The Hindu : National : Bill on panel to protect child rights gets Cabinet nod

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Friday, Mar 25, 2005

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National

Bill on panel to protect child rights gets Cabinet nod

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24. The Union Cabinet today approved introduction of the Commission for the Protection of Child Rights Bill, 2005, in the current session of Parliament. This fulfils India's obligation as a signatory to the U.N. Convention on Child Rights.

Announcing this after the Union Cabinet met here, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, S. Jaipal Reddy, said the Commission for the Protection of Child Rights would be the statutory mechanism to oversee and review the implementation of the National Policy for Children. It will also recommend remedial action in cases of violation of child rights. This would result in improving the survival rates, health, nutrition, and education of children, particularly girls, and equip them to be economically productive adults who could contribute to the nation, he said.

Also, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the proposal for extension of the World Bank-assisted Integrated Child Development Services Project in Andhra Pradesh as part of the Andhra Pradesh Economic Restructuring (APER) Programme.

The CCEA also authorised the Department of Women and Child Development to re-allocate the savings, if any, in any component of the Project to some other component such as civil works, procurement of goods and equipment, including weighing scales, medicines, play materials and computers, depending on the requirements.

It was also decided to enhance the project outlay from Rs. 392.75 crores to Rs. 431.81 crores, which also increases the Centre's contribution to Rs. 86.36 crore from Rs. 79.25 crores.

These decisions would help to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years, reduce mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout rate, leading to an overall development of children.

Besides, it will enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

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