With more than one-third of its population below the age of 18, India has the largest child population in the world. This is a demographic dividend that we celebrate but at the same time, we must bear upon ourselves the responsibility to orient the untapped potentials in the right direction.
A notable child rights organization, Plan India, has pledged to improve the millions of children’s lives in the country by investing Rs. 1000 crore in various health and education related programmes over the coming five years. Projects are designed to be implemented across 14 states in 6,000 villages and slums. The major focus of the programmes will be on improving access to water and hygiene services; protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence; strengthening access to quality reproductive, maternal, child and adolescent health services; education; youth employability; and building disaster-resilient communities.
A global child rights body, PLAN, began working in India in 1979. Over the years, it has partnered with other regional and national organizations and touched the lives of over a million underprivileged children by supporting them with basic education, health care, a healthy and safe environment to live. The children living on the street, in urban homeless families, with disabilities or affected by HIV, those who are exploited and trafficked, children of sex workers and child labourers have been benefited.
The NGO stands committed to the principles of child rights and equality, and to develop the capacity of civil society to meet their own needs by replicating successful development models.
News Source: Times Of India, Plan India
Image Source: Plan India
