NATIONAL CHILD POLICY

• For the first time since Independence, India has adopted a policy document at the highest level to recognize every child’s right to survival, development, protection and participation and define a child as a person below 18 years of age.
• The Policy approved by the Cabinet will inform all existing laws related to children and prevent future conflicts on the issue of child’s definition
• The change in child’s definition stems from India’s commitment to the UN Convention on Rights of the Child which it ratified long ago but failed to bring its laws in line with the UNCRC.

 HIGHLIGHTS:

• The National Policy for Children 2030 states for the first time that a child will be any person below the age of 18 years. It adds that all existing legislations will have to change to honour the policy.
• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 will have to be amended to define all children below 18 years. At present, this law differentiates between male and female children defining a child as anyone below 21 years in case of “males” and “anyone below 18 years in case of “females”.
• The Prohibition of Child Labour Act will have to change as it currently defines a child as someone below 14 years for the purpose of child labour
• The Policy for the first time recognizes the children’s right to life, survival and development and goes beyond their physical existence.
• India adopted the last National Child Policy way back in 1974. The old policy stressed Integrated Child Development Services, immunization and child labour. But since the advent of globalization, rise in crimes against children and strides in mass media, the Government had not revised its policy which could guide the national plans properly.