Opening Speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Child
Development and Child Safety
Dear esteemed guests and fellow citizens,
Today, we gather to address a matter of utmost importance: the safety and
development of our children. They are the future of our nation, and it is our sacred
duty to ensure they grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.
As we work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, we recognize that
child safety is a cornerstone of child development. Every child deserves to be free
from harm, abuse, and neglect. We must foster communities where children feel
secure, where their voices are heard, and where they can thrive without fear.
Our government is committed to creating a robust framework for child protection.
Initiatives such as stricter laws against child exploitation, educational programs on
safety awareness, and community engagement are crucial in safeguarding our
children.
We must work together—families, educators, and local communities—to empower our
children. Let us equip them with the knowledge and skills to navigate challenges and
stand up for their rights.
In conclusion, let us reaffirm our commitment to protecting and nurturing our children.
Together, we can build a safer and brighter future for them, where they can reach
their full potential.
Thank you.
Percentage of child index
1. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
UPA (2004-2014): IMR decreased from 58 per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 40 per 1,000 live
births in 2013, a reduction of about 31%.
BJP (2014-Present): IMR further reduced from 40 in 2014 to 28 in 2022, a reduction of
around 30%.
2. Child Malnutrition (Stunting & Wasting)
Stunting (low height-for-age):
o UPA (2004-2014): According to NFHS-3 (2005-06), 48% of children under five were
stunted.
o BJP (2014-Present): By NFHS-5 (2019-21), stunting decreased to 35.5%. This is a 12.5
percentage point reduction over the span of both governments, but most of the
progress came during the BJP era.
Wasting (low weight-for-height):
o UPA (2004-2014): In NFHS-3, 19.8% of children under five were wasted.
o BJP (2014-Present): By NFHS-5, wasting reduced marginally to 19.3%, a very slight
improvement.
3. Underweight Children
UPA (2004-2014): In NFHS-3, 42.5% of children under five were underweight.
BJP (2014-Present): In NFHS-5, the percentage reduced to 32.1%, showing a significant 10.4
percentage point improvement during both governments.
4. School Enrollment
UPA (2004-2014): The primary school net enrollment rate increased to about 95% by 2013,
thanks to initiatives like the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
BJP (2014-Present): School enrollment remained high, with primary enrollment near 96-
97% by 2021. Girls' enrollment saw a significant boost, particularly due to the Beti Bachao
Beti Padhao scheme.
5. Child Vaccination Coverage
UPA (2004-2014): Full immunization coverage (children receiving all basic vaccines) was
about 61% by 2013 (NFHS-4).
BJP (2014-Present): With the introduction of Mission Indradhanush, full immunization
coverage increased to 76% by 2021 (NFHS-5), a 15 percentage point increase.
6. Sanitation & Hygiene (Impact on Child Health)
UPA (2004-2014): Sanitation coverage was low, with about 38.7% of households having
access to sanitation by 2013.
BJP (2014-Present): The Swachh Bharat Mission increased sanitation coverage to 100%
(declared by the government), though independent studies suggest actual coverage was
slightly lower.
Summary of Percentage Improvements:
IMR: Improved by about 31% (UPA) and 30% (BJP).
Stunting: Reduced from 48% (UPA) to 35.5% (BJP), showing a 26% overall improvement.
Wasting: Marginal improvement from 19.8% (UPA) to 19.3% (BJP), a 2.5% reduction.
Underweight: Reduced by 10.4 percentage points from UPA to BJP periods.Immunization:
Improved by 15 percentage points during BJP rule.
Child abuse and violence cases duing congress rule
1. Nithari Killings (2005-2006)
Location: Nithari village, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Details: In one of the most chilling cases of child abuse and murder, the
remains of several children and young women were found near the house of
Moninder Singh Pandher in Noida. His domestic help, Surinder Koli, was accused
of luring children into the house, sexually assaulting, and killing them. It is
believed that at least 19 children were murdered. The case raised concerns over
the safety of children, especially from poor backgrounds, and the failure of local
law enforcement to act on earlier complaints.
2. Gudia Rape Case (2007)
Location: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Details: Gudia, a minor girl, was found brutally raped and murdered in the
forests near Shimla. The case initially saw bungled investigations, leading to
public outrage. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) eventually took over
the case after demands from the public and Gudia's family. This case
highlighted the systemic inefficiencies in dealing with crimes against children.
3. Kandhamal Riots (2008)
Location: Kandhamal district, Odisha
Details: During communal riots between Hindus and Christians in Kandhamal,
Odisha, many children were caught in the crossfire. Though primarily a
communal issue, the violence resulted in several child casualties, and many
children were orphaned or displaced due to the large-scale violence. The UPA
government was criticized for not doing enough to protect vulnerable
communities, including children, during the riots.
4. Delhi Shelter Home Case (2009)
Location: Delhi
Details: In 2009, a government-run shelter home for children in Delhi was
found to be involved in cases of sexual abuse. Children residing in the shelter
were allegedly abused by the staff. This scandal shocked the nation and raised
concerns about the safety and protection of children in government-run
institutions.
5. Sohail Rape and Murder Case (2011)
Location: Bhiwani, Haryana
Details: A 13-year-old boy named Sohail was abducted, raped, and murdered in
Haryana. The case highlighted the vulnerability of children, especially in rural
areas, to predators. The incident led to protests and demands for better security
for children in the region.
