Management of Support Services, Institutions and Programmes for Children Chapter Notes | Home Science for Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Significance

• Family is the basic unit of society, primarily responsible for meeting the needs of its members, including parents, children, and grandparents.
• Family composition varies across households, influencing the ability to meet diverse needs at different life stages.
• Families often cannot provide specialized services like formal education or healthcare, necessitating community structures such as schools, hospitals, universities, recreation centers, and training centers.
• These community structures offer specialized support services accessible to family members to fulfill their specific needs.
• Many families in India struggle to meet basic needs or access societal services due to resource constraints, particularly financial limitations.
• Poverty is widespread, with India estimated to have a third of the world’s poor, and 29.5% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2011-2012.
• Less than 30% of the population has access to adequate sanitation facilities.
• Less than half of annual deliveries are attended by trained birth attendants, contributing to high maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
• Less than half of households consume iodized salt, leading to iodine deficiency that adversely affects children’s mental and physical growth.
• Pervasive discrimination against girls and women results in adverse nutritional, educational, and demographic outcomes, including a declining sex ratio in the youngest age group.
• Children, youth, and elderly separated from families face challenges in meeting their needs independently, increasing their vulnerability.
• The state and society must intervene to ensure a decent life for all citizens, particularly those in difficult circumstances, by providing opportunities for holistic development in a healthy environment.
• Government establishes institutions and programmes for children, youth, and the elderly, while also supporting private and NGO sector efforts.
• Some programmes focus on specific needs, while others adopt a holistic approach to address multiple needs simultaneously for optimal impact.

Basic Concepts

• Children, youth, and the elderly are considered vulnerable groups in society, more likely to be adversely affected by challenging circumstances.
• Vulnerability refers to individuals or groups prone to harmful impacts from unmet needs in daily life.
• Understanding the specific needs of children, youth, and the elderly highlights their vulnerability and the necessity for targeted support.

Why Are Children Vulnerable?

• Childhood is a period of rapid development across all domains, where development in one area influences others, requiring holistic fulfillment of needs like food, shelter, healthcare, love, nurturance, and stimulation.
• Adverse experiences during childhood can have lasting impacts on development.
• Some children are more vulnerable due to challenging conditions that prevent meeting basic needs, hindering their potential development.
• Nearly two-thirds of children under five suffer from moderate or severe malnutrition, affecting development in all areas.
• About 3 million children live on the streets without shelter.
• Only one in three preschool-aged children has access to early learning programmes.
• Less than half of children aged 6-14 attend school.
• Over one-third of children who enroll in Standard I drop out before reaching Standard VIII.
• Official estimates indicate 17 million children work in India, with World Bank estimates suggesting up to 44 million.
• Children in difficult circumstances require care and protection, with some engaging in anti-social activities or violating laws.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 provides a legal framework for juvenile justice, addressing children “in conflict with law” and those “in need of care and protection.”
• Children “in conflict with law” are those arrested for violating the Indian Penal Code, requiring prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency.
• Children “in need of care and protection” include those without homes, living with unfit guardians, mentally or physically challenged, abused, exploited, vulnerable to drug abuse or trafficking, or victims of conflict or calamity.
• The Act ensures proper care, protection, and rehabilitation through child-friendly approaches and institutions, aligning with the Child Rights Convention.

