my final project "digital artifact" for the World Bank group online course - The future of work - preparing for disruption. Its a ppt that talks of developing human capital index by the way of paying emphasis on Early Childhood Development especially in context of India. Suggestions which would help have also been made.

1. EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT
IN THE CONTEXT OF INDIA
BY BHAVNA CHAUDHARY

2. CONTENTS
 Early childhood development – concept
 Importance of early childhood development (ECD)
 Statistics in context of India
 India and ECD
 The need for intervention
 Jamaican Study and its outcomes
 Suggested measures
 Proposal for government and NGOs
 Sources

3. EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
In the earliest years of life, from
conception till 6 years, children
need nutrition, protection and
stimulation for healthy brain
development. Early experiences
have large, long-lasting impacts
that translate to health and
economic wellbeing in adulthood.
.

4. 3 KEY COMPONENTS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT
nutrition health stimulation

5. IMPORTANCE OF ECD
“When you pay attention to the beginning of the story, you can change
the whole story.”
-Raffi Cavoukian, founder of Canada’s Centre for Child Honouring
Investment in Early Childhood Development helps -
 Improves learning ability of children and investment in education has better
learning outcomes.
 Better psycho-social behaviour.
 Lower exhibition of violent behaviour.
 Higher skill acquisition and earnings as adults.
In a nutshell investment in Early Childhood development has very high
economic returns in terms of GDP, innovation therby helping our economy
attain higher human capital index.

7.  19.8 million children below age 6 in India are undernourished (ICDS
2015) and nutrition is a key aspect of ECD – for better brain
development of children their nutrition needs to be made a priority.
 Only 9.6% of children between 6-23 months in the country receive an
adequate diet (NFHS 4, 2015-16). Holistic development and growth
requires not only sufficient calories but also the right amount of various
vitamins and minerals. Efforts are needed in this direction in India.
 38% (1 in 3 )of children between 0-5 years are stunted in the country
(NFHS 4, 2015-16). There is a need for Early Intervention Programes to
help such children match their peers.
 As per asian development bank 21.9 % of indian population lives below
the poverty line which is 280.32 billion people. ECD and poverty have a
direct relation. Poor parents cant give adequate nutrition, healthcare or
attention to children which leads to low development and stunted growth.
SOME ALARMING STATISTICS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF
CHILDREN IN INDIA AND ITS RELATION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT

8. INDIA AND ECD
India ranked low on the Human capital index developed by world
bank and IMF and the government of India wrote a letter stating
that they will be “ignoring it”.
There are 158.7 million children (Census 2011)under the age of six
in India. Across a range of indicators related to nutrition, health and
care, the outlook is poor and therefore India needs to improve.
India adopted ECCE policy in 2013 which is National Early Childhood Care and
Education and improved existing Integrated Childhood Development (ICD)
policy.

9. • Lack of nutrition in early childhood leads to stunting, which
globally affects nearly one-in-four children younger than five.
• Risks associated with poverty – such as under nutrition and
poor sanitation – can lead to developmental delays and a lack
of progress in school.
• Violent discipline is widespread in many countries, and nearly
70 percent of children between two and four were yelled or
screamed at.
• 300 million children younger than five have been exposed to
societal violence.
• For a child in a low- or middle-income country, poor early
development could mean they earn around one-quarter less
in income, as an adult.
• For a country, poor early childhood development could mean
economic loss; in India, the loss is about twice the gross
domestic product spent on health.

10. JAMAICAN STUDY
Children in Jamaica were provided early childhood development intervention
and it was found that the intervention by the way of stimulation led to
reduction in brain stunting however the children could not catch up with their
non stunted peers.There were weekly visits for 2 years by trainers/carers.
Recent follow up showed that those children are doing well – including in
terms of earnings even 30 years later.
At 7 years, small benefits were found to cognition from each intervention but
not to growth. Follow up during adolescence showed stimulation had
sustained benefits to cognition, and benefits to educational achievement and
psychological functioning emerged. Supplementation no longer had any
benefits. At the most recent follow-up at age 22 years benefits to IQ and
educational achievement continued, there were benefits to mental health and
reduced involvement in violent behavior and 25% increase in average
monthly income.

11. c
Collect detailed
data on early
childhood
development in
India.
Develop a holistic
approach to measuring
children's well being
and bring focus to
mental needs along
with physical ones.
Create a committee
to ensure that
legislations of ECCE
are being
implemented and if
not then take
remedial action.
Public universities should
include playing with children
of under privileged
background who are
neglected between the age
of 0-6 a part of National
Social Service which
currently includes teaching
children above the age of 6
only.
Increase budget
of Integrated
child
development
services and
other such
organizations.
Improve living
conditions and
provide social
security to
those who are
below poverty
line. Direct link
between
poverty and
stunting.

12. Initiate comprehensive collection of data
on children below the age of 6 in the
national Census.
Make Angadwadi Centre's (pre schools)
near the place of work or in congruence
to MNREGA (employment program for
the poor) so attendance is higher.
Increase allocation for Early childhood
development in the financial budget.
Include pre – primary education in Right to
Education.
There is a direct link
between poor Early
Childhood Development
and poverty. India has a
large number of
population living below the
poverty line. Government
should work on social
security for the poorest
especially considering
poor people in India have
many children .Alleviating
poverty would help
improve the nutrition,
health and stimulation
received by children.

13. Broaden focus from food and
health to even mental
development .
Volunteers should be given proper
pedagogical training for age 0-6
,appropriate to development level.
NGO’s should undertake
measuring and ensuring proper
implementation of the various
government policies in place.
Increase awareness about ECD and provide
relevant training to parents especially from
underpriviliged backgrounds.

15. SOURCES
1 https://www.unicef.org/early-childhood-development
2
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/govern
ment-questions-world-banks-human-capital-index-
rank/articleshow/66172833.cms
3 https://www.cry.org/statistics-on-children
4
https://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/National%20Early%20Childhood%20
Care%20and%20Education-Resolution.pdf
5
https://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/National%20Early%20Childhood%20
Care%20and%20Education-Resolution.pdf