& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Children’s problems need urgent solution: PM

By Staff Correspondent
"We must remember that In our lives, quite a few things can watt, bul the needs of children cannot. Their needs arc so urgent that these cannot be left to be fulfilled tomorrow, because that tomorrow belongs to children."
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia said this while launching the National Programme of Action for Children, as chief guest at the International Conference Centre in the city yesterday. The programme was organised by the Joint Govern ment-UNICEF Advisory Group UGUAO).
ricswkxj'over by Planning. Minister A M Zahlruddln Khan, the meeting was addressed by Minister for Education Ja-miruddtn Sircar. Minister for Information Nazmul Huda, Minister for Health and Family Planning Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf. LGRD Minister Abdus Salam Talukdar and State Minister for Social Wcl fare and Women's Affairs Sar-warf Rahman.
The Prime Minister said that by one estimate, nearly
half of the country's total population was under 16 years of age.
Every year. 37 lakh babies are born in the country, that is. one hundred every hour, but their future, even the next moment after birth, is uncertain. Out of every 1OOO children born alive, 1 10 die prematurely every year, she added.
"What Is needed for child development Is well-coordinated programmes. It 1s in response to this need that the National Programme of Action (NPA) has been prepared. It has been named Progoif, meaning progress. Not only in its literal meaning, but also symbolically, the name Is appropriate because, in the (Inal analysis, the progress of the country lies in the development of children," said Begum Khaleda Zia. She extended her gratitude to UNICEF for its cooperation and contribution.
The Prime Minister also appealed to all professional organisations, non government
organisation* (NOOs) and social workers to come forward with specific programme* for the development of children.
In the welcome address, M Mokammei Haque. Member, Planning Commission and Chairman, JOUAO, said the new government hopes to fa cilitatc rapid progress towards the achievements of the goal, for the 1990*
Cole P Dodge, representative of UNICEF in Bangladesh, said: 'It is this creation of hope, through the launching of the National Programme of Action, that is a big success."
He appreciated the ’universal primary education’, the resolution which was recently adopted by the government. Thi. NPA I* a new dawn, a new reality for children in the coming eight years. This country is now set lo achieve much more -in the years ahead." said Cole P Dodge.
Other ministers present on the occasion expressed their appreciation of NPA and as sured of full cooperation in the coming years
The process of the preparation of NPA was initiated by the JGUAG in March 1991 with the formation of four working groups. These groups were one each for — health and nutrition, water and envi ronmcnlal sanitation, education. and social welfare.
The participants in these groups were drawn from different spheres of government bodk-s and development part
The outcome of the discussions and recommendations of these working groups were then discussed In two review meetings. The NPAs were fl naltscd at a JGUAG meeting In November 1991. Immediately afterwards. that is In December. the summary of the NPA was published under the title ’Progotl’.
There arc six main goals of the NPA for children and development by 1995. First, the stress is lo reduce infant mortality rate from 110 lo 80 per 1000 live births and mortality rate of children below the age of five from 188 to 135.
The issue which Is at par with Infant mortality and child birth is the condition of the mothers. Hence, ft emphasises to reduce maternal mortality ratio from 6 to 4.5.
Virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders and nutritional blindness from
Vitamin A deficiency should also be given Importance.
The number of Illiterates is increasing every year. So. importance should also be on to increase adult literacy rale (15-35 years) to 40 per cent with the emphasis on female literacy.
School attendance tn Bangladesh Is around 50 percent of enrollment or 38 per cent of eligible children. So. concerted effort is necessary to increase gross primary school enrollment rate lo 85 per cent through forma! schooling and non-formal edu cation of comparable stan dards with emphasis on reduction of gender disparities
Universal access lo safe drinking water and increase tn sanitation coverage from eight to 35 per cent I* another tar get of the NPA.
Women's literacy rate Is half that of males. Effort* are needed to reduce gender disparities by integrating women into the mainstream of development.
There are 14 million children under 15 in rural areas and about three million in ur ban areas who face acute poverty.
Enam Ahmed Chowdhury. Secretary. Economic Relations Division. Ministry of Finance, tn his vote of thanks on the occasion of launching the NPA said referring lo the pro gramme: "This Is a cornerstone of national development effort. With UNICEF and other international donors and or ganisations. we hope this will bring about a better future and belter development for our children."