The
Ministry of Women and Child Development has drafted the National Plan of Action
for Children (NPAC) 2016. The NPAC 2016 is based on the principles embedded in
the National Policy for Children 2013(NPC 2013) and provides a road-map that
links the policy objectives to actionable programmes and strategies as well as
indicators for monitoring the progress. In alignment with the NPC 2013, the
rights of the children are categorized under four key Priority Areas:
1.
Survival, Health and Nutrition
2.
Education and Development (including Skill Development)
3.
Protection
4.
Participation
Salient
Features of draft National Plan of Action for Children 2016 are as follows:
·
The
draft NPAC 2016 is being developed through a consultative process with
different Ministries/Departments, Government of states/UTs, Civil Society Organisations
as well as children.
·
It
is based on analysis of status of children and attempts to address key issues
and concerns identified in each key priority area
·
The
draft NPAC defines objectives, sub-objectives, strategies, action points and
indicators for measuring progress under the four key priority areas and also
identifies key stakeholders for the implementation of different strategies.
·
The
strategies and action points largely draw upon the existing programmes and
schemes of various Ministries/Departments. However, for certain key outcome it
also suggests formulation of new programmes and strategies, as required.
·
The
plan specifically identifies areas where there is a lack of adequate data and
information for measuring progress for children in terms of their survival,
health, nutrition, education, development, protection and participation and
suggest research and knowledge development to address the same.
·
The
National Policy for Children (2013) provides for formation of a National
Coordination and Action Group (NCAG) under the Minister, Ministry of Women and
Child development to implement the plan and monitor the progress with other
Ministries concerned as its members.
The
draft NPAC 2016 takes into account data disaggregated by rural and urban areas
for key indicators. Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates are key
outcomes envisaged under Key Priority Area: Survival, Health and Nutrition.
The
first draft is already in the public domain; i.e.; on the website of the
Ministry (http://wcd.nic.in/acts/national-plan-action-children-2016). The Ministry
is currently finalizing the draft based on comments and suggestions received
from other Ministries/Departments/Governments of States/UTs/Individuals and
civil society organizations.
This
information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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NB/UD