Chapter on Welfare

CHILD AWARDS

  1. The National Child Award for exceptional Achievement was instituted in 1996 to give recognition to children with exceptional abilities who have achieved outstanding status in various fields. Children between the age of 4-15 years who have shown an exceptional achievement in any field are eligible for this award.
  2. National Award for Child Welfare was instituted in 1979 to honour five institutions and three individuals for their outstanding performance in the field of child welfare. The awards include a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh and a citation for each institution and Rs.1 lakh and a citiation for each individual.
  3. Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award was instituted in 1994 to honour individuals who make outstanding contribution towards service for children. The Award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1.00 lakh and a citation.

CONVENTION ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)

  • India signed the Convention of Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1980 and ratified it in 1993 with one reservation and two declaratory statements.
  • The Convention obligates the State parties to undertake appropriate legislative and other measures to eliminate discrimination against women and for guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedom on the basis of equality with men.

 COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

  • A global policy-making body, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to the gender equality and advancement of women.
  • The 57th session of Commission took place in New York in, 2013.
  • The priority theme was elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

  • India is signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and on Children involved in Armed Conflict.
  • It is obligatory on the part of the member country signatory to the Convention to submit a Periodic Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention in the country.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN (NCW)

  • The National Commission for Women (NCW) was constituted in January, 1991 as a statutory body at the national level in pursuance of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to safeguard the interests of women.
  • It has a wide mandate covering almost all aspects of women’s development, viz., to investigate and examine the legal safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws and recommend to Government measures for their effective implementation; review the existing provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and recommended amendments to meet any lacunae, inadequacies or shortcomings in such laws; look into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to deprivation of women’s rights etc.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Notes