Status of  children in India....

Why Children are important: Children are innocent, trusting and full of hope. Their childhood should be happy and loving. For many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different.

1.  2 million Indian babies die before they celebrate their first birthday. More girl children are killed at birth. At least 35 million children aged 6 - 14 years  do not attend school.

2.  2.5 million children die in India every year. One out of 16 children die before they attain one year of age.

3.  One,  in every three malnourished children in the world, lives in India.35% of the developing world’s low birth weight babies are born in India.

4. 65% of girls are married below the age of 18 and become mothers soon after.

Right through history, children have been abused and exploited. They suffer from hunger and homelessness; work in harmful conditions, high infant mortality, deficient health care and limited opportunities for basic education. A child need not live such a life. Childhood can and must be preserved. Children have the right to survive, develop, be protected and participate in decisions that impact their lives. The essential message is equality of opportunity. Girls should be given the same opportunities as boys. ALL children should have the same rights and should be given the same opportunity to enjoy an adequate standard of living.