India's first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru said, "The building up of a nation depends on building men and women and the process of building  men and women depends very considerably on what is done to its children. It is, therefore, of high importance that we pay attention to the well-being and growth of children." It is appropriate that his birthday 14th November is observed in India, as Children's Day. It reminds us of our social and moral responsibility towards the needs and rights of children.

India's commitment to the care of children since independence is enshrined in our constitutional provision. A planned approach to child welfare began with formulation of First Five Year Plan and developed into the National Policy for Children in 1974, which lays down the guiding principles for child welfare. The programme has grown manifold since 1975 and now it has been universalised to cover all rural areas and 310 major urban slums extending integrated package of services, which include, supplementary nutrition, pre­school education, immunization, health checkup, referral services and nutrition and health education, water and environmental sanitation to 175.9 lakhs children (0-6 years) and 36.8 lakhs pregnant and nursing mothers at Anganwadi Centres (AWC).

Anganwadi centre serves as the first stage in the process of education and prepares children for going to schools. The stamp issued this year is based on a painting done by an anganwadi child.

UNICEF has been actively cooperating with India in building a better environment for the child. India-UNICEF partnership in the service of children is now five decades old. Today, India is UNICEF's largest Country Programme reflecting both the size of the child population and the needs.

The Department of Post is happy to issue a special postage stamp in celebration of Children's Day.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India