Who do ICDS and PDS Exclude and What Can be Done to Change This?

This article looks at the specifics of who the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the Public Distribution System (PDS) exclude and what can be done to change this. It discusses three different types of exclusion: official exclusion, typically from committing too few resources; implementation flaws; and flawed policy. The article argues that persistence with a poverty cutoff simply perpetuates exclusion. However, the progressive impact of improved judiciability of exclusion due to implementation flaws while making a case for tightening the system cannot be overstated. The article suggests three ways forward: (1) make rights desirable to encourage people to make claims and make ICDS and PDS more universal; (2) ensure that potential innovations such as biometrics, coupons and cash transfers empower the poor, not just the bureaucrats; and (3) empower citizens to fix the ICDS and PDS which will in turn help fix the overall food system

Essential health information available for India in the public domain on the internet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health information and statistics are important for planning, monitoring and improvement of the health of populations. However, the availability of health information in developing countries is often inadequate. This paper reviews the essential health information available readily in the public domain on the internet for India in order to broadly assess its adequacy and inform further development.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The essential sources of health-related information for India were reviewed. An extensive search of relevant websites and the PubMed literature database was conducted to identify the sources. For each essential source the periodicity of the data collection, the information it generates, the geographical level at which information is reported, and its availability in the public domain on the internet were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The available information related to non-communicable diseases and injuries was poor. This is a significant gap as India is undergoing an epidemiological transition with these diseases/conditions accounting for a major proportion of disease burden. Information on infrastructure and human resources was primarily available for the public health sector, with almost none for the private sector which provides a large proportion of the health services in India. Majority of the information was available at the state level with almost negligible at the district level, which is a limitation for the practical implementation of health programmes at the district level under the proposed decentralisation of health services in India.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This broad review of the essential health information readily available in the public domain on the internet for India highlights that the significant gaps related to non-communicable diseases and injuries, private health sector and district level information need to be addressed to further develop an effective health information system in India.</p

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict

The Optional Protocol (OP) on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict was ratified by India on November 30, 2005, and is in effect since December 30, 2005. This is the first report by India on the status of implementation of the OP to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The nodal ministry, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), has prepared the report in consultation with other concerned ministries and agencies, following the general guidelines issued by the Committee on the CRC. URL:[http://wcd.nic.in/crc3n4/crc3n4_2r.pdf].child, children, armed conflict, women, child development, rights of child, India, women, academic institutions, State Governments, international agencies, Army, Air Force, Navy, enrolment, Fundamental Rights, citizens, legislative, administrative,

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

The Optional Protocol (OP) to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography was ratified by India on September 16, 2005. This is the initial report by India on the status of implementation of this OP under Article 12, paragraph 1, for consideration by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Committee. The report has been prepared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the Government of India (GoI), in consultation with concerned Ministries and agencies working for children in India following the general guidelines issued by the UNCRC Committee. URL:[http://wcd.nic.in/crc3n4/crc3n4_3r.pdf]india, government, child development, mid-day meal, rights of the child, women, children, zari factories, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan and Gujarat, police station

Child Protection A Handbook for Panchayat Members

This handbook on child protection will help Panchayat Raj members to understand the actions they can take to protect children resulting in better convergence of programmes and increased allocation of resources to address child protection issues. It also spells out practical ways in which the local elected members, can endeavour to alleviate the suffering of millions of children in our country who are subjected to violence and exploitation.boys, girls, health, childhood, prostitutes, HIV/AIDS, labour, sexual abuse, Panchayat, society, development, participation, environment, child protection, exploitation, women, Non-discrimination, political, social, cultural, economic rights, Panchayat Raj, children, elected members, violence,

Draft of combined Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports of India to CEDAW

This Report covers developments in implementation of the Convention in India from 2006 to 2011. The harmonised guidelines for preparation of Common Core Document and the reporting Guidelines of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 2006 have been followed broadly in the preparation of this Report. [Report Ministry of Women and Child Development].Discrimination, women, India, Demographic, economic, social and cultural characteristics, south asia, children, child, literacy, females, sex ratio, census, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), men, males, rural, urban areas

Budget for Gender Equity

The budgetary policy of the Government has a major role to play in achieving objectives of gender equality and growth through content and direction of Fiscal and Monetary Policies, measures for resource mobilization and affirmative action for under-privileged sections. URL: [http://wcd.nic.in/].equality, under-privileged, budget, gender equity, government, monetary policies, resource mobilization, growth, fiscal,

Enhancing Women Empowerment through Information and Communication Technology: A Report

Information and Communication Technology (ICT’s) bring lot of opportunities to women in the work situations and small business. Teleporting, flexi time and work from home arrangements are some of the gender dimensions of ICT’s usages. Keeping these facts in mind, the proposed study identified the needs of infrastructure and policy intervention to make ICT sector to contribute towards enhancing empowerment of women in India. URL[http://wcd.nic.in/].gender dimensions, empowerment women, infrastructure, policy intervention, ICTs, information and communication technology, E-Governance, democracy, Global Information Infrastructure (GII), television broadcasting, women,

Gendering Human Development Indices: Recasting the Gender Development Index and Gender Empowerment Measure of India

Gender-related Development Index (GDI) and Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) developed by UNDP need to be recast to realistically capture the gender gaps in development and empowerment in the Third World. These indices have been developed from a northern perspective, and do not incorporate the perspective of the south. How can we recast GDI and GEM to make them meaningful for India within the limitations of data availability? Can GDI and GEM become effective instruments for building gender equity?UNDP, gender, development index, empowerment, index, third world, south, data availability, equity, northern, India, Human Development Index (HDI), Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), economic resources, women, men, resources, child development,