Problem in India is not singular but multi-faceted. The problem of malnutrition, lack of basic health facilities, and slim access to quality education, child abuse and child labor ensures that it is a vicious cycle.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child The UN CRC was brought to life 25 years ago and it set out to ensure that all the children in the world would have their set of civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights. India ratified the treaty in 1994 and agreed to the standards of international law. But reality is farfetched from the standards which were set out.

Some key facts :

• The child sex ratio is showing a worrying trend. During the period 1991 -2011, child sex ratio declined from 945 to 914, whereas the overall sex ratio showed an improvement from 927 to 940.
• Every second child in India is malnourished (NFHS 2005-06).
• Out of every 100 children, 19 continue to be out of school
• Of every 100 children who enrol, 70 drop out by the time they reach the secondary level.
• Of every 100 children who drop out of school, 66 are girls.
• Nearly half the children are married by the age of 18.
• India has the highest population of child laborers in the world. As per the NFHS -3 (2005-06), nearly 11.8% children age 5-14 years works either for their own household or for somebody else. The very young children (age 5-7 years), both boys and girls, are mainly doing unpaid work for someone who is not a member of their household. The older boys age 12-14 are mainly engaged in paid work or family work, whereas girls in this age group are involved mainly in household chores or family work.
• Crimes against children are alarmingly high It is alarming that, in 2011, the Crimes against children reported a 24% increase from the previous year with a total of 33,098 cases of crimes against Children reported in the country during 2011 as compared to 26,694 cases during 2010.

Source: UNICEF, MOSPI & Infochange