Institutions, Programmes and Initiatives for Children

• Various government and non-governmental programmes address the needs of vulnerable children in India.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): The world’s largest early childhood programme, targeting children below six to meet health, nutrition, stimulation, and educational needs in an integrated manner.
• ICDS provides health, nutrition, and hygiene education to mothers, non-formal preschool education for children aged 3-6, supplementary feeding, growth monitoring, and basic healthcare like immunizations and vitamin A supplements.
• ICDS services are delivered through ‘anganwadi’ childcare centers, covering over 41 million children.
• SOS Children’s Villages: An independent NGO providing family-based, long-term care for orphaned and abandoned children.
• Each SOS home has a ‘mother’ caring for 10-15 children, forming a family unit to provide relationships and love, aiding recovery from trauma.
• SOS families live in a supportive ‘village’ environment, integrated with local communities, and support children until they become independent adults.
• The first SOS village in India was established in 1964, now caring for about 6,000 children across 40 villages.
• SOS provides emergency relief during crises like the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis, often converting relief into permanent facilities.
• Children’s Homes: Government-run homes for children aged 3-18 in state custody, categorized into Observation Homes, Special Homes, and Juvenile/Children’s Homes.
• Observation Homes temporarily house children during investigations to locate parents or gather family background information.
• Special Homes provide custodial care for juveniles found guilty of law violations.
• Juvenile/Children’s Homes accommodate children whose families are untraceable, unfit, deceased, or unwilling to take them back, providing room, board, education, and vocational training.
• Most Children’s Homes are run by the government in partnership with NGOs, aiming to equip children with skills for societal integration.
• Adoption: A long-standing tradition in India, now institutionalized and legalized beyond family boundaries.
• The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) sets guidelines to safeguard children’s welfare and rights during adoption.
• Government and NGOs collaborate to support and facilitate the adoption process.

Why Are Youth Vulnerable?

• The National Youth Policy, 2014 defines youth as individuals aged 15-29, with adolescents aged 13-19.
• Youth are critical to national progress, requiring encouragement to contribute to socio-economic development.
• Youth vulnerability arises from biological changes impacting well-being and identity, and the pressure to prepare for adult roles like earning a livelihood and marriage.
• Peer pressure and the need to excel in a competitive world cause stress and turmoil.
• Inadequate family or environmental support may lead to maladaptive behaviors like substance abuse, which is increasing.
• Youth face significant risks related to sexual and reproductive health, often lacking knowledge or power to make informed choices.
• Especially vulnerable youth include rural and tribal youth, out-of-school youth, adolescents (particularly females), youth with disabilities, and those in difficult circumstances like trafficking victims, orphans, and street children.
• Youth require education, training, employment, personal development opportunities, shelter, a clean environment, quality health services, social protection, and participation in decision-making to be socially useful and economically productive.

Youth Programmes in India

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports adopted the National Youth Policy in 2003 to guide youth programmes.
• National Service Scheme (NSS): Engages college students in social service and national development activities like constructing roads, school buildings, and village ponds, environmental improvement, hygiene, sanitation, family welfare, childcare, immunization, vocational training, and organizing cooperatives.
• NSS students assist local authorities in relief and rehabilitation programmes for economically and socially weaker sections.
• National Service Volunteer Scheme: Offers opportunities for graduates to engage in national development for one to two years through Nehru Yuva Kendras, focusing on adult education, youth clubs, work camps, leadership training, vocational training, rural sports, and games.
• Nehru Yuva Kendras enable non-student rural youth to contribute to rural development, promoting self-reliance, secularism, socialism, democracy, national integration, and scientific temper through non-formal education, social service camps, sports, cultural programmes, vocational training, and youth clubs.
• Promotion of Adventure: Government-funded youth clubs and voluntary organizations organize activities like mountaineering, trekking, hiking, exploration, canoeing, sailing, rafting, swimming, and cycling to foster adventure, risk-taking, teamwork, and endurance.
• Scouts and Guides: Government supports training, rallies, and jamborees to develop character, loyalty, patriotism, and social service among boys and girls, promoting balanced physical and mental development.
• Commonwealth Youth Programme: India participates to encourage youth involvement in national development and foster cooperation among Commonwealth countries, with a regional center for advanced youth work studies in Chandigarh.
• Promotion of National Integration: Government funds voluntary agencies to organize interstate youth visits, camps, and seminars to promote understanding of India’s cultural, historical, and social diversity.

Why Are the Elderly Vulnerable?

