Safe Childhood India

I have often noticed that when a person cries or weeps, tears flow from both eyes, as if they are inseparable. An ophthalmologist once explained that trauma to one eye can sometimes affect the other—a condition known as a sympathetic eye. This offers a powerful metaphor for understanding the lives…

The categories of children facing neglect, separation from families, substance abuse, and those affected by emergencies clearly fall within the definition of Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) under Section 2(14) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The Act adopts a broad, child-centric…

Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a helpful role in social care for children if it is used carefully and responsibly. AI tools can improve access and inclusion by helping families communicate better. For instance, translation apps can help families who don’t speak the local language, and speech-to-text tools can help…

The Family-Based Care Index (FBCI) is a tool to understand whether a society is truly designed to help children without parents grow up in families, or whether it pushes them into institutions by default. Most child protection systems say they support family-based care. In practice, however, institutions are often easier…

Meera was rushing home after work when she noticed a young boy sitting on the steps of a closed building. His school bag lay beside him, and his eyes searched every passing face. Something about his silence made her stop. She asked gently if he was lost. The boy nodded.…

Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 & Adoption Regulations 2022 give older adoptees a statutory mechanism to access origin information. They balance the right to information with the privacy rights of biological parents and legal safeguards around adoption confidentiality. The Supreme Court’s decision in Laxmi Kant Pandey vs. Union of India laid…

India faces an unchecked surge of junk food marketing driven by corporate profits and aggressive advertising targeted at children. Ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats are promoted through television, digital platforms, and influencers, shaping harmful eating habits early in life. This commercial exploitation contributes to childhood obesity,…

Lead enters children’s bodies through multiple pathways, including lead-containing paints, unsafe toys, adulterated spices and cosmetics, industrial pollution, informal recycling of batteries, and contaminated soil and drinking water. These sources are often interconnected with weak regulation and limited oversight. Effective risk reduction therefore depends on robust legal frameworks, strict enforcement…

Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”. The correct lines are: “Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,And waste its sweetness on the desert air.” The lines “Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air” metaphorically capture the…

Child Care Institutions (CCIs) have often functioned within a reactive model of child protection, where action is triggered after abuse, neglect, or serious violations are reported. Although legal and statutory responses remain essential, relying solely on post-incident intervention limits the ability of institutions to prevent harm. A shift from reactive response to…

Child Care Institutions (CCIs) have often functioned within a reactive model of child protection, where action is triggered after abuse, neglect, or serious violations are reported. Although legal and statutory responses remain essential, relying solely on post-incident intervention limits the ability of institutions to prevent harm. A shift from reactive response to…

Nurturing a child’s mental health begins with everyday relationships built on trust, patience, and presence. Children thrive when adults actively listen, validate their feelings, and respond calmly, even during emotional moments. Honest communication, consistent follow-through, and respectful boundaries create a sense of safety and predictability. Positive role-modelling—of forgiveness, healthy behaviour,…

I did not become a father at the moment a child was born. I became one on the day a child entered my life, already aware that she was adopted. She came with her own memories, understanding, and unspoken questions—each deserving honesty and respect, never avoidance. From the very start,…