Five Goals One Dream

CRY has always believed that the rights of children must be the nation’s first priority and that every child is entitled to a happy and healthy childhood.

Reiterating our commitment to child rights, CRY has defined goals – goals that are precise and concrete goals and will help us achieve our vision for every child – that of a happy, healthy and creative child whose rights are protected and honored in a society that is built on respect for dignity, justice and equity for all

CRY will continue to strive towards reaching these goals until every child in India has access to the rights they are entitled to.

We would like to share these goals with you- 

 

Each of these goals has distinct, measurable milestones for achievements in our projects across 23 states of India, as well as for policy changes that we hope to achieve. We can achieve these goals and in turn ensure lasting change with the support from individuals like you. As we embark on a new year, with new goals and deeper focus, we invite each one of you to join us on this journey.

Visit to Aakar – CRY project in Mumbai

Sumedh, a CRY America Volunteer from Seattle Action Center was keen to visit a CRY supported project, when in India for his annual holiday. He wanted to understand the impact of his support. Sumedh visited project AAKAR, Mumbai. Here is a first hand account of his experience

“I wept because I had no shoes. And then I saw a man with no feet.”

The slum children gathered around me. One of the girls seemed about 13-14 years old. I asked her in Marathi “Do you go to school?” She said no. Thoughts crossed my mind “Maybe she is not interested. Or maybe her parents are forcing her to work instead.” I was stunned by what I heard next. The girl had two kids. She was an orphan. Other grown-ups in the slums were looking after her and her kids. School was a distant luxury.

This is Jogeshwari in Mumbai. Right by the National Express Highway, over a hundred people live right on the pavement. Some live in makeshift slums, others live in the open. They are a speck of Mumbai’s increasing homeless population. According to government records, they do not exist. They have no birth certificates. They are not in the census. 

Consequently they cannot get even basic government facilities like ration cards. Being off the records has also left them vulnerable to exploitation. Men show up at night asking for “girls”. The municipality, and other local forces keep forcing them to move. They have no legal recourse. 

Several people have died in accidents but the authorities ignore these cases. “Oh he must have been drunk.” The woman who described all this had lost her husband and brother-in-law similarly. She talked nonchalantly through all this, perhaps insensitized over the years.

Enter AAKAR. 

AAKAR is a local organization created by Milind Arondekar, his wife, and a few other locals. This group came together to help people in need during the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1992-93. The riots eventually died out, but the group was amazed at what they could achieve. They stuck together and over the last 20 years have undertaken many projects, sponsored by the Tata group. They caught the attention of CRY in 2011. CRY has sponsored them since then. AAKAR does the grassroots work, but CRY sets goals, provides guidance and material, and provides cover at higher altitudes e.g. enacting laws as needed.

Lipika (Sr Manager CRY) and Anand (CRY Project liaison for Aakar) accompanied me on a visit to the Aakar office and the project area.

One of AAKAR’s goals was to get the slum children in Jogeshwari to school. There were many hurdles. First was the situation described above. Talking about school would be hopeless given the ground realities. So Milind and his crew had to innovate. They used a carrot-and-stick approach and made a deal – that Aakar would arrange for Rs 400 per child per month if and only if the slum-dwellers send their kids to school.

Aakar’s strategy to get them Rs 400 per child per month was to get them ration cards, which guarantees about that much in groceries. But how do you get ration cards for somebody who does not have an identity in any government records? Milind remembered that the Andhra Pradesh government had introduced a scheme in Hyderabad to legalize homeless people. He approached the Maharashtra state food minister, and challenged him to match what the AP government did. The food minister came through on this.

So finally all the pieces came together. The slum children started going to the local school. But new problems came up later. The local water supply was only available at 1pm, bang in the middle of school time. The slum dwellers expected the kids to go fetch the water at that time. So the children started dropping out of school. Aakar threatened to revoke their ration cards, and struck a deal with the school principal to send the kids home for half an hour around 1pm. 

Another problem that came up was that all the slum dwellers would return to their villages during October to celebrate their local festival. That means all the children would miss their semester exams. Again, Aakar had to negotiate with the school principal to let the children take exams after they returned.

