Right to Food Campaign: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

Right to Food Campaign

ICDS: Events

The provision of food and nutrition to children in their early years is widely recognized as crucial to their development. There has been an increasing focus over the last year on the myriad ways in which this basic entitlement is denied to the majority of Indian children. There have accordingly been a number of events around this issue, particularly with a view to reforming and strengthening the ICDS. This page provides more details on some of these activities.

Bal Adhikar Samvad: A Wake-Up Call for Children Under Six (New Delhi, 19 December 2006)
Anganwadi Divas (21 November 2006)
Convention on "Children's Right to Food" (Hyderabad, 7-9 April 2006)

Bal Adhikar Samvad: A Wake-Up Call for Children Under Six (New Delhi, 19 December 2006) [summary report]

Recent findings of the third National Family Health Survey (2005-6) paint a grim picture of the state of Indian children. In spite of runaway economic growth, the proportion of underweight children is much the same today as 8 years ago - almost 50 per cent. There has been no decline in the incidence of anaemia. And the progress of vaccination has come to a standstill, to the extent that India now has the lowest child immunization rates in South Asia.

Meanwhile there is no sign of bold action to universalize the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), in spite of a clear promise to this effect in the Common Minimum Programme: "The UPA will also universalize ICDS to provide a functional anganwadi in every settlement and ensure full coverage for all children". The universalization of ICDS is also required for compliance with Supreme Court orders.

Against this background, concerned citizens gathered in Delhi on 19 December 2006 to reaffirm their united demand for "universalization with quality". Special features of the programme included:

The presentation of a new report, Focus On Children Under Six (FOCUS).
"Action for Children Under Six" - a statement of key demands.
Panel discussion with Amartya Sen, Mina Swaminathan, Montek Ahluwalia, Shabana Azmi, Shantha Sinha.
Interactive session with the speakers.
Keynote address by Amartya Sen.
Campaign meeting.
Concluding address by Aruna Roy.

VENUE AND TIME: Mavalankar Lawns, Rafi Marg, New Delhi, from 9.30 am to 5 pm.

The invitation and the programme contain further information on the event; also consult the Bal Adhikar Samvad event page.

Anganwadi Divas (21 November 2006)

The idea to organize an Anganwadi Divas or Bal Adhikar Yatra in different states was accepted in the Hyderabad Convention on "Children's Right to Food" in April 2006. In continuation with that resolve, groups in many states organized a special Anganwadi Divas and related activities on 21 November (Child Rights Day), with preparatory activities from 14 November onwards. Here is the latest update (1 November 2006) on these activities. A previous update is available here (11 October 2006).

Convention on "Children's Right to Food" (Hyderabad, 7-9 April 2006)

A convention on "Children's Right to Food" was held in Hyderabad on 7-9 April 2006. This was a follow-up to the second National Convention on the Right to Food and Work, held in Kolkata on 18-20 November 2005. The main focus of the convention was on the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), mid-day meals and related means of protecting children's right to food, including maternity entitlements. Special attention was given to "universalization with quality" as the core demand of a united campaign on ICDS.

For more details visit the convention page.

Last updated: 29 December 2006


	Right to Food Campaign

		ICDS: Events Introduction\| Supreme Court orders\| Commissioners' Interventions\| Commissioners' Reports\| National Advisory Council\| Official Guidelines and Circulars\| Field Surveys and Reports\| Articles\| Events\| Newsfeeds The provision of food and nutrition to children in their early years is widely recognized as crucial to their development. There has been an increasing focus over the last year on the myriad ways in which this basic entitlement is denied to the majority of Indian children. There have accordingly been a number of events around this issue, particularly with a view to reforming and strengthening the ICDS. This page provides more details on some of these activities. Bal Adhikar Samvad: A Wake-Up Call for Children Under Six (New Delhi, 19 December 2006) Anganwadi Divas (21 November 2006) Convention on "Children's Right to Food" (Hyderabad, 7-9 April 2006) Bal Adhikar Samvad: A Wake-Up Call for Children Under Six (New Delhi, 19 December 2006) [summary report] Recent findings of the third National Family Health Survey (2005-6) paint a grim picture of the state of Indian children. In spite of runaway economic growth, the proportion of underweight children is much the same today as 8 years ago - almost 50 per cent. There has been no decline in the incidence of anaemia. And the progress of vaccination has come to a standstill, to the extent that India now has the lowest child immunization rates in South Asia. Meanwhile there is no sign of bold action to universalize the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), in spite of a clear promise to this effect in the Common Minimum Programme: "The UPA will also universalize ICDS to provide a functional anganwadi in every settlement and ensure full coverage for all children". The universalization of ICDS is also required for compliance with Supreme Court orders. Against this background, concerned citizens gathered in Delhi on 19 December 2006 to reaffirm their united demand for "universalization with quality". Special features of the programme included: The presentation of a new report, Focus On Children Under Six (FOCUS). "Action for Children Under Six" - a statement of key demands. Panel discussion with Amartya Sen, Mina Swaminathan, Montek Ahluwalia, Shabana Azmi, Shantha Sinha. Interactive session with the speakers. Keynote address by Amartya Sen. Campaign meeting. Concluding address by Aruna Roy. VENUE AND TIME: Mavalankar Lawns, Rafi Marg, New Delhi, from 9.30 am to 5 pm. The invitation and the programme contain further information on the event; also consult the Bal Adhikar Samvad event page. Anganwadi Divas (21 November 2006) The idea to organize an Anganwadi Divas or Bal Adhikar Yatra in different states was accepted in the Hyderabad Convention on "Children's Right to Food" in April 2006. In continuation with that resolve, groups in many states organized a special Anganwadi Divas and related activities on 21 November (Child Rights Day), with preparatory activities from 14 November onwards. Here is the latest update (1 November 2006) on these activities. A previous update is available here (11 October 2006). Convention on "Children's Right to Food" (Hyderabad, 7-9 April 2006) A convention on "Children's Right to Food" was held in Hyderabad on 7-9 April 2006. This was a follow-up to the second National Convention on the Right to Food and Work, held in Kolkata on 18-20 November 2005. The main focus of the convention was on the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), mid-day meals and related means of protecting children's right to food, including maternity entitlements. Special attention was given to "universalization with quality" as the core demand of a united campaign on ICDS. For more details visit the convention page. Last updated: 29 December 2006