 8 months. Limited or no opportunity for outdoor play and socialization has impacted children in an adverse way, making them frustrated and angry. However, many children are active in mobile phones and virtual communications. This also raises the possibility of higher engrossment in online entertainment. Increased digital connections can also result in emotional contagion, where the distress and fear experienced by one spread to other persons (Gao et al, 2020).

Children, who lost one or both parents in the pandemic, have become vulnerable. The pandemic has also created havoc among the marginalized children. It has hit the children of poor families the most. The exodus of migrant workers from cities has severely affected the well-being of their children. Homelessness is another serious concern facing the impoverished, as many of them have violently faced eviction.

COVID-19 has made the lives of the children of marginalized section more difficult and has made them vulnerable to insecurity and exploitation. The child-traffickers have become active to take advantage of the situation arisen due to the pandemic. The media has disclosed the online sexual exploitation of children by unscrupulous people.

The poverty, during and post-pandemic loss of jobs, lack of opportunities have pushed the vulnerable children to abuse and exploitation, child labour and to various forms of law violations and delinquencies.

Although the Government of India and the state governments have tried their best along with the civil society organizations and other agencies to feed the marginalized sections during the pandemic, the large scale exodus of migrant workers along with their children disclosed the sincerity and empathy of our bureaucrats, political leaders and volunteers in controlling the situation.

The pandemic has given birth to a new section of orphans, whose parents lost their lives in the virus infection. These children are most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

The closure of schools and Aanganwadi centres has hit the learning process, education and nutrition of children. Above all, the pandemic has deprived a large chunk of child population from nutritious food and necessary medical care in rural and semi-urban areas. Online education is a story of mockery in poverty stricken tribal areas and many rural areas of India.

When the phase-wise unlock process is going on, the government agencies and organizations working for the children should now focus on the psychological, physical, educational and social issues and multi-pronged strategies should be adopted to make them comfortable and cozy. Prevention of crimes against them and prevention of their entry into crimes should be the priority of the government in post-pandemic period.   

AGNI DASH

Global Governance a thought for all ……

 

In the Present pandemic situation the present world globally connected digitally. The physical distancing can’t make people disconnected, alternative ways explored & people connected globally using various alternative measures. This is a new history & gave us opportunity to share our values, thoughts & humanity. This growing collective may step forward for world peace, humanity & ultimately people live a life of dignity. 

It’s not only about connectivity it’s about sharing & living no one behind. It’s about look at how to achieve world peace, equality, equity, gender justice, zero hunger, climate handprints, education for all, quality health, shelter safe drinking water, cottage industry, revival of traditional occupations, caring of elderly people, zero violence on children, women & other vulnerable community, access to justice, participation etc needs everyone’s attention to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030, which can enhance the quality of life. The internally agreed agenda like principles of universal human rights, eradicate poverty, live within environmentally sustainable limits needs to be followed for maintaining quality life globally. Diversity approach framework can build unity & share ethics of justice.

The states, justice system & civil society organizations would stand as a source of potential insight into new solutions, new models of intervention & approaches. The nation commits to learn from one another, a culture of cooperation, innovation, peace building, respecting human dignity & space for the citizens to share thoughts, concerns & issues. Leader’s confronting with critical questions, suggestions & takes decisions for good governance.

Present conditions demands more holistic people friendly policies, need to think the global in implication of the policies, contribute to shared prosperity & sustainable peace, preserve human dignity, increasing women participation in decision making, increasing CSO’s participation in sustainable development process.

It’s not only economic development the mental health needs to be focused which is key to human development indicator of a happy quality life. 

Anuradha Mohanty