India celebrates 14 November as Children's Day for important reasons. The day is Jawaharlal Nehru's birth anniversary, and the nation is reminded of his sincers love for children. The occasion also serves to highlight the urgent needs of the 250 million children who togather constitute India's richest resource for the future. Today, about half of these children struggle for survival below the poverty ins; at least 60 million are in acute need of the simplest essentials, such as adequate food, safe drinking water, mineral shelter and clothing, and access to health education and recreation facilities. Children's Day reminds us of these children's right to happiness.

The family, the community, the Government, the voluntary organisations and the private sector - all have a vital role to play in ensuring this right. India took the lead among the United nations' proclamation of a year dedicated to the child's cause. 1979 was observed world-wide as the International Year of Child (IYC), and India became the first country to pledge funds for global efforts to improve the lot of children.

On the national plane, the National Policy for children had already been framed in 1974; IYC saw its diretive taking concrete shape in a National Plan of Action. The challenge of child welfare could clearly not be met in the short space of a year; it could only be identified in its true dimensions. The formulation of a prespective plan for next 20 years was a logical outcome, and it is now in the making. A pattern for action is being set by the expanding national scheme of Integrated Child Development Services. Meanwhile, the National Children's Fund, launched in IYC, provides a channel for every citizen to contribute to voluntary efforts for the welfare of children.

Stamps have proved their worth as educators, and each one enshrines a valuable piece of information. Children's Day stamps each year carry the vital message that the nation's future well-being depends on what it does for its youngest citizens today. Coming as it does nearly 12 months after the International Year of the Child, this year's stamp is perhaps the most important one, because it seeks our continued commitment to advocacy and action for the child.

Indian Posts and Telegraphs Departments is happy to issue a special postage stamp on Children's Day, 1980. (Text by Razia Ismail, UNICEF).

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