Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

Never change your originality for the sake of others"... Because no one can play your role better than you... You are the best when "you are you" 

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

THE SUCCESS OF OUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON THE QUALITY OF OUR THOUGHTS. BUT, THE QUALITY OF OUR THOUGHTS DEPENDS ON THE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE.'

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

Hard Truth Of Life:

"Usually the people who make the biggest impact in your life stay for the shortest time........ 

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

The best thing to learn in life is the habit of COMPROMISING Because, Its better to bend a little than to break a beautiful relationship

UPSC Exam-Current Affairs-Government convenes all Party meet on CSAT exam issue

Government convenes all Party meet on CSAT exam issue

Parties to submit their views on five issues in two weeks 
Parties appreciate government’s approach on the sensitive issue 

The Government today discussed the issues concerning the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) with leaders of various parties in both the Houses of Parliament. The meeting was convened by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu in pursuance of the assurance given by the Government during the last Budget session of Parliament. Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely, Minister of State in PMO Dr.Jitendra Singh, Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs –Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi besides leaders of 26 parties represented in both the Houses of Parliament. 

Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that the CSAT issue is a sensitive one and the Government would like to have the benefit of considered views of all parties. 

A detailed presentation was made by Secretary (DoPT) on the origin and evolution of the civil services examination over the years being conducted every year by the Union Public Services Commission. Dr.Jitendra Singh sought the views of different parties on five proposals. This followed expression of views by leaders of various parties, who said they need to consult their party colleagues in the sensitive matter. 

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu informed the leaders that they will be circulated a detailed note in the matter in three days and suggested that may furnish their views in two weeks on the following five issues: 

1. On continuation of English Language Comprehension Skills in Paper – II 

2. Reduced weightage of analytical component 

3. To make Paper-II qualifying 

4. Revert back to Optional Paper 

5. Any other alternative. 

Several leader complimented the Government for its approach in the sensitive matter

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

Forget what hurt you in the past, But never forget what it taught you. 

Free Essays for Competitive Exams-45th International Film Festival of India 2014

45th International Film Festival of India 2014

The 45^th International Film Festival of India is organized by the IFFI Secretariat under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Directorate of Film Festivals in collaboration with the Government of Goa and the Indian Film Industry. The festival brings cinema from around the world to the country and presents a boutique of contemporary and classic cinema from India to the world, through a variety of film screening programmes, academic sessions and cultural exchange programmes. It is based on the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the whole world is one family). The festival will feature the best of world cinema touching upon nuances of emerging trends in the world of cinema.  This cultural exchange of sensibilities and perspectives, take Indian cinematic sensibilities across the continents. IFFI 2014 would provide opportunities to showcase the variety of the festival in its various formats to facilitate international co-operation in the film sector. China would be the focus country for the festival and the first meeting of the “Indo-China Joint Working Group” would be held on the sidelines of the festival. This partnership provided a platform for opening new avenues for film makers from both the countries by Sharing best practices and technologies. Shri Amitabh Bachchan would be the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony of IFFI scheduled to be held on 20th November 2014. Shri Rajnikant, popular Tamil actor would be bestowed with Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year and Chinese Film maker Wong KarWai would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

HIGHLIGHTS

            IFFI 2014 would screen 179 films from 75 countries across different categories which include World Cinema (61 films), Master-strokes (11 films), Festival Kaleidoscope (20 films), Soul of Asia (7 films), Documentaries (6 films), Animated Films (6 films). Besides, Indian Panorama section would include 41 Feature and Non-Feature Films. North-East being the focus region of the festival, IFFI 2014 would be showcasing 7 films from North Eastern part of India. Regional cinema would also be an integral part of the festival. Retrospective sections on Gulzar and JahnuBaruah, Special Homage films on Richard Attenborough, Robin Williams, ZohraSehgal, Suchitra Sen, and special tribute to Farooq Sheikh would be other attractions of this year’s film festival. A special section of films that focus on dance, personality based retrospectives, and Master classes, workshops would also form a part of IFFI 2014. 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

            The first edition of IFFI was organized by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India was held in Mumbai from 24 January to 1 February 1952. The Festival was subsequently taken to Madras, Delhi and Calcutta. In all it had about 40 features and 100 short films. In Delhi, the IFFI was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 21 February 1952. Since its beginnings in 1952 the IFFI has been the biggest event of its type in India. Subsequent IFFI’s were held in New Delhi. From the 3rd edition in January 1965, IFFI’s became competitive. In 1975 the Filmotsav was introduced and was later merged in IFFI’s. In 2004 the IFFI was moved to Goa. Since then the IFFI has been an annual event and competitive nature. Goa is permanent venue for IFFI.

