CHILDREN’S ISSUES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING IN RURAL VILLAGES OF ANDHRA PRADESH WITH QULAITY OF EDUCATION (QOE) AND QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL)

Dear All

ABSTRACT

Children are the future citizens of any nation and their health and knowledge is the “wealth of that nation”. They have got the right to get all the basic amenities to live with better quality of life. Government and NGOs are working at their full potential to address the issues in general and particularly the children through various innovative schemes. All looks beautiful and attractive on paper but are very poor at their implementation stage.

The present status of children welfare services starting from the health care, nutrition, education, employment and finally to quality of life is not to the expected level and thus not attained the targeted benefits to the needy one. In spite of the huge support from the foreign funding agencies, still the position is not improved significantly. In view of the Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) though developmental activities including Industries, Dams, Mining of Natural Resources etc. are welcome but it creates a gap between the “rich & urbanites” and “poor & ruralites”. In addition, the working system by not providing participatory forum to the Project Affected People (PAPs) aggravates the situation by inviting the opposition from the people living around the activity. The additional problem is with the in-appropriate and in-sufficient resettlement & rehabilitation package to the PAPs who sacrificed for the benefit of others who are the cream eaters. This further adds to the unpleasant situation.

This paper deals with all the issues of the children stating from the health, education, employment and other related issues. The efforts made by an NGO in helping the children in general and particularly the one with disabilities mainly to make them independent with better “sustainability” and “quality of life (QOL)” in their own environment / community have benefited the children and their families and are the highlights of this paper.

Looking forward.....

Remarks: Paper presented at the Conference of RIGHT TO FOOD