Child welfare: A concept from unknown to known

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an International Treaty that recognises the human rights of children, defined as persons up to the age of 18 years and ensured that the State Parties provided all the rights to all the children without discrimination in any form. In the 17th century probably due to French Revolution, France established free medical care for mothers and children, day care centres for working women, family allowances for poor families and free public education (Baig, 1979). The General Assembly proclaimed that the Child should have a happy childhood and enjoy for his own good and for the good of the society the rights and freedoms given under this declaration. Since India has ratified international conventions and other treaties thus it is obligatory on the part of Indian Government to legislate on the issues related to child welfare in accordance with these International legislations.xii Mainly it was due to the fact that there were no organisations or pressure groups that worked for the welfare of the children so child welfare was not on the agenda of governments almost all over the world. Declaring the children as a Nation's supreme asset, in the National policy for Children 1974, the Government of India reiterated its commitment to secure the rights of its children by ratifying related International Conventions and Treaties. Over the past few years, a child has emerged at the centre of public concern almost all over the world. Leaders and statesman in all parts of the world have begun to identify themselves with family and children's issues (Black, 1996).