Budget 2016: Child Rights and You seeks hiked allocation for children

MUMBAI: Decrying the increasing crimes against children, non-governmental organisation CRY, which works for child rights, today sought more allocation for minors' development from the upcoming Union Budget.

Stressing the need for quality food distribution under the Mid-Day Meal scheme, Child Rights and You (CRY) has sought inflationary adjustment in the allocation, the NGO said in a statement.

The NGO has sought robust mechanism for child protection, especially in rural areas while pointing out the need for training of concerned officials and awareness generation among people.

For children between 0-6 years of age, it has called for increasing budgetary allocation for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.

It has also sought an increase in investment towards skilling Anganwadi workers, claiming many posts of Anganwadi supervisors and helpers are lying vacant, the statement said.

For children between 7-14 years of age, CRY has asked for funding to increase the number of qualified teachers, in view of "lakhs of teachers in elementary education who are not fully qualified for their jobs".

For children between the age of 15-18 years, CRY has suggested to increase investment in secondary education, including allocation of funds for Rashtiya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

"We have apprised the Union government of our expectations, and we believe that it would heed to most of our demands," a senior CRY associate said.