innovative approaches to promote children’s rights in India

06/12/24

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The following covers what NGOs are currently doing to enhance children’s rights in India. It is fascinating to observe how their endeavours are translating into concrete changes in the lives of children across the country. It is important to cover the many innovative approaches through which these organisations are not merely striving but are making an actual difference to protect India’s youngest population, as these can offer guidance to others.

Educational Initiatives

NGOs have come up with some fairly intelligent interventions in the context of children’s rights in India. The foremost initiative that comes to mind is mobile schools – buses or vans which are modified to look and act like classrooms that bring the gift of education to communities, including slum areas and other locales where children may be struggling to access education. At each one of the mobile school’s stops, these NGOs are eradicating illiteracy and illuminating lives with education. And, as demonstrated most effectively during the pandemic, NGOs, unable to reach children, promptly transferred to smartphone applications and online platforms and brought the classroom experience to smartphones and tablets.

Child protection mechanisms

The right to safety is one of the essential rights of children in India, as it underpins their well-being; it is the foundation upon which other rights rest. In recognition of this, NGOs have developed robust relationships with police and other officials enabling them to rescue and rehabilitate children. NGOs also operate on government hotlines through which people can report incidents of child labour via anonymous calls; every call is a child saved. Besides, NGOs also conduct meetings whereby they convey the impact of child labour, inspiring communities with case studies about the role of community voices in making a difference.

Health and nutrition programmes

Care for health and nutrition is one of the most critical aspects of child development. Recognising the importance of child health as a developmental imperative, NGOs use mobile clinics to undertake and maintain a cadence of check-ups, vaccinations, and assessments of nutrition needs. These help ensure that the unique and specific needs of children are addressed, enabling them to grow into strong, healthy, and capable adults.

Policy advocacy

NGOs are also engaged in a concerted effort to help in the formulation of better laws and policies for children. They collect facts and insights, bring testimonials, and collaborate with the authorities to help the passage of strong child protection laws. Some NGOs also aid through providing legal support, free of cost, to help seek redressal in cases where children are vulnerable, ensuring that the legal mechanism is used effectively.

Public awareness campaigns

Awareness creation is an important way of transforming the social perceptions of children, ensuring they are treated better. NGOs use mainstream advertising, publish popular posts on social networks, and use events. They also hold marathons, concerts, art shows and other platforms to use engagement to engage and inform society about how they can support child rights.

Collaboration and partnerships 

NGOs work in collaboration with private sector organisations, other NGOs,  ministries and government departments, and other stakeholders to share expertise and resources. This reinforces their reach, and impact, making them more effective in their goal of defending and protecting the rights of children in India. Every program they run, and every partnership they form, is a step towards a future where every child in India can not only survive but truly thrive.

Bal Raksha Bharat, also known as Save the Children India, employs innovative approaches to address the multifaceted challenges faced by underprivileged children. One of their key innovations is the development of competency-based training for the Child Protection workforce across India using virtual mediums. This initiative ensures that child protection workers are well-equipped to handle various situations effectively. Additionally, they have created the Gulmohar Early Childhood Development (ECD) Curriculum Framework, which strengthens early learning and development at home through easy-to-follow audio-visual aids. This framework is particularly beneficial in disaster situations, providing children with continuity in their education and development even during crises, so that they are not forced into the labour force.

Another significant innovation by Bal Raksha Bharat is the Shiksha Baithak, a virtual platform aimed at supporting teachers’ professional development and enhancing children’s learning experiences. This platform helps teachers adopt modern teaching methods, making education more engaging and effective. Through such innovative programs, Bal Raksha Bharat continues to make a substantial impact on the lives of children across India, ensuring their growth, development, and protection.

BRB Admin