The IFFI aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world. The IFFI’s founding principles centre on discovery, promotion and support of filmmaking of all genres – thus bringing together the diversity of the forms, aesthetics and contents. The Festival is an assembly of people and nations where the world’s greatest film artistes hold hands with emerging talents on an equal footing. It is also a forum for film professionals to communicate face to face with film lovers around the world. IFFI aims to nurture, encourage and inspire Indian cinema and introduce it to the world outside as well as the many audiences that coexist in this vast and diverse country. With rapid technology changes, the importance of this festival will only grow as it will bring viewers and filmmakers together and expose them to emerging technologies and the challenges of the emerging new and social media. New interactions are envisaged; new strategies would be formulated so that with each edition of the IFFI, the viewing experience is enhanced, enlarged and enriched.

DIRECTORATE OF FILM FESTIVALS 

Directorate of Film Festivals organizes the Film Festivals at home and abroad. The Directorate of Film Festivals was set up under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 1973 with the prime objective of promoting good cinema. This is undertaken by organizing a range of activities under many broad categories. The main categories are The International Film Festival of India, The National Film awards and the Dada Saheb Phalke Awards, Cultural exchange programmes and organizing screening of Indian films through the missions abroad, the selection of Indian panorama, participation in international film festivals abroad, special film expositions on behalf of Government of India and print collection and documentations. These activities provide a unique platform for exchange of ideas, culture and experiences between India and other world nations in field of cinema.

THE CENTRAL BOARD OF FILM CERTIFICATION (CBFC)   

 The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), set up under the Cinematographer Act, 1952, certifies films for public exhibitions in India. It consists of a Chairperson and twenty- five other non-official members. The board has its headquarters at Mumbai and nine regional offices. The regional offices are assisted in examination of films by advisory panels consisting of persons from different walks of life.

THE FILMS DIVISION 

The Films Division was constituted in January 1948 by rechristening the erstwhile Information Films of India and the Indian News Parade set up in 1943, primarily for war coverage. The Cinematography Act of 1918 was Indianised in 1952 which made the screening of documentary films compulsory throughout the country. Since 1949, Films Division has been releasing a documentary or news-based or an animation films every single Friday for the theatres spread across the country, in 15 national languages.  The aim and objective of the Film Shows focuses on national perspectives (to provide largest publicity platforms to the Plans, Policies, Programmes and Projects of the Government envisaged for the development of the masses), to educate and motivate people in the implementation of national programmes and to project the image of the land and the heritage of the country to Indian and foreign audiences. These film shows are one of the essentials of Films Division. The Film Division of India is undertaking the Digitization and Web Casting of films. Over a period of 60 years, Films Division has become a treasure trove of national history with a collection of more than 8100 films including archival footage, News Reel, New Magazine Documentary, Animation and Short films. Since the filmic materials are fragile and ephemeral, they start decomposing if not stored under ideal condition. Thus, a plan scheme called “Web casting and Digitization of Films Division Films” was envisaged for protection and storation of filmic materials. Films are kept in duly digitalized formats through Telecine Machine after which they will be stored on High Definition Tapes on DG Beta, which are latest technique in the world. Thereafter, Films Division has classified three broad groups, viz. Most precious and precious films are being transferred on High Definition tapes and normal films are being transferred on DG Beta. After Telecine transfer and restoration, films are being authored in DVDs/VCDs for regular use.

THE NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVES OF INDIA       

     

 The National Film Archives of India in Pune is a rich repository of Indian films. The importance of preserving cinema as an art and historical document has been recognized all over the world. The task of preserving cinema in all its varied expressions and forms is best entrusted to the national organization having adequate resources, a permanent set-up and the confidence of film industry. The National Film Archives of India was established as an independent media unit under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in February 1964. The aim of National Film Archive of India is to trace, acquire and preserve the heritage of national cinema for posterity and to build up a representative collection of World Cinema. The major functions of this organization are to classify and document data related to film, undertake and encourage research on cinema, their publication and distribution. It also acts as a centre for dissemination of film culture in the country and to ensure the cultural presence of Indian Cinema abroad.

THE NATIONAL FILM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED (NFDC)

The National Films Development Corporation Limited (NFDC), incorporated in 1975, (100 per cent owned by GOI body) was formed by the Government of India with the primary objective of planning and promoting an organized, efficient and integrated development of Indian Film Industry. In recognition of the need for a body that could facilitate the growth of Indian film industry, the Government of India merged the Film Finance Corporation (FFC) and Indian Picture Export Corporation (IMPEC) into NFDC. The NFDC has so far funded and produced over 200 films. These films, in various Indian languages, have been widely acclaimed and have won many national and international awards. 

OPENING AND CLOSING FILMS

Chinese film actress, Zhang Ziyi, Swedish film maker, Jan Troell, and Poland film maker, Krzysztof Zanussi would be the Guests of Honour. The President directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Iran) will be the opening film and The Grandmaster by Wong KarWai (China) would be the closing film of the festival. 

CENTENARY OF INDIAN CINEMA    

            In the centenary of Indian Cinema a special Website was launched on 13.7.2012 with the intention to invite the articles from general public. In order to commemorate, the Indian Cinema Centenary, the first Centenary film festival at state capitals was held with the Government of Puducherry from 24-26 August 2012. In order to commemorate the Centenary of Indian Cinema, NFAI released a DVD of three Indian silent films on 31.8.2012 with specially composed music of the two surviving reels of “Raja Harishchandra” (1913), DG Phalke’s master piece “Kaliya Mardan” (1919) and an excellent comedy film “Jamai Babu” (1931) by Kaliapada Das which is the only Bengali silent film available.

