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India Updates
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NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE ALL SAFE-GUARDS
New Delhi ~ June 08 2001
The National Commission for Children will have all the safeguards and provisions to make it an effective body. The Commission which
is now almost in its final stages of formation will try to ensure that no child remains illiterate sleeps hungry and shelterless. This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Sumitra Mahajan at a function here today where the first lady of India Smt. Usha Narayanan gave away the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award and the National Child Awards for the year 1999.
Reiterating that the Government is conscious of its responsibility towards children Smt. Mahajan said protection care development and rights of children have now become a global concern of Governments social scientists social workers and human rights activists. India's commitment to the cause of children is enshrined in its own constitution. This has been further reflected through the enactment of a number of legislations. She further said that the National Commission would also monitor and evaluate periodically the status of the safeguards provided to children constitutionally legally and otherwise and advise the Government from time to time steps and measures to be taken for any correction. She said children represent the future hope of the country and it is our fundamental duty to nurture and protect them so that they can grow in a healthy and conducive environment to become productive and model members of the society. The Government would pay special attention to disadvantaged/handicapped children providing them better opportunity for growth and development she averred.
The Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award instituted in 1994 for individual's outstanding contribution towards the service of children was presented by Smt. Usha Narayanan to Smt. Sumati Balakrishna Sukalikar who has been involved in social work for more than 50 years. She
established the Bal Jagat in Nagpur to provide opportunity to children to develop themselves in an atmosphere of peace and harmony. She was instrumental in improving the living conditions of children from all strata of society.
The National Child Awards for exceptional achievements were bagged by 14 children of different age groups. The children were selected for their achievements in the field of Music, Dance, Sports, Painting and Academics. The gold medal went to Kumari Sandhyarani Sarangi for her achievement in sports and dance. The others received silver medals.
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