"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 children. It is, therefore, of high importance that we pay attention to the well-being arid growth of children". So said India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, an ardent lover of children. The Universal Children's Day is observed on his birthday on 14 November every year in our country to  remind ourselves that children need us, that they should be the focus of all our activities and that their well-being is our prime concern.

Since 1954, a special educational theme is selected every year to observe the Universal Children's Day. The theme for 1991 is "Child's Right to Special Care". This is of particular importance as India was a party to  the adoption, by consensus, of the Declaration of the World Summit for Children and Plan  of Action for the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s. The National Policy for Education adopted in 1986 has given highest priority to primary education and has given a thrust to elementary education by placing emphasis on universal enrollmentand education of children up to 14 years of age. It is proposed that  by 1995 an. children would be provided free and compulsory education upto 14 years of age. The Government has launched many programmes such as Integrated Child Development Services (I.C.D.S.), Balwadi Nutrition Programme, Scheme for Children ln Need  of Care and Protection, etc.

Three major events that took place at the national, regional and international levels set the agenda for children in the 1990s. These are the 'Convention on the Rights of the Child the 'World Conference on Education for All' the 'World Conference on Education for All' and the 'World Summit for Children.'

The World Summit Declaration and Plan of Action for the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s seeks, to achieve a certain set of goals through the effective implementation / expansion of existing programme s in the areas of child health, nutrition and education and development of women. Based. on this, a Plan of Action in consultation with various Ministries / Departments is being formulated, in keeping with our belief that children represent our greatest hope of the future.

All kinds of media channels have been engaged to create an awareness of child survival and. development. The release of this postage stamp, it is hoped, will further high ten this awareness amongst the masses and remind them about the need for care of the child.

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