            The Film Institute of India was set up by the Government of India in 1960 under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Following the addition of Television wing in 1974. The Institute was redesigned as Film and Television Institute of India. The Institute became a Society in October 1974 under the Registration of Societies Act 1860. The Society consists of eminent personalities connected with Film, Television, Communication, Culture, Alumni of Institute and Ex-Officio Government members. The Institute is Government by Governing Council, headed by a Chairman. The Film wing and the TV Wing and offers courses in both Film and Television. The three-year Diploma Courses lead to a Post Graduate Diploma in Film Direction, cinematography, Audiography and Film Editing. The Institute also offers a two-year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Acting. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SFRTI), Kolkata was established by the Government of India as an autonomous educational institute under the administrative control of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and was registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act 1961. Located at Kolkata and named after legendary film maestro Satyajit Ray, SFRTI is the second national level film training institute. The institute offers three-year post-graduate diploma courses in Direction and Screenplay Writing, Cinematography, Editing and Audiography.

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

Always Respect, honour & pray for those who helped you in your bad times.

Be thankful to bad times for showing you, who is truly yours....  

Free Essays for Competitive Exams-Turning Swachh Bharat Mission into a Mass Movement

Turning Swachh Bharat Mission into a Mass Movement

Over 2.5 billion people mostly in rural areas across the world  do not have proper sanitation facilities  and  over one billion people defecate in the open due to lack of proper toilet facilities. The situation is no better in our country where more than half of the population defecates in the open.

            It is well known that countries where open defecation is most widely practiced are the same countries with the highest numbers of under-five child deaths, high levels of under-nutrition and poverty, and large wealth disparities.

            Realising  that the large scale population  was  exposed to  various kinds of diseases  due to lack of sanitation facilities  the government of India  has advancing the  earlier target of making India free from open defecation by 2022 to 2019 by launching a massive Swachh Bharat Mission. 2019 coincides with the 150^th Jayanti Birth Anniversary year of Mahatama Gandhi who considered sanitation more important than even Independence.

            An Action plan  has been drawn  up to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2019, to keep  villages clean through  construction of individual, cluster & community toilets and through solid and liquid waste management  with active participation of village Gram Panchayats (GPs).  It also aims at enabling water tap make connection to households on demand by 2019.

 The Action plan is centered around the major issues:

1.         Strengthening delivery mechanism by creating necessary infrastructure and 

2.         Launching a massive awareness programme involving all stake holders to make the Swachh Bharat Mission into a mass movement.

NATIONAL REACHOUT CAMPAIGN

            What is really of prime importance is changing the mindset of the people who are habituated to defecate in the open, even those who have toilets. To bring in behavioral change is the biggest challenge before the government. A National Reachout Campaign has been unleashed towards this end.

The measures include:

            A continuous door to door contact with every rural household in the country on the lines of the Pulse Polio campaign so that the people can be made aware of the importance of using a toilet and the consequences of not doing so.

    Launching of a National and State Level Media campaign making use of audio visual, mobile telephony and local outreach programmes to communicate the message.

    Involvement of Social, Local, Sports or Movie Icons in Sanitation messaging. Already cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and many movie stars have joined the campaign.

    Community Mobilization is an important step to turn the campaign into a mass movement. It is not just the involvement of ASHA workers, Self Help Groups and other NGOS which is already being done but also using School children as a medium to influence families.

    Involving school children as messengers of Change on ‘WASH’ – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and including inputs in the school curriculum till Class X. Holding of rallies, walk/run for sanitation, seminars, painting competitions & other activities in Schools to disseminate the sanitation message are being organized in a big way – facebook page of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and facebook page of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation provide a glimpse of all these activities.

    Getting Doctors, teachers, local political and religious leaders involved in the Sanitation Communication, is also part of this Mission approach.

    In fact, it involves using every tool available to spread the message of sanitation including using fitting  vehicles with publicity material on sanitation and drinking water supply; showing short films on Sanitation as well as best practices.

     The vehicles like trucks could also carry models of twin pit latrines; rural sanitary pans with p-traps and models for water supply schemes.

    Wall Paintings, shows during weekly haats/Market / school/ chaupals through Self Help Groups (SHGs). Also making use of the popular Folk Media like puppet shows, nukkad nataks to create awareness.

      Involvement of  various organizations in the  mass communication plan  like the UNICEF, WSP, WATERAID, WHO, ADB, Rotary India, Sulabh and the vast network of  non-governmental  workers as well as corporate sectors. The assistance of some of these institutions has successfully been utilized in the Pulse polio campaign.

       Another important step proposed in the action plan is setting up of at least one Model Community Sanitary Complex (CSC) to begin with, in each of the 6000 Blocks in the country as an IEC tool. 

