Page 3 - Children

World Children's Day 2024: History, significance, theme, quotes and more

World Children's Day is celebrated every year on November 20 and this day is an opportunity to address children's voices and the issues they face

182 mn kids in low-, middle-income nations lack access to nurture: Study

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), three-fourths of those aged three or four years lack -- nearly 182 million children -- access to adequate nurture, thereby risking healthy development, according to a new series paper, published in The Lancet journal. The series builds on the foundation of the first 1,000 days of life -- referring to the time period starting conception until two years old -- and highlights how the 'next 1,000 days' (from age two to age five) is a crucial window of opportunity for providing nurturing care to children, researchers said. During this stage of 'next 1,000 days', children are often not in direct regular contact with health or education services, with fewer than one in three children aged three or four attending early childhood care and education programmes in LMICs, said the researchers. The authors called for an increased investment for this stage of child development, with a particular focus on improving access to high quality childhood care

Himachal govt expands 'CM Sukh-Ashray Yojana' to support abandoned children

Under the expanded Mukhyamantri Sukhashrya Yojana, certificates for eligible children would be issued by district child welfare committees, a government release said

Australia set to impose ban on social media for children under 16, says PM

The long-anticipated age limits for social media are part of a suite of measures from Albanese's center-left Labor government to crack down on technology giants

66% parents believe children addicted to social media, gaming, finds survey

Majority of parents surveyed believe their children are addicted to social media, over-the-top apps and gaming platforms and more than half have observed behavioural changes in them which include aggression, impatience and lethargy, says a report. According to a survey of parents of children aged between 9 and 17 years in urban areas, 47 per cent have shared that their wards spend an average of three hours or more every day on social media, videos, over-the-top apps, and online games. Around 10 per cent of the parents shared their children spend more than six hours on social media, online games and videos, online survey firm LocalCircles said. "66 per cent of parents of urban Indian children surveyed believe that their children are addicted to social media, OTT or online gaming platforms and 58 per cent of these parents believe that this is leading to increased aggression, impatience and lethargy in children," LocalCircles founder Sachin Taparia said. The survey was conducted onlin

Diarrheal diseases kill 1.2 million annually; 28% casualties are children

An Oxford-backed report says diarrheal diseases caused 1.2 million deaths in 2021, comparable to all violent deaths around the world. With 340,000 fatalities, it's also a leading cause of child deaths

Indian problems require Indian solutions: NCPCR chief on children's issues

NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo emphasised the need to find "Indian solutions to Indian problems and not follow European models," for solving children's issues, a philosophy he believes was his biggest challenge during his tenure as the chairperson of the apex child rights body. As he demits office on Wednesday, Kanoongo reflected on how his approach shaped his leadership and the initiatives he spearheaded. In an interview with PTI, Kanoongo said that one of his key challenges was adapting existing child welfare systems to fit the Indian context. Kanoongo critiqued the replication of European models in India and explained, "In Europe, children living with their grandparents are considered part of the extended family. But in our culture, we consider grandparents as immediate family. The challenge was to adapt such systems to the Indian context and give legal recognition to these relationships." Under his leadership, he said the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights .

Caste discrimination has no place in a modern India: Books, films can help

Children and teenagers now have access to books that unpack how the caste system dehumanises people on the lower rungs of the hierarchy and how they reclaim their dignity

Australia upholds $610,500 fine against Musk's X on child e-safety concerns

An Australian Court has upheld AUD 610,500 fine against Elon Musk's X for failing to address child abuse content amid crackdown on tech companies

18K adoptions since 2019, only 1.4K children with special needs find homes

Of the 18,179 adoptions recorded since 2019, only 1,404 involved children with special needs even as the absolute numbers of adoptions saw an increase over the next five years, according to official data. Though the number of children with special needs for adoption has risen, the adoption rate is still significantly low, activists pointed out. Children with special needs require additional support due to physical, developmental, behavioural or emotional challenges. In 2019-20, India saw a total of 3,745 adoptions -- 3,351 in-country and 394 international. Of the total number, only 56 boys and 110 girls with special needs were adopted, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) said in its response to an RTI query filed by PTI. In 2020-21, a total of 3,559 adoptions were recorded including 3,142 in-country and 417 inter-country. Only 110 boys and 133 girls with special needs were adopted in this year. The number of adoptions dropped marginally to 3,405 -- 2,991 in-country and

77% children say they use GenAI tools to help with schoolwork: Survey

Survey finds that children above the age of 10 in major metro cities use GenAI once a week, mainly for educational purposes, while 20% use it to pursue personal interests

Extreme heat endangering children in West, Central Africa, says UNICEF

Children in West and Central Africa are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, which further endangers their health, according to a new report by UNICEF. The frequency of heatwaves in the region has more than quadrupled since the 1960s, according to the report published on Wednesday. West Africa experienced an unprecedented heat wave earlier this year that led to a surge in deaths. One hospital in Mali reported 102 deaths in the first four days of April, compared to 130 deaths in the entire month of April last year. It's unknown how many of the fatalities were due to the extreme weather as such data cannot be made public under the regulations imposed by the country's military rulers. The extreme heat is creating health concerns for children and pregnant women as it is linked to higher chances of stillbirths, low birth weight and preterm births, according to the report. Exposure to high levels of heat also leaves children more vulnerable to developing chronic diseases and contracting

500 mn children see twice as many hot days as their grandparents: UNICEF

Children in West and Central Africa face the highest exposure to extremely hot days and the most significant increase over time, according to UNICEF

Independence Day 2024: How do schools and colleges celebrate this day?

Different events are being organised in schools and colleges to celebrate Independence Day. Here are some popular ways to celebrate

US sues TikTok, parent company ByteDance over children privacy violations

In March, a source told Reuters the FTC could resolve a probe into TikTok over allegedly faulty privacy and data security practices by either filing suit or reaching a settlement

Mattel launches first ever blind Barbie with cane and Braille packaging

The maker of the Barbie doll has launched a blind Barbie with a white cane and a red tip, eyeglasses representing individuals with blindness or low vision

Budget 2024: Child rights orgs hail National Pension Scheme for minors

Child rights organisations hailed the Union Budget 2024-25 for introducing pension scheme for minors, increased allocations for child health, nutrition and education, and highlighted its potential to promote early financial planning for a stable future. They said these developments, including the National Pension Scheme for Minors (NPS Vatsalya), were significant steps towards ensuring the long-term financial security and well-being of children across the nation. Sudarshan Suchi, CEO of Bal Raksha Bharat, appluaded the forward-thinking nature of the initiative. However, Suchi said there were challenges in amplifying awareness and accessibility of the scheme, particularly in remote or underprivileged areas. The scheme's effectiveness will depend on the returns generated by investments, and parents will need assurance of adequate returns to meet future needs, he added. Puja Marwaha, CEO of Child Rights and You (CRY), provides a broader analysis of the Union Budget, which allocates Rs

Anurag Kashyap returns to children's film genre with Little Thomas

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is making a children's genre movie after 17 years. He is producing 'Little Thomas', which is set to premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

IT ministry asks tech firms to find age verification methods under data law

They have to 'figure out' how they want to implement age-gating requirement, says source

1.6 million children unvaccinated in India; Afghanistan and Pak rank better

Persistent socio-economic barriers and geographical disparities hinder immunisation efforts, with significant impact on global health