India’s persistent challenges with child malnutrition and lack of fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals highlight the crucial need for focused efforts on early childhood care and education (ECCE).

Historical Recommendations

1. National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC)
   • Suggested amending Article 21-A to include children up to 14 years and adding Article 24-A for care and assistance up to six years.
2. 2015 Law Commission Report
   • Supported NCRWC’s recommendations, emphasizing justiciable rights for young children.

Current Situation and Challenges

1. Fragmented Approach
   • Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) lacks legal obligations, leading to fragmented services.
2. Lack of Standardization
   • Poor infrastructure in anganwadis, insufficient budgets, and inconsistent norms hamper effective ECCE delivery.

Proposed Law Framework

1. Primary Duty-Bearer
   • Establish the state as the primary duty-bearer under a legislative foundation.
2. Statutory Authority
   • Suggests the creation of a Council for Early Childhood Development to ensure coordination and oversight.
3. Service Provision
   • Specify that all ECCE services should be provided under the women and child development department.
4. Infrastructure
   • Mandate separate infrastructure for different age groups and ensure provision of land for anganwadis.

Key Provisions

1. Legal Rights
   • Daycare for under-six children and pre-primary education for three to six-year-olds to be legal and universalized.
2. Budgetary Allocation
   • Budget for ECCE to be a first charge on resources, fixed within the law to ensure adequate funding.
3. Anganwadi Workers
   • Regularize anganwadi workers’ services, providing proper wages, service conditions, and social security.
4. Regulation
   • Introduce a licensing system for private daycare providers and specify curriculum, teacher qualifications, and training requirements.

Governance and Oversight

1. Local Bodies
   • Define responsibilities of gram panchayats and municipalities in ensuring infrastructure and functioning of ECCE centers.
2. Monitoring Bodies
   • Establish balavikas samitis at different levels for effective monitoring and evaluation.
3. Private Sector
   • Introduce regulations for licensing and oversight of private daycare providers.

Conclusion

Enacting such a comprehensive law, whether at the state or national level, is crucial for nurturing India’s future generations and ensuring their holistic development.