Zehra Mahruq

H.Sc Dept
IISJED

Ch:10 - Management of support services, Institutions and Programmes for children, youth
and elderly

Q1 why are children, youth and elderly vulnerable?

Ans
(a) Children are vulnerable because childhood is a period of rapid development in all domains,
and development in one area influences development in all others.
All children are vulnerable, but some are more vulnerable than others. These are the children who
are living in such challenging conditions and difficult circumstances that their basic needs of food,
health, care and nurturance are not met and this prevents them from developing their full potential.

(b)Youth is a vulnerable period due to many reasons. During this period an individual is trying to
come to terms with many biological changes in her/his body which have an impact on the person's
sense of well-being and identity. This is also the period when the individual is preparing to take on
adult roles, two of the foremost being earning a livelihood and marriage, followed by raising a
family.

(c) The elderly are a vulnerable group due to health, the family life cycle for many. The elderly
are more vulnerable to disease because of decreased physiological reserves and defense
mechanisms. Besides illness, the aging process itself leads to certain disabilities such as low
vision and blindness resulting from cataracts, etc. The family life cycle for many, this may be a
period when they find themselves alone because the children are likely to have moved away from
the family either because of marriage or to earn a living. Many may experience feelings of
loneliness, isolation and a sense of being a burden on others.

2Q. What type of programmes is appropriate for youth?

Ans. Various types of programmes are appropriate for youth are:

 The National Service Scheme (NSS);
 The National Service Volunteer Scheme;
 Promotion of Adventure;
 Scouts and Guides;
 Commonwealth Youth Programme;
 Promotion of National Integration.

3Q. What are some of the concerns with respect to the elderly?
Ans. Some of the concerns with respect to the elderly are –

 Health is a major concern for many individuals at this age. The elderly are more vulnerable
to disease because of decreased physiological reserves and defence mechanisms.

 Illness, certain disabilities because of the aging process such as low vision and blindness
resulting in cataracts, deafness resulting from nerve impairment, loss of mobility in arthritis.
Zehra Mahruq
H.Sc Dept
IISJED

 Loneliness because the children are likely to have moved away.

 Many individuals find themselves financially dependent on the younger generation which
may add to their feeling of stress.

 Reduced support within the immediate and extended family because of city life (nuclear
families, lack of free time) etc.

4.Q Describe two programmes each for Children, Youth and Elderly?

Ans. (a) Programme for Children:

 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) : ICDS of the Government of India. It is

the world's largest early childhood programme which aims to meet the heath in nutrition,
stimulation,and early learning/education needs of children below below six years of age in
an integrated manner so as to foster their development.
 SOS Children's Villages: This is an independent non-governmental social organisation
which has pioneered a family approach to the long term care of orphaned and abandoned
children
 SOS villages have the vision of providing family-based, long-term care to children who can
no longer grow up with their biological families. In each SOS home there is a 'mother'
who look after 10-15 children.

(b)Programme for Youth:

(i) The National Service Scheme (NSS) : NSS aims at involving college level students in
programmes of social service and national development like construction and repair of roads
school buildings, village ponds, tanks, activities related to environmental and ecological
improvement like tree plantation, removal of weeds from lakes, digging pits, activities related to
hygiene and sanitation, family welfare, child-care, mass immunisation, vocational training in
craft, tailoring, knitting, and organising co-operatives.

(ii) The National Service Volunteer Scheme: Provides opportunities to students (who have
completed their first degree) to involve themselves, on a whole-time basis for a short period of
one or two years, in programmes of national development mainly through Nehru Yuva
Kendras. They are involved in programmes of adult education, establishment of youth clubs,
organization of work camps, youth leadership training programmes, vocational training,
promotion of rural sports and games ‚etc.

(c) Programme for Elderly:

(i) Multi-Service Centres for Older Persons to provide daycare, educational and entertainment
opportunities, healthcare, companionship.
Zehra Mahruq
H.Sc Dept
IISJED

(ii) Respite Care Homes and Continuous Care Homes for Older Persons who live in old age
homes but are seriously ill requiring continuous nursing care and respite.

5Q. What advice will you give to someone who is planning to set up her/his institution for
children / Youth/elderly?

 Ans. The need for programmes and institutions for children, youth and elderly which provide
quality services will continue to remain a basic need of civil society.
 The first step in preparation for this career is to develop a knowledge base and an
understanding about children, youth and the elderly.
 Towards this end, it will be appropriate to obtain an undergraduate degree in Home Science
(also known by other names such as Family and Community Sciences) or Social Work or any
other social sciences.
 These degree programmes usually focus on such three vulnerable groups in the population.

6Q. Describe the knowledge and skills you will need in order to pursue a career in
management of institutions and programmes for children/youth/elderly?

Ans. A career in management of institutions and programmes for children, youth and elderly will
need honing of the abilities and skills of a planner, manager and an evaluator, may be even an
entrepreneur as well as strong knowledge of the needs, characteristics and modes of care giving
for the target group.

