Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu today said she felt happy to participate in the 70th anniversary of UNICEF, which is organising the Jharkhand Development Dialogue Lecture Series.
The theme is 'Reaching the unreached: A march towards sustainable development goals 2030'.
The governor said this programme has given opportunity to issues and solutions related to children, an official release said quoting her.
Stating that people were making efforts in supporting children's all round development and nutrition facilities, Murmu said under the sustainable development goals, all children get equal opportunities for their growth, specially the weak and the deprived get social improvement so that they do not lag behind.
She said it was known that children begin their life in unequal environment - on one side children have all facilities, while on the other side they have scarcity, which creates a gap. Due to this inequality, children face negative impact in their health, education and nutrition.
However, significant progress has been made in the improvement of the condition of children, their education and eradication of poverty, the Governor said.
Child mortality rate has been reduced, boys and girls were being inspired to go to schools and awareness of education has dawned in them, she said.
"There are several challenges before us, among which malnutrition is a serious issue. This inequality is not only improper morally, but also it is a hurdle in economic development and social progress. Besides, works taken up by the government, all round cooperation will plug the gap," she said.
The Governor said nutrition of a child has two phases
- from conception to two years, when a child gets health, nutrition and development base is readied and if the child does not get the base, untimely mortality comes to the fore.
The second stage is adolescence, when a child goes through physical and mental changes and this stage requires special care.
The Governor said along with the government, it was necessary for collective effort by different social organizations, industrial houses, media and international organizations to work in this endeavour.
A UNCIF release quoting Madhulika Jonathan, Chief UNICEF Jharkhand said "UNICEF believes there is hope for every child. The conviction that every child is born with the same inalienable right to a healthy, safe childhood is a constant thread through the history of the organization. Its continued viability depends on applying past lessons learned to the challenges ahead and harnessing the power of innovation to solve tomorrow's problems."
"UNICEF's mission focuses on the whole child - including that child's mental and physical health, and his or her access to education, legal and social protection, safe water and sanitation, and more. UNICEF understands that the spiral of poverty, disease and hunger stifles global development and leads to violations of children's human rights.
"Those rights guide UNICEF's work towards a world where every child has a fair chance in life. As an emergency responder, a champion of child rights and a force for equitable development, UNICEF has a long record of success. Its results are qualitative: UNICEF believes that children should not only survive but also thrive in their households, classrooms and communities," she said.