 STRENGTHENING DELIVERY MECHANISM

            While the  mass media  can create awareness and bring changes  in attitude, what is significant is the creation of   necessary  infrastructure  for construction of  toilets  in the villages  and laying of pipe lines for supply of water  in a time bound manner , this involves the provision of  material and  adequate funding .

            The Action plan proposes the use of Revolving Funds in construction linked-instalments to provide advance to poor households who cannot afford initial construction cost or to Gram Panchayats in construction linked instalments to be finally recouped against incentives released on completion of the toilets.

            Increased Finance Commission transfers for this purpose may be considered to ensure maintenance of School, Anganwadis and Community Sanitation Complexes, which is very poor due to paucity of O&M Funds

Linkage of Funds released to GPs under all programmes, could be linked with coverage and usage of toilets in the GP, to use it as a leverage to ensure Swachh Bharat by 2019.

 Steps proposed for supply of material for construction include:

Ensuring availability of sanitary hardware suitable for rural areas in adequate quantity and in reasonable prices. Availability of Deeper angle rural pans with water seal p-traps which consume lesser water shall be ensured.

Creation of Rural Sanitary Marts/ Production Centres in every Block in the country.

Completing the supply of material like cement, pan, bricks etc through provision of exchangeable coupons, with labour contribution by beneficiaries.

Training of Masons in the construction of sanitary toilets across the country to be taken up in a focused manner. For this leading NGOs could be roped in sanitation, ITIs/ Polytechnics who could create an Army of trained Masons specializing in sanitation construction.

Involvement of Corporate sector to assist in covering the GPs in their Catchment areas for sanitation especially Community Sanitary Complexes, either directly or through CSR Funding. The corporate may also look after O&M for a couple of years.

To ensure the interest of the District, Sub-district and Block Level Government officers beginning from District Magistrates in sanitation, the achievements of their areas under sanitation may be included in their APRs (Annual Performance Reports).

           

It was in 2013 that the UN officially recognized November 19 as World Toilet Day to make sanitation for all, a global development priority to promote public awareness of the need for adequate toilets in order to improve health of people and save lives. Describing the practice of open-air defecation as “extremely harmful” to public health, the UN says that the lives of more than 200,000 children could be saved with the provision of proper toilets facilities. 

            The 2014 campaign of World Toilet Day is centered around the theme of “Dignity and Equality” because women and girls bear the greatest burden of lack of toilet access throughout all life stages; Lack of toilets in schools leads to increase in dropout rates amongst girls and open defecation by girls exposes them to sexual harassment, assault and violence.

            So in order to save millions of lives, to provide dignity girls & to women the need is to ensure   that men and women have equal right over sanitation and water facilities.

            A momentum in the Swatchh Bharat Mission has already been created across the country, the need is to sustain it, ensure that the campaign becomes a movement of the masses, translated into action and a Swatchh Bharat becomes a reality by 2019 as a tribute the Father of the Nation Mahatama Gandhi. 

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

Human Being is the Only Creature on the Earth Who Believes In GOD.

&

It is the Only Living Being whose BEHAVIOUR is as If THERE IS NO GOD!

Free Essays for Competitive Exams-Healthy Life Styles is the Key to Check Diabetes

Healthy Life Styles is the Key to Check Diabetes

November 14th, birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin, is celebrated as World Diabetes Day. National Diabetes Month, observed each year in November, is a time for communities across the country – and the world – to renew and reinforce their fight against diabetes and encourage action to change the life style to reduce its impact.

As diabetes is a chronic disease and needs lifelong treatment, it becomes an economic burden on patients and family. The most important aspect of diabetes is occurrence of complications that increases the cost of management. Heart disease in diabetes is 21.4%, neuropathy 17.5%, peripheral vascular disease leading to ulcers 6.3%-30%, Retinopathy (eye) 19.0%, and Micro albumina (kidney) 26.3%.

Diabetes is part of a larger global epidemic of non- communicable diseases. This disease affects 6.6% (285 million people) of the world's population in the 20-79 years age group. According to the International Diabetic Federation (IDF), this number is expected to grow to 380 million by 2025. The IDF findings reveal that in 2007, countries with the largest numbers of people with diabetes are India (40.9 million), followed by China (39.8 million), the United States (19.2 million), Russia (9.6 million) and Germany (7.4 million).

India is home to 40.9 million people with diabetes – nearly 15% of the global diabetes burden and is projected to   increase to 70 million by 2025.  Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is also a serious problem in India. Type-2 diabetes is more common and results from a genetic predisposition and from lifestyle factors characterised by a high calorie intake and little exercise. The age of onset in India has been shifting towards younger people. Among Indians in their late teens, ‘adult-onset’ diabetes already manifests itself more often than ‘juvenile onset’ diabetes does. The reasons are the same as those behind the diabetes epidemic worldwide. One set of factors is urbanisation, a rise in living standards and the spread of calorie-rich, fatty, fast foods cheaply available in cities to rich and poor alike. Another is the increased sedentariness that has resulted from the replacement of manual labour by service jobs and from the advent of video games, television and computers that keep people seated lethargically watching screens for hours every day.

