News Watch: Delay in Child Rights Panel - Govt. rapped

Government rapped for delay in forming children's panel
The powers of the commission, comprising six people, would involve launching an inquiry into "any violation of child rights" and "protect" children requiring special care, minors in distress, juveniles, children in conflict with law and those affected by HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, riots, communal violence and terrorism.

Why India’s future may rest on Eggs, Condoms
The working group on children under six, set up at the behest of the government’s economic planning agency, estimates the cost of reaching out to 80 million children and 10 million pregnant and breast-feeding women with day-care centres, medicines, counselling and nutrition—including eggs for a protein-rich diet—at Rs30,000 crore a year.

Get ready to pay more to domestic help, you will get trained hands
“According to labour laws, children under the age of 14 cannot be employed legally. We will be targeting adolescents between the age groups of 14 and 18 years. Domestic workers are not considered professionals in the country and we are trying to change this mindset. Once these workers are trained they will have to be paid according to wage structures decided by us. There will be different categories of domestic helps according to the skills acquired and certification, such as ‘certificate I’ or ‘certificate II domestic help’. Their salaries will depend accordingly,” senior Labour department officials said.

Diagnostic guidelines can save infant lives worldwide: study
A simple checklist of symptoms for severe illness could save tens of thousands of newborns in poor countries, according to a study published Thursday. The guidelines could help village caregivers make speedy, accurate diagnoses of ailing infants, helping to identify those who need urgent hospitalisation, it says.

Tracking India’s progress on MDGs
“With the growth taking place in the country unless there is a targeted expenditure, we will not be able to see the results which have been designed to be achieved as part of the MDG campaign,” warned Jagadananda, Convener of WNTA.