Fact Box: The National Policy for Children, 2012

April 24, 2013

The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the National Policy for Children, 2012.
The National Policy for Children, 2012

Reaffirms the government’s dedication to the recognition of the rights of all children in the country.
Acknowledges every person below the age of 18 years as a child and that childhood is an integral part of life with a value of its own, and a long term, sustainable, multi-sectoral, integrated and inclusive approach is essential for the pleasant development and protection of children.
Establishes the guiding principles that must be respected by national, state and local governments in their actions and initiatives affecting children.
As children’s needs are multi-sectoral, interlinked and call for collective action, the policy directs at meaningful convergence and firm coordination across different sectors and levels of governance; active participation and partnerships with all stakeholders; establishing of a comprehensive and authentic knowledge base; supplying of enough resources; and sensitization and capacity development of all those who work for and with children.

Key guiding principles of the National Policy for Children, 2012:

Right of every child to life, survival, development, education, protection and participation
Equal rights for all children without discrimination
Best interest of the child as a principal concern in all actions and decisions affecting children
Family environment is the most contributing for all-round growth of children.

Key priority areas the National Policy for Children, 2012:
The policy has identified the following as the undeniable rights of every child, and has also declared these as key priority areas:

Survival
Health
Nutrition
Education
Development
Protection
Participation

Operation and Supervision of the Policy

National Coordination and Action Group (NCAG) be established in order to supervise the performance of National Policy for Children.
A National Plan of Action will be formulated to give effect to the policy.
Alike plans and coordination and action groups will be established at the state and district levels.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights are to ascertain that the principles of the policy are valued in all sectors at all levels. There is a condition for reassessment of the policy every 5 years.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development will be the nodal ministry for supervising and coordinating the effectuation of the policy and will lead the review process for the policy.