Lok Sabha Question No. 1030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-22
Subject: National Plan of Action for Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DUSHYANT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1030 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2016

## NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN

## 1030. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  recently    drafted  the  National  Plan  of  Action  for Children,2016 and if so, the salient features thereof;
- (b) whether the difference in various key indicators for rural and urban areas are taken into consideration while framing the draft, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether concrete steps have been planned to tackle maternal and  neonatal mortality rates whose figures are still discouraging in the draft, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the  present  status  of  the  plan  along  with  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be finalized ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a)  Yes  Madam,  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  drafted  the  National Plan  of  Action  for  Children  (NPAC)  2016.  The  NPAC  2016  is  based  on  the  principles embedded in the National Policy for Children 2013(NPC 2013) and provides a road-map that links the policy objectives to actionable programmes and strategies as well as indicators for monitoring  the  progress.  In  alignment  with  the  NPC  2013,  the  rights  of  the  children  are categorized under four key Priority Areas:

1. Survival, Health and Nutrition
2. Education and Development (including Skill Development)
3. Protection
4. Participation

## Salient Features of draft National Plan of Action for Children 2016 are as follows:

-  The  draft  NPAC  2016  is  being  developed  through  a  consultative  process  with different Ministries/Departments, Government of states/UTs, Civil Society Organisations as well as children.
-  It  is  based  on  analysis   of status of children and attempts to address key issues and concerns identified in each key priority area
-  The  draft  NPAC  defines  objectives,  sub-objectives,  strategies,  action  points  and indicators for measuring progress under the four key priority areas and also identifies key stakeholders for the implementation of different strategies.
-  The  strategies  and  action  points  largely  draw  upon  the  existing  programmes  and schemes of various Ministries/Departments. However, for certain key outcome it also suggests formulation of new programmes and strategies, as required.
-  The  plan  specifically  identifies  areas  where  there  is  a  lack  of  adequate  data  and information  for  measuring  progress  for  children  in  terms  of  their  survival,  health, nutrition,  education,  development,  protection  and  participation  and  suggest  research and knowledge  development to address the same.
-  The  National  Policy  for  Children  (2013)  provides  for  formation  of  a  National Coordination and Action Group (NCAG) under the Minister, Ministry of Women and Child  development  to  implement  the  plan  and  monitor  the  progress  with  other Ministries concerned as its members.

(b) The draft NPAC 2016 takes into account data disaggregated by rural and urban areas for key indicators.

(c) Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates are key outcomes envisaged  under Key Priority Area: Survival, Health and Nutrition.

(d) The first draft is already in the public domain; i.e.; on the website of t he Ministry. The Ministry is currently finalizing the draft based on comments and suggestions received from other Ministries/Departments/Governments of States/UTs/Individuals and civil society organizations.

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