Schooling is just one part of what Aakar does. The Aakar team is the only friend the slum dwellers have given the authorities’ apathy. Aakar stands up for them and provides help if there is a medical emergency. As we talked to the slum dwellers, they had nothing but praise and gratitude for the Aakar team.

Above is a picture of the Aakar team. Milind is the person in white shirt, third from right.

As Lipika, Anand, and I toured the slums I asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were some humorous answers, and some touching answers. The tall girl in white dress in this picture wanted to be a doctor. 

Look at the smiles on these kids despite their situation. Where there is a will there is a way.

On the rickshaw ride back, Anand described to me the other projects he oversees. His job is to provide them guidance and materials, and to audit that they are using CRY funds responsibly. He visits each project once a quarter. He spends a day with the project workers, reviewing their progress and accounts. He spends another day with the people being helped, to check if they are actually receiving the benefits that CRY is told they are getting, are the kids actually attending school, catching up with ground realities. Often there are strong vested forces coming in his way. If he is not tactful, he could endanger his own life. Some of these projects are in remote areas of Maharashtra and he stays alone in the lodge. 

Anand has an MBA and could have chosen a more lucrative career. But he chose this path. He really enjoys what he is doing and the impact it has.

In my brief visit I got a small peek into the challenges CRY and its partner organizations face. Even then, I learned a lot. Being in a private sector job abroad, I had a naïve picture of what it actually takes to make a change on the ground. It is easy to focus on metrics that we use in our workplace. But the situation is completely different.

I walked off with immense admiration for both, the CRY employees and their partner organizations on the ground. Hearing some of the stories, sometimes it seems like the problem is too complex to solve. But CRY and its partners have been at it doggedly, using their creativity. And they are making a change, bit by bit.

 

Budgeting for the future: CRY

About 44% of Indian children under five are underweight and 48% are stunted. Shockingly, India is home to 42% of the world’s underweight children and 31% of its stunted children.

Children represent not only India’s future, but are also integral to securing India’s present. Yet, development indicators continue to show slow progress towards securing their welfare and delivering their basic rights. The very survival of over a million newborns in the country every year continues to be at risk. Prospects for girls in particular are getting grimmer, with successive Census figures revealing a declining sex ratio. About 44% of Indian children under five are underweight and 48% are stunted. Shockingly, India is home to 42% of the world’s underweight children and 31% of its stunted children. Over half of India’s children are either not attending school or dropping out before Class 8.

So in 2020, when the average Indian is likely to be 29 years old; when we hope to reap the so-called ‘demographic dividend’ and traverse the high growth path well into the year 2040, on whom are we banking? Nutritional deprivation and low educational attainment hardly make for a ‘magical generation’ on whose shoulders India will attain super power status.

 While a number of progressive legislation pertaining to basic education, food security and health have either been enacted or drafted, the acute need for a significant increase in public spending on these essential sectors has been somewhat glossed over in the recent Union Budgets. In fact, the direction has  clearly been towards a conservative fiscal policy that strongly advocates the compression of public expenditure, one of the consequences of which seems to be the Central Government's growing inclination towards promoting a greater role for private providers in social sectors. The health sector is a prime example, where 29% is from the public sector and 71% is private sector spending, according to WHO’s Global Health Expenditure Database.

Nearly every fifth child in the world lives in India today. There are about 43 crore children in the age group of 0-18 years, with 16 crore in the 0-6 age group. It would be worthwhile to note that India's total public spending every year on social sectors (i.e. combined budgetary spending by the Centre and States on sectors like, education, health, water and sanitation, nutrition, etc.) continues to be less than 7 per cent of the GDP. And, children (i.e., all persons up to the age of 18 years) constitute about 42 per cent of the country's population. Given the fact that many of the outcome indicators show persisting deficits, both the proportion and the magnitude of the child budget appears grossly inadequate. Under-investment in health, development, protection and education will only serve to widen income gaps and perpetuate inequality, both of which will impede national efforts to meet important development targets.

