Child Development and Nutrition: The Indian Experience

The book emphasizes the importance of early childhood development for holistic human development and outlines policy and program reforms and initiatives to address childhood under-development and under-nutrition in India. It highlights a process-driven approach to strategic planning in the social developmental arena and discusses a joint strategy paper to address India's nutrition challenges. It also lays out key priorities, convergences, pathways, and the way forward for strengthening and carrying out early childhood development and nutrition efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 426 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Academic Foundation

The book is a comprehensive guide to policy and program reforms, as well as concurrent initiatives, that recognize early childhood development as the cornerstone of the nation's overall well-being for holistic human development. It delves into the arduous processes undertaken to bring about such monumental and groundbreaking efforts. This treatise provides a rare insight into a process-driven approach, outlining and reiterating the areas that require improvement and greater attention in addressing India's problem of childhood underdevelopment and undernutrition, which has remained a highly debated issue in recent times.

The work offers a glimpse into the realm of strategic planning in the social developmental arena. It elaborates on the key contours of a joint strategy paper that led to the first-ever decision of the Prime Minister's Nutrition Council and several policy decisions. This paper reflects the pursuit and persistence required in promoting inclusive, equitable, and contextualized opportunities for optimal child development at the national level. It also lays out some key priorities, convergences, pathways, and the way forward for strengthening and carrying out early childhood development and nutrition efforts.

The book emphasizes the need for greater momentum and energy to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through the missions of the Nutrition, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). These missions aim to attain holistic child development and contribute to the overall well-being of the nation.

In conclusion, the book is a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders interested in promoting early childhood development and nutrition in India. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current policies, programs, and initiatives, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By recognizing the importance of early childhood development, the book aims to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to work towards creating a brighter future for all children in India.

Weight: 825g
Dimension: 235 x 159 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789332704428