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ROLE OF NSS WORKERS IN CHILD WELFARE

Dr. NEERU SHARMA

READER(Human Development)

DEPTT OF HOME SCIENCE.

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Biological processes

Cognitive processes

Socioemotional processes

Prenatal

Infancy

Early childhood

Middle and late childhood

Adolescence

Process and periods of development

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Status of Indian Children

Population (thousands) under age 18,2003 414965

Population (thousands) under age 5,2003 118568

Crude birth rate,2003 24

Life expectancy,2003 64

Total fertility rate,2003 3.0

% of central government expenditure allocated to education (1992-2004) 2

Net primary school enrolment / attendance (%) (1996-2003)

77

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% of children (5-14 years) in child labour (1999-2003) 14% of children in child marriage, total (1986-2003) 26% of children in child marriage, urban (1986-2003) 54% of children in child marriage, rural (1986-2003) 46Under-5 mortality rank 54Under-5 mortality rate, 2003 87% of infants with low birthweight 1998-2003 30% of under-fives suffering from underweight (moderate & severe) (1995-2003)

47% of under-fives suffering from underweight (severe) (1995-2003) 18% of under-fives suffering from wasting (moderate and severe) (1995-2003) 16% of under-fives suffering from stunting (moderate and severe) (1995-2003) 46Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate (6-59 months),2002 27

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Needs of the children

•PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS- for food,water,light,physical activity,rest and sleep

•EMOTIONAL NEEDS- Of love, affection, security

•INTELLECTUAL NEEDS- Curiosity, self expression, exploration,experimentation

•SOCIAL NEEDS- Of belongingness, acceptance.

ALL NEEDS ARE INTERRELATED

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The need for helping children

•1/3rd of India's population is below the age of 18 years.

•Most of worlds children live in India

•It is an adult centric society

•Adults do not consider the needs and views of children as important

•Children are considered as miniature adults

•Their capabilities are considered to be inadequate

•Generation gap exists between adults and children and adults don’t consider children's viewpoints as important.

•Children are exploited because of their weak position in the society.

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Who will need your help

Destitute and orphaned children Children of community sex workers Institutionalized children Children of construction workers and fisher

folk Disabled children Children affected by armed conflicts and

disasters

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Street and working children

Children from disadvantaged homes

Those who have never attended schools

children belonging to Low SES families

Low birth weight children

Children with chronic diseases

Underachievers

ALL CHILDREN AT RISK

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Rights of the children

•Protection from abuse and neglect

•Safeguard interests of the child

•Protection from economic exploitation

•Enjoy ones culture and practice ones religion and language

•Receive special protection and assistance from government when deprived of familial support

•Protection from illegal drugs-production and distribution

•Education-free and compulsory

•Protection from sexual exploitation

•Freedom from discrimination

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•Special care of the handicapped children

•Highest standards of health and access to medical services

•Leisure play and right to participation in cultural and artistic activities

•Adequate standard of living

Rights of the children

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Role of NSS volunteers

Community social service

BRONFENBRENNERS ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THEORY

VOLUNTEER

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Listening to them

Thinking

Working with them

Feeling responsible

Understanding their rights

Decision making

Role in child welfare

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How to start•Whenever talking to children make them active partners in whatever you are doing

•Start with simple issues and then talk about complex issues

•Talk about real life situation facing children

•While conducting programs make children's groups as Bal Samooh or Samiti and encourage them to take out rallies or organize fairs

•Develop partnership with the schools, anganwadis and all the child care functionaries of the area as it will help you in your program.

•Organize competitions-song, jingle, poster making, role play, nutritious food,first aid etc

•Learn about the capabilities of the group.

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•Children can be encouraged to make a kitchen garden in their school

•Don’t encourage gender stereotypes

•Learn about child’s rights

•Use child to child approach:

Let the children decide upon a problem and understand it

Encourage the children to gather information regarding the

selected problem

Let them decide after discussion what they want to do in their

selected area

Encourage the children to do some activity, evaluate it and

decide on how to make it better

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•Child to child approach has been successful since 1978

•More than 70 nation of the world have benefited

•It has led to increase in children's ability to address their own needs

•They can be taught to be more responsible

•Children become partners in their development, learn to identify priorities, and take decisive actions.

•Children become physically and mentally healthy