The magnitude of the Child Budget within the Union Budget, i.e., the aggregate outlay for child-specific schemes as a proportion of total budget outlay by the Union government, stood at 4.76 per cent in 2012-13 (BE) as against 4.51 per cent (BE) in 2011-12. The 2011-12 (RE) moved marginally to 4.58 per cent. The greater concern is that if one looks at the decadal pattern, we find that from 2001 till 2005-06 the Child Budget was stuck at a meagre 2 per cent of the total budget. The jump to 4 per cent came in 2005-06 and was almost entirely due to the significant increases in allocations under the ICDS scheme; and, one is familiar with the efficacy of fund utilisation under the ICDS, which is undergoing a makeover once again! Since 2005, the allocations have remained at 4 per cent.

As always, the share allocated to the protection sector remains the lowest. Despite recognition of protection of children in the Eleventh Five Year Plan and reaffirmation in the Working Group Report, Ministry of Women and Child Development for the Twelfth Plan, there was an 18 per cent fall in allocation in 2012-13 over the previous year.

One cannot justify poor or low allocation towards the health, education, protection and development of children on either the lack of resources or macroeconomic policies. Although results may not appear as immediately tangible as when funding is provided for service units such as clinics or new school facilities, the long-term gains should be far greater and the positive impact on children’s well being observed much sooner. Cutting across sectoral issues, early intervention and prevention is the foundation stone of children’s welfare, and investing in children has a positive impact across the life cycle. Providing for children’s safety, health and education in the present will equip them to lead fulfilled lives as citizens, parents and workers in the future. Long-term inadequate spending and poor planning is bound to catch up with India's economy at some point.

The Twelfth Five Year Plan is committed to faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth.  The Approach Paper also reaffirms that “The Twelfth Plan must make children an urgent priority”. But what next? Adequate resources and budgetary provisions should be made to back the paradigm shift and mandate of the Twelfth Plan for making growth more inclusive and sustainable. We need to take the Twelvth Five Year Plan (2013-2018) as a great opportunity to reinforce children at the centre of planning, delivery of services, and realisation of rights. There has to be a national effort to realise the demographic dividend. Macro-economic decisions that ultimately expand or shrink the total budget are to be studied with care as they often determine how much one can ultimately invest in children-related programmes. It is only then that we can say we truly have a long-term vision and are truly investing in the future.

Puja Marwaha, CEO, CRY

Cry Details:

Website:- www.cry.org
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Right to Health

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child had drafted basic rights of a child which focus on survival, development, protection and participation. One of the rights is the Right to survival, life, health and nutrition.

The right to a healthy life is a very basic right for every human being. But yet most children are deprived of this basic right. The issue is so serious that even today; one in every 2 children in India is malnourished. Often, children don’t receive the necessary nutrition and good quality healthcare required for a healthy childhood. Some of the reasons for this issue are: 

• A weak mother is very likely to give birth to a weak, unhealthy child
• Lack of timely immunisation (to mother and child) at the time of child birth
• Absence of nutrients in the meals (especially during the first 5 – most important years of development)
• Lack of awareness about the importance of nutrition and immunisation
• Absence of or Improper functioning of healthcare centres  provided by the government

Some families simply don’t earn enough to provide even basic food, leave alone nutrients How can this issue be muted?

The government has designed some schemes and facilities that should be working towards resolving the issue of malnutrition. Some of these facilities are:

The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) Centre and Anganwaadis monitor development of children between the ages of 0-6, provides supplementary nutrition and ante-natal care to children and women. The ICDS is a major national programme by the government that addresses the health and nutrition needs of children under the age of six. It seeks to reach out to young children with an integrated package of services, including supplementary nutrition, health care and pre-school education. Since the needs of a young child cannot be addressed in isolation from those of the mother’s, the programme also extends to adolescent girls, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Immunisation provisions in government hospitals

Mid-day meals in schools are given to all children to supplement the lack of food and nutrition at home.

Despite the creation of these facilities, there is a gap in their implementation – which means that the people who were intended to be the beneficiaries of these schemes are unable to avail them.

How can YOU help fight undernourishment?  

CRY – Child Rights and You, is running a campaign ‘FULL – Fight Undernourishment Little by Little’. This campaign aims at ensuring healthcare for 28,000 children across India; and your support can make it happen.

