[Answered] “Planetary crises disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially children.” Discuss the implications of UNICEF’s findings on climate-related challenges for child welfare policies in India. (250 words, 15 marks)

The UNICEF State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report highlights how planetary crises, encompassing climate destabilization, biodiversity loss, and pollution, disproportionately impact children, particularly in vulnerable regions like South Asia.

Key Challenges Identified by UNICEF

• Health Impacts
  • Pollution: The developing lungs, brains, and immune systems of children are acutely affected by air and water pollution.
  • Vector-Borne Diseases: Rising temperatures fuel diseases like dengue and malaria.
  • Waterborne Diseases: Contaminated water from floods exacerbates diarrhea, a major cause of child mortality.
• Food Security: Climate-induced disruptions to agriculture threaten children’s nutrition and increase risks of stunting and malnutrition.
• Education: Over 400 million children globally have experienced school closures due to climate disasters, impeding learning and economic prospects.
• Psychosocial Impacts: Exposure to extreme weather and displacement fuels trauma, anxiety, and helplessness among children.
• Digital Divide: Low internet penetration in regions like South Asia impedes access to digital learning and innovation, compounding inequality.

Implications for India’s Child Welfare Policies

• Health Infrastructure Enhancement: Expand healthcare outreach programs to provide vaccinations, nutritional supplements, and treatments for climate-related diseases. Prioritize air and water quality improvement through stricter regulations and investments in clean energy.
• Climate-Resilient Nutrition Strategies: Strengthen food distribution systems like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to ensure continuity during climate crises. Promote climate-resilient crops and agricultural practices to enhance food security.
• Education Continuity: Develop disaster-resilient schools and mobile learning solutions to prevent education disruption. Integrate climate education into curricula to prepare children for future environmental challenges.
• Child-Friendly Disaster Management: Include child-specific provisions in disaster management plans, such as safe spaces in relief camps and targeted psychosocial support. Enhance the role of local governments in identifying and safeguarding vulnerable children during crises.
• Digital Inclusion: Bridge the digital divide through affordable internet access and investments in rural digital infrastructure under initiatives like Digital India. Strengthen online safety measures to protect children from exploitation and cyber risks.
• Targeting Climate Hotspots: Prioritize climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in regions like eastern India, which face frequent floods, and northern hill states, prone to glacial melt impacts. Leverage data-driven tools to identify the most vulnerable children and provide targeted aid.

Conclusion

The findings of the SOWC-2024 report serve as a call to action. Planetary crises are not just environmental challenges but moral imperatives that require safeguarding the rights and futures of the most vulnerable—our children. By embedding resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability into policies, India can mitigate these challenges and pave the way for a healthier, safer, and equitable future for its children.