November 22, 2024 12:17 (IST)
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UNICEF State of the World's Children Report- 2016 launched in Kolkata
Kolkata, June 30 (IBNS): UNICEF's annual flagship publication, 'The State of the World's Children Report- 2016' was formally launched in Kolkata by West Bengal Child Development, Women and Health Minister Dr. Shashi Panja.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Panja said, "It's time all of us talked about how we can contribute in making sure every child has the opportunity and means to receive quality education in India, to ensure they have the right start in life. I would urge everyone to not only include quality education in your development agenda but also focus on equity in education."
She also said, "If we do not reach out to child who needs us the most, then our work will always remain incomplete. It is not only about reaching the development goals but it is also our promise to our children to ensure that each one of them get a fair start."
The State of the World's Children Report- 2016 focuses on the need of giving a 'Fair Start' to each and every child across the world.
The report notes that significant progress has been made in saving children's lives, getting children into school and lifting people out of poverty. Global under-five mortality rates have been more than halved since 1990, boys and girls attend primary school in equal numbers in 129 countries, and the number of people living in extreme poverty worldwide is almost half of what it was in the 1990s.
The report discusses about the general social problems faced by children due to their poverty such as undernourishment, child marriage, child labour, and their lack of education.
Releasing the report, Asadur Rahman, Chief, UNICEF India said, "The early years are the foundation years and children who start behind, stay behind. There are long-term consequences, particularly for the most marginalised and disadvantaged children, when they enter school without a quality preschool education. And gaps between disadvantaged children and other children become harder to bridge at later points in their education."
Dr. Panja also said, "West Bengal has much to celebrate in the area of education, particularly in ensuring children's access to school, through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and implementation of the Right to Education Act. The Early Childhood Care and Education in West Bengal has been considered to be the best in the country. This is reflected in the near-universal enrolment in primary education and steady decrease in numbers of out-of-school children."
The UNICEF report points to evidence that investing in the most vulnerable children can yield immediate and long-term benefits. Globally, cash transfers, for example, have been shown to help children stay in school longer and advance to higher levels of education. Inequity is neither inevitable, nor insurmountable, the report argues. Better data on the most vulnerable children, integrated solutions to the challenges children face, innovative ways to address old problems, more equitable investment and increased involvement by communities - all these measures can help level the playing field for children.
The launch event was followed by a panel discussion on how West Bengal, as a state, is addressing the issues of inequities in education. The panel included Md. Fazle Rabbi, President, West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education; Subhra Chatterjee, Director, Vikramshila Education Resource Society; representatives from Pratichi India Trust, NGO: Sanchar and three children representatives from Meena Manch and Kanyashree clubs from Howrah and North 24 Parganas.
Reporting by Suchismita Roy
Images By-Souvik Das/IBNS
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