Why We Need Child Welfare Programs in India

India has a current population of 1.33 billion children. 70% of which sleep on the roads under no shelter, have no food, no water and certainly, no love. Therefore, when we say ‘welfare’, we intend to mean lot more than basic life amenities. For some of us, social problems and issues can be solved with money, but for those poor children who have never experienced love, money will only secure a protected future, not a loving mother or sober father.

Which drives me (Rashi Anand) to the next point, why do we need them? What do we need to do? How should we do it? This article is only going to cover why we need them. However, we need to understand that charity and donations are not beneficial at all. You may not know, but charity and donations may be causing more harm than good.

The points below sum up why this fast paced, developing superpower is in dire need of saving children and child welfare programmes in India.

1.     Children are the future:

Needless to say, we all know well that what succeeds us, is the younger generation. Now imagine what will happen if the condition of this country never get better. If instead of becoming a superpower, 20 years down the line we are still stuck in the ‘process’ of becoming a developed country? Looking at the current statistics, if India’s condition does not get better, there will never be a time when India develops, let alone be a super power.

2.    Indian economy- manpower:

The utopic vision of Indian economy ever flourishing to a super power can only be achieved if we fully utilize our work force. However, 80% of India’s occupation practices agriculture. Yes, it’s true that we are self 0-sufficient in terms of producing food, but a large amount of that food also goes to waste, and a large chunk of land in India is no longer fit for agriculture.  No wonder, hundreds of farmers commit suicide every year.

3.     Crime:

Juvenile crime in India knows no bounds. Poverty, hunger, false pride and stereotypes are one of the leading factors of crime. When a child is hungry, he/she maybe ready to go to any lengths to procure food. Which has evidently led to the crime rate that we are currently at, especially In the rural areas.

4.    Welfare programs:

Welfare programs are a lot different from other sorts of social work that people do.  It involves methods of holistic growth for every being. A technique that will help a child be no different from a child of the middle class families. Therefore, as individuals, we need to indulge more in welfare programs, rather than charity. There are innumerable reasons why welfare programs are more effective, but we may delve into that later.

5.     Education:

If not a drastic change, children alone can be our best shot at achieving what we envision India as. There is one side of the road with a Bugatti waiting in line, while on the other side; a poor child is holding his hands up, asking for a few pennies. This contrast, or perhaps every contrast in India could be demolished single handedly by the method of providing education. Real education that does not involve half literate teachers who beat children up, but education systems as good as you and I can afford.