Although poor Indians are currently at lower risk than affluent Indians, the rapid spread of fast food exposes even urban Indian slum dwellers to the risk of diabetes. In India, diabetes is no longer a disease of the affluent or a rich man's disease. It is becoming a problem even among the middle income and poorer sections of the society. Excessive insulin resistance has been observed in Asian Indians as a predominant mechanism leading to Type 2 diabetes.

            This alarming scenario led the Government to start the National Diabetes Control Programme on pilot basis during the seventh five year plan in 1987 in some districts of Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka, but due to paucity of Funds in subsequent years this programme could not be expanded further in remaining states. However to contain the increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched the National Programme on Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPDCS) on 8th January 2008. The Government of India launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 by merging the National Cancer Control Programme and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke. The programme is under implementation in 100 districts and will be expanded to cover all districts of the country in a phased manner during 12^th Five Year Plan. The integration of services at district level and beyond, equitable with universal coverage under the umbrella of National Health Mission is envisaged under the programme.

In the 12^th five year plan, NPCDCs is being implemented in the 35 States/UTs from 2013-14. NPCDCs has now been brought under the umbrella of NHM in PIP mode. Interventions upto District level and below have been integrated under the Mission and Funds provided through NCD Flexi pool. While State NCD Cells are functional in 21 states, District NCD Cells are   functional in 96 districts. An average of 6.15% was found suspected to be Diabetic (above 140mg/dl, random) and an average of 5.12% was found to be either pre hypertensive or hypertensive. 29000 Glucometers, 5.8 crore Glucostrips and 6.67 Lancets have been supplied to 21 States for Diabetes screening under NPCDCS, Urban Health Check-up (four cities) and Pilot Phase of School Health Programme (four Districts).As on 31st March 2014 5,5,39,571 persons have been screened for Diabetes and Hypertension under various health facilities, schools, urban slums and work places..

            The commitment to strengthen health system stewardship for improved monitoring of NCDs, related risk factors and comorbidities in India was reiterated during GoI-WHO ‘Call for Action on NCD’s at New Delhi in 2011.The development of the National NCD Monitoring Framework and targets was based on consultative process with the relevant stakeholders.

With the successful implementation of the programme, it is expected to achieve behaviour change in the community to adopt healthy life styles including dietary patterns, enhanced physical activity and reduced intake of tobacco and alcohol resulting in overall reduction in the risk factors of common NCDs in the community.

To conclude, considering the ever-increasing burden of diabetes, health system has to be strengthened with standard care at all levels. The Government has taken certain initiatives at national level which is appreciable but there is a need to implement them at grass route level in focussed manner before it takes the shape of pandemic in India. Awareness about the causes and easy way of preventions are the key to success.

Quotable Quote-Message of the Day

Modern art paintings are like WIVES.

You can never understand them.

SO all you can do is to JUST APPRECIATE them as "A UNIQUE PIECE" 

Free Essays for Competitive Exams-Education Sports and Entertainment for Children’s Development

Education Sports and Entertainment for Children’s Development

Children are the nation’s assets. They are future citizens of India. The Investment in children helps for human resource development of the country. A happy child will make his/her home and the country happy. The future of any country depends upon the right upbringing of its children, for which a congenial environment and adequate opportunities for wholesome development are essential. According to UNICEF’s Report 2013 “The State of the World’s Children,” one-third of the world’s children lack adequate shelter, 31% lack basic sanitation and 21% have no access to clean, potable water.  Illness, malnutrition, and premature death are common when children lack the most basic protection. Children have a right to entertainment and they should be brought in healthy environment. The schools will organise excursions for children to promote their interaction with the nature and to gain field experience outside school and home. The school children also will be taken to the science Museums to create awareness about science and technology developments. There are children courts in Goa. During the armed conflicts anywhere in the world children are the victims of the violence. There are several World level initiatives like UN Convention on Child Rights, UNICEF etc working for protection of human rights of children. India has provided constitutional rights and enacted several laws for protection of children. Juvenile justice is one such aspect. Measures like National Policy on Children, Integrated Child Protection Scheme, National Commission On Protection Of Child Rights, Prohibition Of Child Labour, establishment of Children’s Film Society, organising International Children’s Film Festival Of India, National Bal Bhawans etc facilitate welfare of children. Children parks, children sports and films are necessary for promoting health and entertainment of children. Understanding child psychology is necessary for formulating policies for children. President of India give away Child Awards for encouraging brave children.  Children’s Day is celebrated across the country on 14^th November every year.

HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

            All human rights are also the human rights of children with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to minors, including their right to association with both parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for food, universal Education, health care and criminal laws appropriate for the age and development of the child, equal protection of the child's civil rights, and freedom from discrimination on the basis of the child's race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, color, ethnicity, or other characteristics. Interpretations of children's rights range from allowing children the capacity for autonomous action to the enforcement of children being physically, mentally and emotionally free from abuse, physical and psychological. "

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

The Preamble of Indian Constitution states that Justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all the citizens including children are the fundamental philosophy of the Constitution. Article 14 deals with Equality before law and equal protection of laws. It is available to every person including children. Article 15 (3) empowers the State to make special legal provision for children. It provides mandate to the government to ensure children’s welfare constitutionally. Article 21 (A) ensures free and compulsory Education for all the children in the age group of 6- 14 years. Based on 86^th Constitutional Amendment Children’s Right to Education Act 2009 was enacted. Article 23 imposes total ban on forced labour and is punishable under the Act. Article 24 prohibits employment of children below the age of 14years in hazardous industries like mines, match industries etc.  Article 51 A clause (k) and (j) states that the parent or the guardian’s responsibility to provide opportunities for education to his child or as case may be ward between the age of 6- 14 yrs. The directive principles in Constitution of India also provide protection for the children under Article 39 (e), Article 39 (f), Article 41, Article 42, Article 45, and Article 47.

UN CONVENTION ON CHILD RIGHTS (CRC 1989)

The important rights that CRC accords to the children are the right to survival and development, the right to freedom of expression, the right to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly; the right to the protection; the right to access to information; the right to protection against all forms of injury and maltreatment; the right to attain the highest standard of health; the right to adequate standard of living; the right to primary education; the right to rest, leisure and play; the protection from economic exploitation; the right to protection from the sexual exploitation and the right to protection and care affected by an armed conflict. The Convention further entails duty on the States Parties to provide free and compulsory primary education and suitable alternative care should be provided to parentless children. It recognized that, in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration and further emphasized the importance of international co-operation for improving the living conditions of children in every country in particular in the developing country.

UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund is a United Nations Program headquartered in New York City that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. It is one of the members of the United Nations Development Group and its Executive Committee. UNICEF was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations System and its name was shortened from the original United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund but it has continued to be known by the popular acronym based on this previous title. UNICEF relies on contributions from governments and private donors. Governments contribute two thirds of the organization's resources; private groups and some 6 million individuals contribute the rest through the National Committees. It is estimated that 91.8% of their revenue is distributed to Program Services. UNICEF's programs emphasize developing community-level services to promote the health and well-being of children. UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 and the Prince of Asturias Award of Concord in 2006. Most of UNICEF's work is in the field, with staff in over 190 countries and territories. More than 200 country offices carry out UNICEF's mission through a program developed with host governments. Seventeen regional offices provide technical assistance to country offices as needed.

LAWS FOR PROOTECTION OF CHILDREN

            The Parliaments enacted several legislations for protection of children in the country.  The legal enactment includes Right to protection of children against sexual offences 2012, Child Marriage Prohibition Act 2006, Child Labor Prohibition Act 1986, Protection of Children Act 2005, Children’s right to free and compulsory education 2009,  etc. “The Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012” deals with child abuse cases. The Act provides equal protection to both male and female child. The Act provides for stringent punishments, which have been graded as per the gravity of varying periods. It provides for establishment of Special Courts for trial of offences under the Act, keeping the best interest of child as of paramount importance especially the children conflict with law at every stage of judicial process. The Act incorporates child friendly procedures for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and trial of offences. Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 came into force from April 1, 2010. This was a historic day for the people of India as from this day the right to education will be accorded the same legal status as the right to life as provided by Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. Every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided 8 years of elementary education in an age appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/her neighbourhood. Any cost that prevents a child from accessing school will be borne by the State which shall have the responsibility of enrolling the child as well as ensuring attendance and completion of 8 years of schooling. No child shall be denied admission for want of documents; no child shall be turned away if the admission cycle in the school is over and no child shall be asked to take an admission test. The children with disabilities will also be educated in the mainstream schools. The Act seeks to remedy the structural deficiencies such as infrastructure and availability of school teachers which have pushed children out of schools. Compounding the lack of infrastructure and issues of corporal punishment and consequent insult and humiliation of the children are to be avoided. Children are often punished for non-payment of school fees and other charges, not wearing school uniforms and inability to buy text books, notebooks and other stationery. They are subject to discrimination on the basis of caste, gender, disability, ill-health and so-on. The Act provides that ‘no child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment’. It also spells out a child friendly pedagogy.

JUVENILE JUSTICE IN INDIA

A child in need of care and protection includes missing children, abandoned and surrendered children, children without parents, street and working children, run away children. Child beggars, Children with parents or guardians not fit to take care of them due to physical or mental incapacity, disabled children, homeless children, abused, tortured, exploited, trafficked children, children affected by armed conflict, children affected or suffering from terminal diseases with no one to support them, and children living with those who have abused or killed another child(ren) and are therefore in danger of being killed or abused. Juvenis in Latin means young. The Juvenile Justice System emerged from the need to have an alternative legal system for dealing with children. The first enactment for juveniles in India was the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (53 of 1986). This law has since been amended twice in the years 2000 and 2006, to make it more child-friendly. The 2000 amendment followed India’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child (UNCRC) wherein a set of standards have been laid out and are to be adhered to by all signatory State Parties.

