Law Commission of India for more rights to kids below six years
New Delhi: The Law Commission of India on Thursday recommended amending the Constitution to ensure that children below six years of age are protected from “all forms” of neglect, harm and exploitation and also called for their right to basic care and assistance be made an enforceable right.
In its report submitted to the law ministry on Wednesday, the Commission noted that the current legal framework in India doesn’t place enough emphasis on the rights of children and said that the early childhood is the phase of “maximum vulnerability” and deprivation can seriously impact a child’s health and learning potential.
The Commission also recommended amendments to the Right to Education Act, Maternity Benefit Act and creation of a statutory authority for early childhood development to ensure “proper emphasis” on the promotion of early childhood development.