• In India, Senior Citizens are individuals aged 60 and above, with life expectancy rising from 29 years in 1947 to 69.3 years for females and 65.8 years for males in 2009-2013.
• India has the second-largest elderly population globally, projected to account for 9% of the population by 2016.
• 80% of the elderly live in rural areas, complicating service delivery.
• The elderly population is increasingly female, with a growing number of individuals above 80 years.
• 30% of Senior Citizens live below the poverty line.
• Health issues, including decreased physiological reserves and defense mechanisms, make the elderly prone to diseases and disabilities like cataracts, deafness, arthritis, and general inability to self-care.
• Many elderly experience loneliness and isolation as children move away for marriage or work, feeling like a burden or becoming financially dependent.
• Urbanization and changing family structures, such as nuclear families, limited living space, and long working hours, reduce family support for the elderly.
• Modern values like privacy, independence, and materialism further limit care for the elderly, leaving many to fend for themselves.
• Despite challenges, many elderly lead fulfilling lives, are respected in families, and remain economically active, particularly in sectors without mandatory retirement ages.
• The elderly are a valuable human resource, and their experience and capacities should be utilized for national development through government policies like the National Policy for Older Persons, 1999.

Some Programmes for the Elderly

• Government, NGOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and local bodies implement various programmes for the elderly.
• Programmes address basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare for destitute elderly.
• Initiatives strengthen intergenerational relationships between children/youth and the elderly.
• Programmes promote active and productive aging.
• Both institutional and non-institutional care/services are provided for the elderly.
• Research, advocacy, and awareness-building programmes focus on aging issues.
• Old age homes provide food, care, and shelter.
• Respite Care Homes and Continuous Care Homes cater to seriously ill elderly requiring nursing care.
• Multi-Service Centres offer daycare, educational, entertainment, healthcare, and companionship opportunities.
• Mobile Medicare Units deliver medical care to elderly in rural, isolated, or backward areas.
• Day Care Centres provide specialized care for elderly with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
• Help-lines and Counseling Centres support elderly mental health and well-being.
• Mental health care and specialized care programmes address elderly mental health needs.
• Disability care, including hearing aids, and physiotherapy clinics cater to elderly physical needs.
• Awareness Generation Programmes educate elderly and caregivers on self-care, preventive healthcare, disease management, and intergenerational bonding.
• Training programmes equip caregivers to support the elderly.
• Sensitizing programmes in schools and colleges raise awareness among children about elderly needs.
• The National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) supports destitute elderly above 65, requiring proof of age and destitute status, with states able to supplement funding.

Preparing for a Career

• Careers in this field involve managing activities in existing programmes/institutions or initiating new organizations for children, youth, or the elderly.
• A broad knowledge base and multiple skills, including planning, management, evaluation, and entrepreneurship, are essential.
• Strong understanding of the needs, characteristics, and caregiving modes for the target group is necessary.
• People Skills: Effective interaction with diverse groups is critical for programme success.
• Engaging the community through participatory planning, management, and implementation fosters a sense of involvement and ownership.
• Building linkages with the private sector allows organizations to leverage financial and social responsibility support.
• Interacting with government officials is necessary for funding and legal compliance.
• Cultivating harmonious interpersonal relationships within the organization ensures smooth functioning.
• Administrative Skills: Managing finances, personnel recruitment, space rental, equipment purchase, and record-keeping are key responsibilities.
• Basic understanding of these administrative aspects enhances management effectiveness.
• Starting a new organization requires selecting an appropriate location, identifying target beneficiaries, determining services, securing finances, recruiting skilled staff, registering the organization, implementing programmes, and improving based on evaluations.
• A clear vision and deep commitment to the cause are vital for success.
• An undergraduate degree in Home Science, Social Work, or social sciences provides a foundational knowledge base for working with vulnerable groups.
• Further studies or employment can follow the undergraduate degree, with opportunities in conventional or open and distance learning systems.
• The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers relevant programmes like the Certificate Programme in NGO Management and Diploma in Youth Development Work, which can be pursued alongside regular degrees.
• State Open Universities also provide distance learning programmes suitable for this career path.

Scope

• The field offers diverse career possibilities based on programme type and personal inclination.
• Career avenues include setting up institutions, managing established programmes, working as a functionary, or researching and evaluating programmes.
• The need for quality services for children, youth, and the elderly ensures continued demand for professionals in this field.