Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, on Wednesday, advocated for active engagement with legislators to enhance their understanding of child-related indicators, the state's progress on sustainable development goals, successful practices from various states and countries, and the gaps and challenges in improving outcomes for children in health, nutrition, sanitation, quality education, protection, and safety.
Meeting with UNICEF Officials
Mahana made these remarks during a meeting with UNICEF Uttar Pradesh chief Dr. Zakari Adam. Principal Secretary of the Vidhan Sabha, P K Dubey, emphasized that strengthening coordination between policymakers and legislators is crucial to ensure that welfare schemes and social sector spending translate into measurable outcomes on the ground, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Child Population in Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Adam highlighted the scale of Uttar Pradesh's child population, noting that the state is home to nearly 8.5 crore children, which constitutes around 43% of its total population. He underscored the role of state legislatures and legislative committees in advancing child rights and ensuring better access to healthcare, nutrition, and education.
Focus Areas of Deliberation
The discussions centered on Uttar Pradesh's child budget statement and methods to ensure that allocations meant for children, youth, and women reach intended beneficiaries, especially at the last mile. Key issues such as child and maternal mortality, nutrition indicators, and the state's efforts toward achieving sustainable development targets also featured prominently in the meeting.
Dr. Adam was accompanied by UNICEF social policy specialist Piush Antony and communication specialist Nipurnh Gupta.