6. Apna Ghar Shelter Home Case (2012)
Location: Rohtak, Haryana
Details: In 2012, a major scandal broke out when the National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) uncovered rampant sexual abuse and
trafficking of children at the Apna Ghar shelter home in Rohtak. Girls at the
shelter were subjected to sexual abuse, and investigations revealed that the
shelter's owner, Jaswanti Devi, was running a trafficking racket. The case
highlighted the serious issues in the management of child welfare institutions.
7. Muzaffarnagar Riots (2013)
Location: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
Details: During the communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in
Muzaffarnagar, many children were killed or displaced. Reports indicated that
children were victims of violence, and some were left orphaned as a result of the
riots. The violence in Muzaffarnagar led to criticism of the UPA government's
handling of communal tensions and the lack of protection for vulnerable groups,
including children.
Child abuse cases duing bjp rule and actions taken
against them
1. Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case (2018)
Incident:
Dozens of minor girls were sexually abused and tortured at a state-run shelter home
in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. The abuse was revealed in a social audit report by the Tata
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
Action Taken:
The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
following public outrage.
A special POCSO court sentenced the main accused, Brajesh Thakur, to life
imprisonment. Several other government officials and employees were
convicted.
The Bihar government shut down several shelter homes and ordered an audit of
all child care institutions in the state.
The Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of the case and monitored the
investigation, transferring the case from Bihar to Delhi for a fair trial.
2. Unnao Rape Case (2017)
Incident:
A 17-year-old girl was raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Unnao, Uttar
Pradesh. The victim and her family faced threats, and the girl's father was later
beaten up and died in police custody. The case was initially not acted upon until
public pressure mounted.
Action Taken:
After significant public and media pressure, the case was transferred to the CBI
in 2018.
Kuldeep Singh Sengar was expelled from the BJP and arrested in 2018. He was
convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of the
minor.
Several police officers and medical staff involved in covering up the case were
also suspended and prosecuted.
The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the trial to Delhi and fast-tracked
the case to ensure timely justice.
The victim's family was provided security, and a compensation package was
sanctioned by the state government.
3. Kathua Rape Case (2018)
Incident:
An 8-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakarwal Muslim community was kidnapped,
raped, and murdered in Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir. The crime was committed by a
group of men, including police officers, with the intention of driving the minority
community away from the area.
Action Taken:
The Jammu & Kashmir police’s Crime Branch investigated the case and
filed charges against eight accused.
The trial was moved to Pathankot, Punjab, for a fair trial due to concerns over
local bias.
In June 2019, six out of the seven main accused were convicted. Three of them,
including two police officers, were sentenced to life imprisonment, and three
others received five-year jail terms.
The case sparked nationwide protests, leading to calls for faster justice and
stricter punishments for child rape.
In response to the outrage, the central government passed an amendment to
the POCSO Act, introducing the death penalty for child rape in cases of
aggravated sexual assault.
4. Gorakhpur Shelter Home Case (2018)
Incident:
In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, children at a shelter home were found to be physically
and sexually abused by the shelter's administration. The case surfaced shortly after
the Muzaffarpur case.
Action Taken:
The Uttar Pradesh government took action by suspending the officials in charge
of the shelter home.
An investigation was ordered, and several arrests were made, including the
shelter home's operators.
The state government also ordered an audit of all shelter homes in Uttar
Pradesh to prevent further cases of abuse.
5. Meerut Trafficking Case (2021)
Incident:
In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, police busted a human trafficking ring where girls, some of
them minors, were kidnapped and sold into prostitution. This case was a part of a
broader child trafficking issue that continues to plague parts of India.
Action Taken:
The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Uttar Pradesh police arrested
several individuals involved in the trafficking ring.
The rescued girls were rehabilitated and sent to child care institutions.
The government continued its Operation Smile campaign to rescue missing
children, focusing on human trafficking victims.
6. Rewari Gang Rape Case (2018)
Incident:
A 19-year-old girl was kidnapped and gang-raped by three men in Rewari, Haryana,
in September 2018. The case gained national attention due to the delayed response
from the local police.
Action Taken:
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case.
All three accused were arrested and later convicted in a fast-track court, which
sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Haryana police faced criticism for their slow action, and the case led to the state
government promising to improve police handling of such cases.
7. Pollachi Sexual Abuse Case (2019)
Incident:
A major sexual abuse scandal came to light in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, where several
young women, including minors, were blackmailed and sexually exploited by a group
of men. Videos of the assaults were circulated, and it was revealed that the abuse had
been going on for several years.
Action Taken:
The Tamil Nadu police arrested several key accused in the case, and the case
was later transferred to the CBI for further investigation.
The state government provided counseling and support to the victims.
The case sparked protests across Tamil Nadu, demanding stricter punishment
for sexual offenders.
Summary of Actions Taken Under BJP Rule:
1. CBI Investigations: Several cases involving severe abuse were transferred to
the CBI for independent and thorough investigation, such as the Muzaffarpur,
Unnao, and Pollachi cases.
2. Fast-Track Courts: The government set up fast-track courts to handle cases
involving minors and sexual violence to ensure speedy trials.
3. POCSO Act Amendment (2019): Stricter punishments, including the death
penalty for child rapists, were introduced.
4. Strengthening Child Protection Systems: Regular audits of child care
institutions and shelter homes were mandated to prevent abuse.
5. Public Awareness and Helplines: Initiatives like Childline 1098 were
expanded, and awareness campaigns were launched to encourage reporting
and prevention of child abuse.
