Kerala (0.76), Tamil Nadu (0.67) and Himachal Pradesh (0.67) lead the charts among the states while Meghalaya (0.53), Jharkhand (0.50) and Madhya Pradesh (0.44) feature at the bottom, in the India Child Well-Being Report released on Tuesday by World Vision India and IFMR LEAD at New Delhi. The report is an attempt to look at how India fairs on child well-being using a composite child well-being index.
The Child Well-Being Index is a tool designed to measure and track children’s well-being comprehensively. The three dimensions of the index are i) Healthy Individual Development, ii) Positive Relationships and iii) Protective Contexts. Focusing on the three key dimensions, 24 indicators were selected to develop the computation of the child well-being index.
Speaking at the release, Cherian Thomas, National Director and CEO, World Vision India said, “The vision of World Vision globally is to ensure the fullness of life for every child. The report highlights the multi-dimensional approach towards measuring child well-being – going beyond mere poverty. Children have the potential to transform the country, but if neglected, they will exacerbate the burden of poverty and inequality. It is imperative that all stakeholders prioritise and invest in the well-being of our children."
The index captures the performance of each State and Union Territory on a composite child well-being score. Among the Union Territories, Puducherry leads the way with a score of 0.77 and Dadra & Nagar Haveli features at the other end with a score of 0.52.
Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog said, “The India Child Well Being Index is a crucial report that can be mined both by the Government and civil organisations to achieve the goal of child well-being and we will use this report effectively. This report provides insights on health, nutrition, education, sanitation and child protection. Our government is fully committed towards securing the rights and well-being of children and for this, we are making investments in this regard”.
This report is a call for states to look at their respective scores on the dimensions of child well-being, and to prepare for priority areas of intervention with specific plans of action. The report also hopes to trigger policy level changes, seek better budgetary allocations and initiate discussions with all stakeholders which can help in enhancing the quality of life of all children in the country.
Speaking about the collaboration, Sharon Buteau, Executive Director, IFMR LEAD said, “The research has brought to the fore compelling insights on child well-being in India. One of the primary objectives of this index is to garner attention to the under-researched theme of child well-being in India and inspire further academic and policy conversations on related issues. Some of the key indicators that need to be studied in the future include mobile usage, digital access, financial literacy, mental health and quality of relationships per se, between parents /peers and children.”