The following are some skills and abilities you will need to develop:

 People Skills: Running or working in an organisation means interacting with people in

different roles and from different backgrounds.

The following are some groups of people you are likely to interact with:

(i) The Community: A programme or an institution for children will be successful if the community
feels a sense of involvement and ownership with it.

This happens when the programme is planned by involving the people for whom it is intended right
from the start. Participatory planning, management and implementation are the pillars of effective
programmes.

Thus, building linkages with the community and invoking community participation will be a major
aspect of your work.

(il) The Private Sector: The private sector financial institutions, companies and organisations
have come in a big way to support innovative programmes and institutions.
This is a positive step as it is an opportunity for the private sector to discharge its social
responsibilities.
Zehra Mahruq
H.Sc Dept
IISJED

(ill) The Officials in the Government: You may need to interact with government departments for
various purposes, including funding and fulfilling other legal requirements.
(iv) People within the organisation: For smooth functioning of the organisation, it is important
that the people (both beneficiaries and personnel working therein) enjoy a harmonious relationship
with each other.
Cultivating cordial interpersonal relations is a major factor in the success of an organisation.

 Administrative Skills: Running or managing an organisation or programme involves handling

finances, recruiting personnel, renting space, buying equipment, maintaining records and
stocks.
While there may be other specific people dealing with each of these aspects, it would also be
necessary and helpful for you to have a basic understanding of the issues involved in each of
these.
Multiple Choice Questions
1.Which programme offers Health, Nutrition and hygiene education to mothers, Non-formal pre
schooling education to children aged 3 to 6, supplementary feeding for all children below 6 yrs and
pregnant and Nursing mothers?
(a) ICDS
(b) NSS
(c) SOS Children’s villages
d) Promotion of Adventure

2. In India, when was the first SOS village was set up?
(a) 1890
(b) 1920
(c) 1964
(d) 1899

3. In Which kind of homes, Juveniles (children under 18 years of age) are found guilty in terms of
violation of law, are placed in custodial care?

(a) Observation homes

(b) Special homes
(c) Juvenile/childrens home
(d) None of the above

4. Which scheme provides opportunities to students (who have completed their first degree) to
involve themselves, on a whole-time basis for a short period of one or two years, in programmes
of national development mainly through Nehru Yuva Kendras?
(a) Promotion of Adventure
(b) Promotion of National Integration
(d) National service Volunteer scheme
(c) Common Wealth programme
Zehra Mahruq
H.Sc Dept
IISJED

5.What are the special features of the elderly population in India?

a) Feminisation of the elderly population"

b) Increase in the number of the older - old
c) A large percentage (30%) of the Senior Citizens is below the poverty line
d) All of the above

Very Short Answer Questions

1. The .......... 2000 is the primary legal framework for justice in India.

Ans. Juvenile Justice (Care and protection of children)

2. The .......... programmes today covers over 41 million children.

Ans. Child Development (ICDS)

3. The Government provides financial support for……...... organizing rallies, jamboree,etc.

Ans. Training scouts and guides

4……….... provide medical care to the older persons living in rural and isolated and backward
areas.

Ans.Mobile Medical Units

5………... ОГ……........ an organisation or programme involves handling finances, recruiting

personal, renting space, buying equipment, maintaining records and stocks.

Ans. Running, Managing

Short Answer Questions

1.According to Juvenile Justice Act, what are the two categories of children?

Ans. The Juvenile Justice Act concerns with two categories of children: those who are "in conflict
with law» and those considered to be "in need of care and protection." Children "in conflict with
law" (also called juvenile delinquents) are those who have been caught by the police for violating
the Indian penal code.

2.Discuss about three kinds of homes run by Government for children from 3-18 years.

Ans. The three kinds of homes run by Government for children are:
Observation Homes where children stay temporarily till the completion of an investigation to track
down their parents and collect information on their family background.
Zehra Mahruq
H.Sc Dept
IISJED

Special Homes where juveniles (children under 18 years of age) found guilty in terms of violation
of law, are placed in custodial care.

Juvenile/Children's Homes where children whose families are not traceable, or are unfit/dead or
simply unwilling to take the child back stay. The government is responsible for providing room,
board, education, and vocational training. Most of these Homes are run by government in
partnership with NGOs. Efforts are made to help the children develop skills which will enable them
to become productive members of society.

3. Name the groups who are especially vunerable under youth.

Ans. The groups who are especially vunerable under youth are-
Rural and Tribal Youth; Out-of-school Youth; Adolescents, particularly female adolescents;
Youth with disabilities; Youth under especially difficult circumstances like victims of trafficking,
orphans and street children.

4. What are the features responsible for population of elderly in India?

Ans. The special features responsible for population of elderly in India are given below:
 Majority (80%) of them are in the rural areas, thus making service delivery a challenge.
 Feminisation of the elderly population.
 Increase in the number of the older-old (persons above 80 years).
 A large percentage (30%) of the Senior Citizens is below the poverty line.