The various provisions of the Constitution of India bestow on the State a primary responsibility to ensure all needs of children and to protect the basic human rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child emphasizes social reintegration of child victims to the extent possible without resorting to judicial proceedings. Therefore, the Government of India, in order to be pragmatic, re-enacted the Juveniles Justice Act, 1986 and taking into account the standards prescribed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, 1985 (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (1990) and other relevant international instruments on the subject, the Central Government enacted a new legislation by indicating in its short title the change that inculcated in the approach and thoughts towards juveniles towards their best interest and Rehabilitation

NATIONAL POLICY ON CHILDREN

            In 1974, the Government of India adopted a National Policy for children, declaring the nation’s children as ‘supremely important assets’. This policy lays down recommendations for a comprehensive health programme, supplementary nutrition for mothers and children, nutrition Education and mothers, free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14, non-formal preschool education, promotion of physical education and recreational activities, special consideration for the children of weaker sections of the population like the scheduled castes and the schedule tribes, prevention of exploitation of children and special facilities for children with handicaps. The policy provided for a National Children’s Board to act as a forum to plan, review and coordinate the various services directed toward children. The Board was first set up in 1974. The policy has identified survival, health, nutrition, education, development, protection and participation as the undeniable rights of every child, and has also declared these as key priority task.

INTEGRATED CHILD PROTECTION SCHEME (ICPS)

UNICEF considers child protection as the prevention of or responding to the incidence of abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect of children. This includes commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labour and harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage. Protection also allows children to have access to their other rights of survival, development, growth and participation. UNICEF maintains that when child protection fails or is absent children have a higher risk of death, poor physical and mental health, HIV/AIDS infection, Educational problems, displacement, homelessness, vagrancy and poor parenting skills later in life. According to the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)Child Protection is about keeping children safe from a risk or perceived risk to their lives or childhood. It is about recognizing that children are vulnerable and hence reducing their vulnerability by protecting them from harm and harmful situations. Child protection is about ensuring that children have a Security net to depend on, and if they happen to fall through the loopholes in the system, the system has the responsibility to provide the child with the necessary care and rehabilitation to bring them back into the safety net.

NATIONAL COMMISSION ON PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS

The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 is another milestone in this concerned effort in protecting children who are vulnerable to exploitation. This is an Act to provide for the constitution of a National Commission and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights and establishing Children’s Courts for providing speedy trial for offences against children or of violation of child rights and for matters connected therewith of incidental thereto. The Central Government under section 3 of the Act, by notification constituted a body to be known as the National Commission for Protection of Child rights to exercise the powers conferred on and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act. The Commission is a quasi judicial body having powers of a civil court to enquire into the violation of child rights.

PROHIBITION OF CHILD LABOUR:

Transnational partnerships are required to tackle this global crime. Important recent treaties include the International Labour Organization Convention 182 passed in 1999 that bans the worst forms of child labour. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, passed in 2000, prohibits the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography. UNICEF is addressing the underlying causes of child sexual abuse by working to improve access to and quality of Education, raising awareness, and advocating for children's rights. UNICEF supports programmes that help communities become the first line of protection for children, and is also advocating strengthening legislation and legal enforcement to stop the commercial sex Trade of children. In order to protect children against abuse by employers who engage them in works unsuited to their health and strength, there are various enactments under our legal system which provides protection to children working in various occupations (CRL- 141). The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 prohibits the employment of children in certain employment and regulates the conditions of work of children in certain other employment. The Act concentrates mainly on four basic issues (i) minimum age for employment of children; (ii) maximum period of work per day and prohibiting work at night; (iii) prohibiting certain types of work for children; and (iv) medical examination of all working children. The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) is a global programme launched by the International Labour Organisation in December 1991. India was the first country to join in 1992 when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ILO. The long-term objective of IPEC is to contribute to the effective abolition of child labour with immediate objectives. The National Child Labour Policy, 1987 includes Strict enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and other concerned legislations, Rehabilitation of child labour withdrawn from employment, reducing the incidence of child labour progressively, providing better and readily accessible education, through formal or non-formal systems of education, improving health conditions for child labourers, providing nutrition through schemes like the “Integrated Child Development Services”. Intensifying the anti-poverty programmes such as integrated rural development services, focusing on areas known to have high concentration of child labour and adopting a project approach to identify, withdraw and rehabilitate working children. The National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) launched in 1988 is time bound projects that seek to implement model programmes consisting of key elements such as stepping up the enforcement of the prohibition of child labour, providing employment to parents of child labour, expanding formal and non-formal education, promoting school enrolment through various incentives, such as payment of stipend and raising public awareness. The major activities undertaken under the NCLP are the establishment of special schools to provide non-formal education, vocational training, supplementary nutrition, stipend, health care, etc. to children withdrawn from employment.