How? 

With the support of local NGO's in different parts of the country, CRY works towards ensuring that children and families receive their rightful healthcare, by making sure that government healthcare schemes are implemented correctly in villages and slums; so that - the ICDS centres function well; children and mothers get timely nutrients and immunisation; children receive mid-day meals in school and the communities are educated about the importance of healthcare and nutrition.

The issue of malnutrition is huge, but it can be changed – and it needs to be done now. Because thousands of lives depends on it. 

Visit www.cry.org/full to donate and take your step to Fight Undernourishment Little by Little.

AGE DOES MATTER!

In the light of the recent Delhi gang Rape Case, last few days we have seen witnessed innumerous debates around women rights, VAW(violence against women), required changes in Acts and Policies, stricter monitoring, role of police and judiciary, better governance etc.

During the time of mass public outrage and protests one of the issues raised was the alleged age of one of the perpetrator of this heinous crime.  The public anger refused to recognize and treat the offender as juvenile and demanded capital punishment for all.

Leaving my take on capital punishment aside, I wish to stick to talk about Child Rights and provision under The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and the discourse around it.

The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000

As we all know, India is signatory of United Nations Convention of Child Rights (UNCRC) ratifying the Convention on Rights of the Child on 2^nd December 1992. After agreeing to UNCRC guidelines, In 1997 India submitted their first report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. This report reflected the situation of children in India, various laws and policies pertaining to children that were established as well as the steps taken by India in fulfilling UNCRC commitments. Soon after the submission of report, the committee responded with list of recommendations which India requires follow in upcoming years. One important suggestion stated was to establish a national age limit that a person ceases to be a child and that to ensure the rights of the child who is in police custody. There after in year 2001 India submitted their first comprehensive period report. This report outlined the actions taken as per the recommendation of the 1997 Committee and the adopted Acts by India such as The Juvenile Justice Act 2000. The establishment of The Juvenile Justice Act 2000 was brought in action during this time repealing the earlier Juvenile Justice Act of 1986. The report stated that minimum age has been define for marriage, sexual consent for girls, voluntary enlistment in the armed forces, legal age in employment/work, crime carried out by juvenile, capital punishment and life imprisonment. Again the committee responded to the report stating that JJ Act 2000 should be extended to state of Jammu and Kashmir which was earlier exempted and that JJ System and personnel need to strengthened through investments in training and awareness programmes. The Juvenile Justice Act 2000 got amended in year 2006 and 2010 and is further considered for another revision.  J.J Act is considered to one of the extremely progressive legislation today.

DISCOURSE

Post the unfortunate incident of Delhi gang rape case, the petition was filed by Advocate Salil Bali pleading that JJ Act 2000 needs amendment as it does not talk about the physical and mental maturity of a juvenile. Following which the Supreme Court has issued notice to the center and Delhi Government on a PIL seeking amendment in the JJ Act to make an exception for non-applicability of the Act for minor accused if they are involved in grave offences.

On the other hand several child rights activists and organization voiced their opinion that any amendment in the existing act with regard to decreasing the juvenile age from 18 to 16 years would prove to be deterrent in commitment to ensure rights of the child who is conflict with law.

On 23^rd January’13, The Justice Verma Committee Report made strong recommendation on improving the sorry state of JJ Boards and JJ Homes and recommended against reducing juvenile offender’s age.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

From Apprenctice Act 1850, mention in National Childrens Act 1960, initial Act - Juvenile Justice 1986 to formation of J.J. Act and recent amendment in the Act, India has travelled a long distance in making provisions on procedures to deal with children who come in conflict with law. It is an encouraging indication of the Government and civil society’s commitment towards ensuring rights of the children who area in conflict with law. It is clear that there is a major shift in our thinking and approach where earlier the child was considered as ‘criminal’ where as under the law as provision of being treated as child victim of unfavorable circumstances.

Amendments and reflection on our laws and policies is certainly required time and again and should be closely reviewed but reactionary action could possible carry out grave harm to thousands of juvenile who under the observation home has tremendous scope of returning back to mainstream society.