City children lack vital services in MP: UNICEF

Millions of children who reside in cities and towns are excluded from vital services, including health education, clean water and sanitation, said a State of the World's Children report by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday.

According to report, the condition of children in urban areas of Madhya Pradesh is not upto the mark.

The report was released by a group of children in Bhopal in the presence of B R Naidu, Principal Secretary Women and Child Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Tania Goldner, Chief of UNICEF’s MP office and Nirmala Buch, President Child Rights Observatory.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tania Goldner said, “22.9  percent of children in Madhya Pradesh in age group of 0-14 years live in urban areas. We should increase our focus on the needs of children in urban areas. Rights of children in urban areas are not realized equally. Poverty, improper living conditions, malnutrition, access to safe drinking water, sanitation are some of the barriers which impact the growth of children.”

State's Principal Secretary, B R Naidu added that are various challanges in the development of children in Madhya Pradesh, but State government is committed to reach out to children both urban and rural areas.

The UNICEF also said that these children are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world.