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Today marks the 65th celebration year of Children’s Day in India. Children’s Day is celebrated to mark the birthday of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, who genuinely loved children. Tenderly addressed as Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru) by children, he commemorated this day to raise awareness about their rights, education, and welfare. He also founded the Children's Film Society India in 1955 so that Indian children could find themselves represented. Many educational programs are organized on this day all over the country for its children.
A child is a symbol of innocence and purity but not all children are lucky to be born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Some come from extremely poor families that struggle to provide a three-course meal to their children, some of them are abandoned at birth, some carry the baggage of their ill-reputed family, some are disabled or victims of some accident that impedes their progress in society while some are orphans, who do not have the privilege of calling someone their father or mother. Nehru’s vision and the vision of India, by extension, is to create a country where no child is left behind and strive towards providing an equitable atmosphere of growth for all children, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sex, or family background.
What better day than today to take a step in the direction of making Nehru’s vision a reality? Let us take a look at some organizations and NGOs, working tirelessly toward uplifting Indian children:
I. Child Rights and You (CRY)
In 1979, Rippan Kapur, an Indian Airlines purser, started the NGO with six friends and just ₹50. Over four decades later, CRY works with 102 local NGOs across 19 states in India and has impacted the lives of over 3 million children. The NGO ensures that children in CRY-supported projects have access to free and good quality education, healthcare, and safety from violence, abuse, and exploitation. They also work towards reducing the rate of child malnutrition and upholding children’s voices regarding issues that concern them.
Learn more about the organization here.
II. Child Help Foundation (CHF)
Founded in 2010, CHF is a child-centric national non-profit organization striving towards child rights as laid out in the Indian constitution and UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). The NGO operates throughout the country and champions the cause of health, with a focus on medical emergency support for children, education, their sanitary and food needs. Their objective is to save the lives of children, especially those affected by accidents or natural disasters.
Learn more about the organization here.
III. Katha
The organization began in 1988 with a magazine for children from poor communities. It transformed into working for children's literacy by seamlessly connecting grassroots work in education and urban resurgence. Katha imbibes within children living in poverty the habit of reading and access to quality education. Over the past three decades, through its many programs, Katha has helped over one million children get educated and uplift themselves out of poverty. It has its own publications, igniting the minds of children, and creating literature celebrating the multiplicity and diversity of India.
Learn more about the organization here.
IV. The K. C. Mahindra Education Trust (Nanhi Kali)
Project Nanhi Kali provides complete support to underprivileged girls from Classes I-X. Their objective is to make sure that girls can complete their school education with their heads held high. Daily academic support and annual school supplies are provided. The organization works extensively with the families of the girls and community stakeholders to sensitize them toward the importance of girls’ education. This daily communication with the girls and a close connection with their families helps the project develop safe, conducive, girl-friendly ecosystems.
Learn more about the organization here.
V. Pratham Education Foundation
Pratham is a learning organization that was formed to improve the quality of education in India. Established in 1995 to provide education to children in the Mumbai slums, Pratham has grown exponentially, with its programs today reaching children and youth across India. Pratham focuses on high-quality, low-cost literacy instruction methods to address gaps in the education system. Pratham’s programs have impacted millions of lives and its Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach is now being adapted to contexts outside India as it has proven impact on children's learning abilities.
Learn more about the organization here.
