The Child’s Well-Being Index Report recently unveiled critical data concerning child welfare across Indian states. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, and Puducherry emerged as front-runners in fostering child well-being. On the other hand, states such as Meghalaya, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh registered lower scores on the index. The report bears the collective effort of IFMR LEAD, a research institute, and World Vision India, an NGO. NITI Aayog recognises its pivotal role in advancing children’s rights and enhancing child well-being using an all-inclusive Child well-being Index.
About the Child Well-being Index
The Child well-being Index is a comprehensive tool designed to measure and monitor children’s well-being. It encapsulates three dimensions including healthy individual growth, positive relationships, and protective environments, segmented across 24 indicators.
Key Findings of the Report
The report offers valuable insights into several areas such as health, nutrition, education, sanitation, and child protection. It emphasises the necessity of a multi-dimensional strategy to effectively measure the Child Well-being Index, transcending the approach of only assessing income poverty.
The primary aim of this report is to ignite academic and policy discussions around the less-explored topic of child welfare in India. This objective aligns with the goal of holistic child development, by focusing not just on their physical growth, but also social, cognitive, and emotional aspects.
The Significance of Child Well-Being
Children embody the future of a nation; if their well-being is ignored, the repercussions are increased poverty and inequality. The task lies with all relevant stakeholders to prioritise and commit to advancements in our children’s welfare. Each state needs to critically evaluate their respective scores on different dimensions of child well-being. From there, they should formulate action plans targeting priority areas that require attention and intervention.
| State | Overall Child Well-being Rank |
|---|---|
| Kerala | 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 3 |
| Puducherry | 4 |
| Meghalaya | 36 |
| Jharkhand | 37 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 38 |
Steps to Advance Policy and Budget
The report aspires to push policy-level modifications, advocate for improved budgetary allocations, and spark discussions amongst all stakeholders. This cohesive approach can significantly contribute to enhancing the quality of children’s lives across India. Future studies should investigate key indicators such as mobile usage, digital accessibility, financial literacy, mental health, and the quality of relationships between parents/peers and children.
