India’s Significant Achievements in Child Rights

07/06/24

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In recent years, India has achieved an inspiring improvement in many areas of child rights and development, as demonstrated by the impact of multifaceted initiatives and robust policies, resolving many legacy social issues for children. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate a deep understanding of the problems faced by children in India.

Further, the success achieved on many fronts also demonstrates that strong political will, sharp and deep insight into child rights issues in India, and a sense of partnership and purpose can make a difference. From substantial reduction in child mortality to enhancing child nutrition and combating malnutrition, there is no dearth of success stories in addressing child rights issues in India.

India has used its developmental approach to catalyse sustained impact, specifically addressing the problems of child education, healthcare, nutrition, and other essentials to make tremendous developmental gains.   

Inclusive access to healthcare services

Once upon a time, healthcare was one of the most significant child problems in India. Access to healthcare and efforts to address social issues for children and promote overall public health have been one of the great success stories of the Indian administration in recent years.

The establishment of tens of thousands of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) nationwide, for example, has commenced a game-changing journey of inclusion across the country. These centres represent India’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC), delivering comprehensive primary healthcare services to all. Today, more citizens than ever before can enjoy free preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services. No more are rural areas underserved in their access to health; the healthcare gap has, therefore, been bridged like never before, and essential medical services are within reach for all citizens. It is, therefore, no surprise, that India’s average life expectancy has steadily risen – from 64 to 68 years between 2005 and 2015. Through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme, as many as 500 million people have been provided financial protection for secondary and tertiary care. This makes it the world’s largest healthcare scheme, and underlines dedication to enhancing public health for all.

Sharp improvements in child survival and maternal health

The emphasis mentioned above on inclusive access to healthcare services has led to significant progress in addressing survival issues. These gains are particularly in improving child survival rates and maternal health outcomes. Notably, India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has declined from approximately 38 per 1000 live births in 2014 to around 28 per 1000 live births in 2021, demonstrating the impact of various initiatives aimed at enhancing neonatal and infant care. Even the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), a metric used to measure death within the first 28 days of life, has also decreased, from approximately 28 per 1000 live births in 2014 to around 20 per 1000 live births in 2021. Even the Child Mortality Rate (for children aged 1 to 5 years), has declined from approximately 10 per 1000 children in 2014 to around 8 per 1000 children in the same age group by 2021.

In the area of maternal health, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has fallen by 8 points from 2014-2016 to 2015-2017, reaching 122 per 100,000 live births. The improvements in MMR are attributed to the government’s improvements in healthcare infrastructure, promoting institutional deliveries, and enhancing prenatal and postnatal care.

Fighting child labour, a prominent children issue

In 2017, India made a historic policy decision by ratifying both the ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Convention 138 on the Minimum Age for Employment in 2017 –
a significant step in tackling a key children issue of child labour. India has, in both word and action, demonstrated alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2030 global agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. On the policy front, India amended the Child Labor Act to prohibit children under 18 years from working in hazardous occupations and processes, addressing one of the most crucial problems of child rights. The nation has also begun the process of digitising shelter home records across the country so that these could be tracked effectively – helping identify and address instances of child labour. The government’s National Child Labour Project, in 2020-2021 alone, has rescued and rehabilitated over 58,000 children, effectively tackling one of the most pressing child problems in India.

Bal Raksha Bharat, an Indian NGO, is committed to improving child and maternal health, ensuring child survival, and combating child labour. They provide healthcare support to children of all ages and have reached over 10 million children since 2004. Their Health & Nutrition Programmes, which benefited 3.43 lakh children in 2022, focus on strengthening health systems, promoting community-level behaviour change, and providing technical assistance. They also address undernutrition by improving access to clean water, sanitation, and adequate dietary intake. In the fight against child labour, they implement projects to prevent child abuse, advocate for strong legal frameworks, and promote education as a preventive measure. Their integrated approach to tackling the problems faced by children in India aims to create a safer, fairer, healthier, and happier world for all.

Pulkit Arora

Manager-Brand & Communication

“With over 12 years of dedicated experience in the social development sector, I am passionate about championing child rights and community empowerment through innovative communication strategies. As a Digital Marketing Manager for digital Campaigns and Communication with Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children), I have honed my expertise in orchestrating impactful campaigns online and fostering partnerships with key stakeholders to drive positive change."