Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The social sector which includes health, education and environment should be handed over to the private sector and the funding should be provided by the government, so that there is better functioning, said experts on child care in the capital Thursday.
Amod Kanth, chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), said: “The NGO sector is doing a lot in improving the health, social status of society and the government must listen to their voices in order to achieve various goals and move ahead”.

“In fact, the social sector that includes health, education, environment — and any issue dealing with women, children, the elderly, the disabled — should be handed over to the private sector. The government should fund them, but for better results and proper utilisation of funds, the private sector should be roped in,” Kanth said at a function in the capital.

The function, which saw the release of a report on the health and social status of the urban poor in Delhi, revealed that the poor, and especially children, are bereft of the basic amenities because of negligence by civic authorities.

Renu Khosla, another expert who specializes in urban development and social protection, said: “Women’s groups and NGOs, if handed over the responsibility of implementing schemes, will do a great job. Having said that, no matter what, there should be regular social audits to make organisations and people accountable for the work they do”.

Stressing that the government needs to do a lot more to provide better services to the country’s children, Kanth said: “The government feels very uncomfortable if DCPCR or the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights issues notices on any issue pertaining to child rights. These notices have every good intention and should be accepted in the right spirit”.

“Also, only 0.34 percent of our GDP is dedicated to child protection - which is just dismal. We need more commitment on this front too,” he added.