Page 4 - Children

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

Chandipura virus: Four children dead in suspected infection in Gujarat

Chandipura Virus: Four children died in Gujarat due to the virus. District officials deployed teams to take preventive actions like dusting to kill sandflies and fumigation to kill the insects

Kiss playful, not predatory: Delhi HC dismisses PIL against Dalai Lama

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL seeking action against Dalai Lama under the POCSO Act over a kissing incident in 2023

How to detect brain tumours in your children? Here are the 8 warning signs

Brain tumour in children is a very serious issue which needs timely treatment. Here are the 8 warning signs that you should look out for before it gets too late

Violence against children in conflict reached extreme levels in 2023: UN

Violence against children caught in multiplying and escalating conflicts reached "extreme levels" in 2023, with an unprecedented number of killings and injuries in crises, from Israel and the Palestinian territories to Sudan, Myanmar and Ukraine, according to a new UN report. The annual report on Children in Armed Conflict, obtained on Tuesday by The Associated Press, reported "a shocking 21 per cent increase in grave violations" against children under the age of 18 in an array of conflicts, also citing Congo, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Syria. For the first time, the UN report put Israeli forces on its blacklist of countries that violate children's rights for the killing and maiming of children and attacking schools and hospitals. It also listed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants for the first time as well for killing, injuring and abducting children. Hamas' October 7 surprise attack in southern Israel and Israel's massive military retaliation in Gaza have led to a 155 per

How to manage children's sugar consumption? Here are the tips for parents

Sugar consumption by children is a critical problem for parents and it is important to monitor their intake of sugar. Here are some tips for parents to manage their children's sugar consumption

Children need to be taught about dangers of 'virtual' world: Delhi HC

Teaching minors about good touch' and bad touch' is not enough in today's virtual world and children must be educated on the emerging concept of virtual touch' and its potential dangers, the Delhi High Court has said. This involves teaching them appropriate online behaviour, recognising warning signs of predatory behaviour and understanding the importance of privacy settings and online boundaries. This court is constrained to note that in today's virtual modern world where virtual space has also become a breeding ground of alleged virtual affections between teenagers, they are not equipped to deal with the potential dangers of human trafficking for prostitution and other side of crimes which exists in the virtual world, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said on Monday. The high court's observations came while dismissing a bail plea by a woman, Kamlesh Devi, accused of helping her son in sexually assaulting a minor girl after kidnapping her and forcing her into prostitution. The 16-year-

Genetic defects, not lack of oxygen cause cerebral palsy in children: Study

Genetic defects underlie about a fourth of Chinese children affected by cerebral palsy, and not a lack of oxygen at birth as previously thought, new research has found. Cerebral palsy is a disorder affecting one's ability to move. It is the most common motor disability in children, with symptoms emerging in infancy and early childhood. The disability is sometimes also associated with autism and intellectual deficiencies. Birth asphyxia, or receiving insufficient oxygen at the time of being born, can cause physical harm, especially to the brain, and is considered one of the main causes of cerebral palsy. The world's largest study of cerebral palsy genetics, involving more than 1,500 affected Chinese children, found that mutations were significantly higher in a fourth of these children receiving insufficient oxygen at birth. Researchers said this indicated that birth asphyxia could be secondary to the underlying genetic defects. The results, published in the journal Nature Medicine