Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development

Early childhood development (ECD) is the period of rapid and critical development that occurs from conception upto 6 to 8 years of age. During this time, children experience significant growth and changes in all areas of development, including physical, cognitive, linguistic and socio - emotional. A...

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Main Authors: Prasanth Subrahmanian, Shilpa Singh, Ashutosh Kothari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-07-01
Series:Preventive Medicine: Research & Reviews
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/PMRR.PMRR_39_23
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author Prasanth Subrahmanian
Shilpa Singh
Ashutosh Kothari
author_facet Prasanth Subrahmanian
Shilpa Singh
Ashutosh Kothari
author_sort Prasanth Subrahmanian
collection DOAJ
description Early childhood development (ECD) is the period of rapid and critical development that occurs from conception upto 6 to 8 years of age. During this time, children experience significant growth and changes in all areas of development, including physical, cognitive, linguistic and socio - emotional. A variety of factors can influence ECD, including genetics, environment and health. This presents a unique opportunity to invest in ECD and build a foundation for a prosperous and equitable future for the country. This review looked at the programmatic and legal preparedness of India in taking forward the agenda of ECD. A review of the laws and programs was undertaken to discern this objective. Besides desk review, interviews were conducted with programme officers handling child health at the central and state levels. Based on the direction for action given by the national health and other policies and several statutes, the central government has launched various programmes and schemes under various ministries within the overarching framework provided by the Constitution of India. There are 5 policies, 15 statutes/acts/laws and nearly 40 government schemes and programmes relating to children in India. The activities are majorly coordinated through Ministries of Woman and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Education, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Tribal Affairs. Despite these efforts, there is still a significant gap between the demand and supply for ECD services.
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spelling doaj-art-570d9db36e654ee6a1da607e914af94c2025-08-20T02:38:28ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsPreventive Medicine: Research & Reviews2950-58282950-58362024-07-011420721310.4103/PMRR.PMRR_39_23Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood DevelopmentPrasanth SubrahmanianShilpa SinghAshutosh KothariEarly childhood development (ECD) is the period of rapid and critical development that occurs from conception upto 6 to 8 years of age. During this time, children experience significant growth and changes in all areas of development, including physical, cognitive, linguistic and socio - emotional. A variety of factors can influence ECD, including genetics, environment and health. This presents a unique opportunity to invest in ECD and build a foundation for a prosperous and equitable future for the country. This review looked at the programmatic and legal preparedness of India in taking forward the agenda of ECD. A review of the laws and programs was undertaken to discern this objective. Besides desk review, interviews were conducted with programme officers handling child health at the central and state levels. Based on the direction for action given by the national health and other policies and several statutes, the central government has launched various programmes and schemes under various ministries within the overarching framework provided by the Constitution of India. There are 5 policies, 15 statutes/acts/laws and nearly 40 government schemes and programmes relating to children in India. The activities are majorly coordinated through Ministries of Woman and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Education, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Tribal Affairs. Despite these efforts, there is still a significant gap between the demand and supply for ECD services.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/PMRR.PMRR_39_23childdevelopmentindialawpolicyprogramme
spellingShingle Prasanth Subrahmanian
Shilpa Singh
Ashutosh Kothari
Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development
Preventive Medicine: Research & Reviews
child
development
india
law
policy
programme
title Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development
title_full Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development
title_fullStr Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development
title_full_unstemmed Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development
title_short Programmatic and Legal Preparedness of India on Early Childhood Development
title_sort programmatic and legal preparedness of india on early childhood development
topic child
development
india
law
policy
programme
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/PMRR.PMRR_39_23
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