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Strengthening Early Childhood Care and Development in India

Despite the economic growth of urban India, millions of children in isolated rural areas and urban slums still have no access to government early childhood services such as early learning activities and nutrition services.

However, Plan's Early Childhood Care and Development priority project is strengthening and extending these services so that children living in the most difficult circumstances do not miss out.

Why strengthening early childhood care and development is a priority

Research has shown that what happens to a child in the first years of its life, and the opportunities provided, are crucial in determining lifelong outcomes. A child that has benefitted from basic healthcare and enjoyed early learning through play has a better chance of doing well at school, which can then lead to improved job opportunities. However, many marginalised families in India such as those from caste, cultural groups or the urban homeless, are unaware of the importance of early care and learning for their children. In addition, these groups are often excluded from mainstream society which further alienates them from accessing any government childhood services.

What is being done

Plan's Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) project is a holistic and integrated approach involving the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of girls and boys up to the age of eight years. This eight-year project aims to encourage families in Orissa to access existing government child development services as well as help improve and extend the reach of these services. In Delhi's urban slums and construction sites, Plan works with local partners to provide early childhood care and devopment for the children of families who have mostly migrated from rural areas to work as labourers. The ultimate aim of the project is for the Indian Government to take over the running of the ECCD centres and services and then to implement the model nationally.

What has been achieved so far

Since 2002, when Plan first began its ECCD project, access to children's early development services has improved dramatically with Plan supporting 120 village-based ECCD centres (including 50 government centres). In FY2009, 2600 children in Orissa and Rajasthan attended these centres and today Plan continues to encourage families to access government-funded services and raises awareness about the importance of ECCD for children. In slum areas and on construction sites in Delhi, Plan continues to support its local partner Mobile CrÃ#¨#ches to provide ECCD at mobile daycare centres for children under eight years. Without access to these daycare centres, mothers who work as labourers would have no choice but to leave their very young children on the edge of the dangerous construction site either unattended or in the care of older siblings.

What needs to be done this year

In FY2010, Plan Australia will continue to support Plan India, local partners and communities in Delhi and Orissa to:

• Provide more than 300 children with early learning and care at ECCD centres in Delhi's urban slums and at mobile day care centres at construction sites.

• Continue to improve government ECCD services and the reach of these services in Orissa.

• Continue to develop ECCD resources including the use of traditional folklore.

• Continue to raise awareness of ECCD through the media including child media and advocate government to strengthen and expand early care and learning services.

• Advocate for childcare entitlements for low-paid workers.

• Support a national level ECCD resource and training centre for teachers and evaluate previous project activities to access how these can be further improved.

Funding needed

In FY2010, Plan needs to raise AU$134,000 from the Australian public.

This project is also supported by AusAID, the Australian Government Agency for International Development.

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About Plan

Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work with communities in 50 developing countries and raise funds to support our work in 21 countries like Australia. By actively involving children, and working at a grassroots level with no religious or political agenda, we unite and inspire people around the globe to transform the world for children.