- UNICEF works to ensure every child in India gets a healthy start, quality education and full development.
- It supports major national missions like Immunisation, Drinking Water, Sanitation and Literacy.
- UNICEF helped make Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) a national programme to reduce child deaths from diarrhoea.
- It partners in rural water supply, nutrition programmes and promotion of iodised salt.
- UNICEF promotes child and women’s rights, focusing on health, hygiene, education and equality.
Key Points
Key Points: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- Established: 1946; Headquarters: New York; works mainly for children in developing countries.
- Objective: Protect child welfare through health, nutrition, education, sanitation and immunisation.
- Provides funds, training, medicines, vaccines, textbooks, clean water and sanitation facilities.
- Helps children and mothers during emergencies like natural disasters, wars and epidemics.
- Upholds Children’s Rights; awarded Nobel Peace Prize (1965) and Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (1989).
Key Points: UNICEF Programmes in India
Key Points: World Health Organisation (WHO)
- WHO is the UN’s health agency, established on 7 April 1948; HQ is in Geneva, Switzerland (April 7 = World Health Day).
- Its main aim is to ensure the highest possible level of health for all, defined as complete physical, mental and social well-being.
- WHO helps countries improve health systems, immunisation, research, medicines, safe water and sanitation.
- Major achievements include eradication of smallpox, near-eradication of polio, reduced TB, HIV, child mortality and diarrhoeal deaths.
- India was declared Polio-Free by WHO; WHO also played a key role during COVID-19 through vaccines, funds and medical supplies.
Key Points: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO)
- Established: 1946; Headquarters: Paris.
- Objective: Promote peace through education, science, culture and communication, and protect human rights.
- Works to remove illiteracy, promote education of women and girls, and support teachers and libraries.
- Encourages scientific research, international cooperation, and development of communication and media.
- Protects cultural heritage through the World Heritage List and supports arts, literature and cultural exchange.
Key Points: India's Association with UNESCO
- India has been a member of UNESCO since 1946.
- In 1949, India set up a National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO.
- It has five sub-commissions: Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Culture and Communication.
- These bodies promote UNESCO programmes and send experts to international seminars and conferences.
- UNESCO provides funds and expertise to protect Indian heritage sites like the Taj Mahal.
