Nurture children to play an active role in society

Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future.

- A. K. MERCHANT

They bear the seeds of the character of future society which is largely shaped by what the adults constituting the community do or fail to do with respect to children. They are a trust no community can neglect with impunity.

This quotation from the Bahá'í Writings evokes a range of thoughts on the state of the children in the world. Globally, as per data available for 2024, about 25 per cent of the population is under 15 years of age and 10 per cent is over 65 years of age. In India with a population of nearly 143 crores 18.6 per cent, i.e. 26.5 crore, are children.

A child, being in a tender and vulnerable stage of existence is inherently dependent upon the care and nurture of society for its well-being and development. Present-day society poses many challenges in raising our children to be spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and physically strong and mature. Therefore, cultivating a new pattern of family life to counter the forces of disintegration is an inseparable feature of an age in transition.

These forces assailing society have particularly affected the family, sundering its ties, and taking a heavy toll on its members, especially on children. As a result, one can witness the impact of these destructive social pathologies: an absence of love and care, neglect of the spirit, dehumanization, poverty, insecurity and violence. A number of these issues are also systematically addressed by UNICEF working in tandem with Government agencies as well as a number of identified non-governmental organizations.