Date:11/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/11/stories/2008021154940800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

State-level child rights panel favoured

Staff Reporter

ELURU: Director of Child Rights Advocacy Foundation Gode Prasad on Sunday appealed to the State government to constitute a State-level child rights commission on the lines of the National Child Rights Commission.

Speaking at a programme on sensitisation of the media on child rights protection, Mr. Prasad also highlighted the need to create a separate ministry for child welfare in the State Cabinet.

“After all, children account for more than 40 per cent of the total population in the State. They need to have their due share in all spheres,” he said. He said there was hardly any discussion on child welfare and protection of their rights in the Assembly, he regretted. Quoting a survey, he said the budgetary allocation for child welfare in the State never crossed 13.6 per cent from 2004-07. Of the total allocations, 11.44 per cent of funds would go for education, leaving only 0.18 per cent for child health.

Mr. Prasad blamed the media for what he called its scant regard for children in news coverage.