2 Save the Children-PIF study on Communities for Children Selected Good Practices in Improving Children’s Well-being through Community Participation COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN 3 About Save the Children Save the Children is a leading independent organisation working to ensure the rights of children in India, and in over 120 countries around the world. Save the Children India (Bal Raksha Bharat) is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance. In India, Save the Children works in 11 states focusing on strengthening child rights in the key areas of inclusive education, child protection, health and nutrition, and emergencies. Through our programmes so far, we have brought about positive changes in the lives of over 3 million children and their families in India. SAVE THE CHILDREN, INDIA | Head Office | 4th Floor, 14-15 Farm Bhawan, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110 019. Tel: 91-11-42294900, Fax: 42294990, Email:
[email protected] Website: www.savethechildren.in About the Public Interest Foundation The Public Interest Foundation has been set up by a group of self-conscious people to focus on issues that concern, and impact the welfare and larger interests of society. The Foundation seeks to actively follow the execution of public policies and programmes with a view to bringing about change in governance and for maximising public welfare. Governing Council of Public Interest Foundation: Bimal Jalan • Naresh Chanda • Tarun Das • Suresh Neotia • Arun Maira • Harshvardhan Neotia • Shyamanand Jalan • Anil Kumar B-32, Greater Kailash – I, New Delhi - 110 048. Tel: 91-11-46517869, Fax: 91-11-41633596, E-mail:
[email protected], Website: www.publicinterestfoundation.com © Save the Children India (Bal Raksha Bharat), August 2009 Photo Credits: Cover, backcover, pages 62-63, 104-105 by Nilayan Dutta/Save the Children India All Good Practice photograhs by the respective organizations 4 Contents Forewords - Bimal Jalan, Chairman, PIF 8 - Arun Maira, Chairman, Save the Children, India 9 Acknowledgements 10 List of Acronyms 11 Executive Summary 12 1.