Since my attempts to make contact with early childhood professionals from other nations have, thus far, been fruitless, I will share what I have learned about childhood poverty in India from the website http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/ .
India has the greatest population of children participating in the labour force in the world. One-third of children under 16 years of age work. Most child-workers are female due to the low enrollment of girls in the school system (CHIP).
A cultural preference for male children exists in India. Male children are of greater value based upon their earning potential and the perception that males are permanent members of the family This bias toward male children contributes to the neglect of female children. As a result of the low value of female children, there is a higher rate of mortality for infant and young girls. Consequently,the number of girls per one thousand boys aged 0-6 is steadily declining (CHIP).
In the last 50 years, India's government has made concerted efforts to reduce the poverty rate through attempts to increase economic growth. Efforts include reforms in land and tenancy policies, programs that empower and encourage active participation in the economy including those that promote self-employment and the creation of jobs in rural areas. Food subsidy programs are targeted to rural areas where accessibility to resources is severely limited. The development of villages and local government systems are an integral part of the distribution of resources in less populated areas of the country (CHIP).
An increase in the population of India, the country's industrialization and the globalization of the economy in India in this information age make it difficult for the schools to remain competitive on a world scale. This, in turn causes hiccups in the country's development efforts. Education is an important factor in development (CHIP).
Reference
www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=countryo#11
India has the greatest population of children participating in the labour force in the world. One-third of children under 16 years of age work. Most child-workers are female due to the low enrollment of girls in the school system (CHIP).
A cultural preference for male children exists in India. Male children are of greater value based upon their earning potential and the perception that males are permanent members of the family This bias toward male children contributes to the neglect of female children. As a result of the low value of female children, there is a higher rate of mortality for infant and young girls. Consequently,the number of girls per one thousand boys aged 0-6 is steadily declining (CHIP).
In the last 50 years, India's government has made concerted efforts to reduce the poverty rate through attempts to increase economic growth. Efforts include reforms in land and tenancy policies, programs that empower and encourage active participation in the economy including those that promote self-employment and the creation of jobs in rural areas. Food subsidy programs are targeted to rural areas where accessibility to resources is severely limited. The development of villages and local government systems are an integral part of the distribution of resources in less populated areas of the country (CHIP).
An increase in the population of India, the country's industrialization and the globalization of the economy in India in this information age make it difficult for the schools to remain competitive on a world scale. This, in turn causes hiccups in the country's development efforts. Education is an important factor in development (CHIP).
Reference
www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=countryo#11
