Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The UN General Assembly declared October 29 as International Day of Care and Support recognizing the importance of care policies.
• ICDS, launched in 1975, is one of the world’s largest early childhood development programs with 1.4 million Anganwadi centers.
• The Time Use in India 2024 survey revealed women spend an average of 426 minutes a day on unpaid domestic and care work.
• The India Childcare Champion Awards 2025 recognized excellence in childcare, honoring frontline workers and organizations.

Detailed Insights:

• Tarabai Modak and Gijubai Badheka's work in the early 20th century pioneered developmentally appropriate childcare practices in India.
• The 1972 Mina Swaminathan report emphasized a holistic approach to address the health, nutrition, and developmental needs of children from marginalized communities.
• Despite the importance of care work, care workers are often underpaid with wages between ₹8,000-₹15,000 a month in many states.
• Climate change disproportionately affects poor women and children, increasing the need for quality childcare services.
• Only 10% of Anganwadi centers currently function in urban areas, highlighting a gap in childcare provision for migrant families.
• Only 11% of children aged 6-23 months have a minimum acceptable diet, raising cognitive and developmental concerns.
• Increasing public investment in childcare to 1%-1.5% of GDP, similar to Scandinavian countries, is needed to universalize quality care.

Key Concepts Involved:

• ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services): A government scheme providing services for the holistic development of children, especially from marginalized communities.
• Anganwadi: A rural childcare center in India, providing basic health, nutrition, and early education services.
• Sustainable Development Goals: A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all".