CHILDREN'S FILM SOCIETY

       Children's Film of Society India was founded soon after India's independence by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, whose affection for children is well known. Pandit Nehru established CFSI with the hope that indigenous and exclusive cinema for children would stimulate their creativity, compassion and critical thinking. CFSI started functioning in 1955 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru as President. CFSI has continued to produce, exhibit and distribute quality content for children: from feature films, shorts, animations to television episodes and documentaries. CFSI promotes films that provide healthy and wholesome entertainment for children to broaden their perspective and encourage them to reflect on the world around. With an enviable catalogue of 250 films in 10 different languages, CFSI remains the prime producer of children's films in South Asia. It also organise film screenings across the country, reaching out to approximately four million children annually. CFSI is committed to strengthening the children's film movement within India and promoting Indian produced children's films across the globe.

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA (ICFFI)

            International Children’s Film Festival of India (ICFFI) also popularly known as The Golden Elephant is a biennial festival that strives to bring the most delightful and imaginative national and international children’s cinema to young audiences in India. Outstanding features, shorts, live action and animation films are screened over seven days of festive celebrations, attended by more than a hundred thousand children and hundreds of film professionals from across the world. Every two years, the festival begins on 14th November, the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru – India’s first Prime Minister – also fondly referred to as Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru), because of his love for children. Pandit Nehru established CFSI soon after India’s independence with the hope that indigenous and exclusive cinema for children would stimulate their creativity, compassion and critical thinking. It is this vision of Jawaharlal Nehru that guides ICFFI. Cinema is a powerful medium which will have to be used to play a pivotal role in child’s life. The main agenda of ICFFI is to give clean and healthy environment to the children by screening films produced by the countries all over the world. 18^th Edition of ICFFI had taken place in the historic city of Hyderabad, the festival permanent venue for the last 8 editions and is organized by Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) – an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with Government of Andhra Pradesh.

NATIONAL BAL BHAVAN

National Bal Bhavan is an institution which aims at enhancing the creative potential of children by providing them various activities, opportunities and common platform to interact, experiment, create and perform according to their age, aptitude and ability. It offers a barrier-free environment with immense possibilities of innovation, minus any stress or strain. Bal Bhawans caters to the need of children between the age group of 5 to 16 years. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). Throughout India Jawahar Bal Bhawans are established to provide training to children during summer vacation and holidays.  In order to provide an out let for hidden talent of children in the age group of 5-16 Bal Bhavan conducts summer camps every year during mid of April to mid of May in several activities. An annual camp is also organised at various Jawahar Bhawan Kendras for encouraging children to take part in several extracurricular activities.

CHILDREN PARK

A Children's Park as the very name indicates, is a park meant for children to come in the mornings and evenings to spend their leisure time in the open and fresh air of the park, away from their congested homes and busy environments. A children's park has several playthings for them to play with and enjoy. There are swings, slides, rods for hanging upon for exercise, and many other such items that provide for children their much required exercise, enjoyment, and refreshment away from their busy schedules of school and home. In these parks children come with their parents or elders in the morning for walks, exercises and jogging, while, in the evening time they are again there for playing and having a good time after a heavy school routine. On the open space in a park, we can see children, the bigger ones playing games like badminton, cricket, and hockey, while the small ones enjoy the slides and swings.

CHILDREN SPORTS

            Just in the past decade, it has become popular for children to join sports teams. Organized sports have a lot of beneficial outcomes for building a child’s self-esteem at a young age. It also allows children to be physically active and develop a healthy lifestyle throughout their life. Not just sports, but physical activity built up from a young age can help lessen risks of developing adult diseases like Diabetes and heart disease. Sometimes, building social skills in a classroom environment can be hard for children. Those who participate in team sports can learn social skills through teamwork, such as, taking turns and the responsibility of being a teammate. To be successful, everyone needs to take part and do their best; children can learn this through team activity and the guidance of taking direction from a coach. Team sports are also a great way for kids to make friends with others who have similar interests. A positive team sport experience can have amazing emotional benefits. Learning the value of practice, the reward of succeeding, and the challenge of competition will play a role in all other parts of their lives. These are important values and lessons to learn early on in life so that they can take these same values and apply them to classroom situations and other social situations. Team sports will create a healthy lifestyle and can affect children’s self-esteem and create a healthy self-image.

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

            Children will learn through observation and imitation from parents, teachers and elders. Children are very sensitive in nature. They should be handled with care. Social and human values have to be inculcated among children from the very childhood at home and school. Broken homes leave a very deep impact on psyche and emotional maturity of children. Their mind is like a camera ready to capture the happenings before them which will influence their mindsets. In the process of learning, children should be taught properly about their behavioural patterns and positive attitudes. Segmund Freud, an eminent psychologist opined that the unfulfilled desires and childhood experiences had a deep impact on the overall personality development of human beings.

CHILD AWARDS

            The National Child Award for exceptional Achievement was instituted in 1996 to give recognition to children with exceptional abilities who have achieved outstanding status in various fields including academics, arts, culture and sports etc. Children between the age of 4-15 years who have shown an exceptional achievement in any field are eligible for this award. One Gold medal and 35 Silver Medals are given annually to the exceptional achievers by the President of India.

Top of Form