Parenting Education plays the vital role in Holistic Child Development: Key Insights from the Provincial Dialogue

19 November, Janakpur, Madhesh Province,2024 – A Provincial Dialogue on Child Grants Plus Parenting Education was successfully conducted in Madhesh Province, bringing together over 60 stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening child nutrition through effective social protection measures. The event was organized by the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare, Madhesh Province, with financial support from Save the Children and in coordination and collaboration with Social Protection Civil Society Network (SPCSN).

The dialogue, chaired by Chuda Mani Phuyal, the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare, featured participation from a wide range of stakeholders. Among the notable attendees were an Honorable Member of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission Dr. Shila Mishra, Deputy Mayors from local governments, Directors from the government of Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of National ID and Civil Registration, Under-Secretaries from provincial ministries, and representatives from the Provincial Child Rights Council. Chief Executive Officers from local governments, development partners, representatives from CSOs advocating for child rights, journalists, and other concerned stakeholders were also presented. Welcoming the participants, the Secretary of SPCSN, Mr. Gopal Thapa Magar, emphasized that proper care and nurturing by parents play a vital role in the development of children.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare, Mr. Phuyal highlighted the importance of aligning the Child Grant program with broader developmental goals to achieve holistic outcomes for children.

Speaking in the Provincial Dialogue Dr. Mishra underscored the importance of expanding such impactful programs across all provinces. She stated, “Parenting education is a crucial intervention for the holistic development of children and the well-being of families. Recognizing its significance, the Provincial Planning Commission will strive to integrate this program into its annual plans and recommend its adoption to the provincial government. It is essential that initiatives like these receive priority to ensure equitable and sustainable development for all children in the region.”

At the dialogue program, Anita Tamang, the Project Coordinator of Save the Children, presented the findings of a study conducted by the organization on child nutrition grants and parenting education. She stated that Save the Children, in partnership and coordination with various NGOs and local governments, is currently implementing parenting education programs in five local governments in Madhesh Province. The study has shown positive and effective results.

Similarly, Mr. Sanubabu Adhikari, Director of the Department of National ID and Civil Registration under the Ministry of Home Affairs, shared that among the social security programs currently distributed by the department, the child nutrition grant is one such program. Over 1.1 million children have been directly benefitting from this initiative.

Another Director of the Department, Mr. Shivaraj Sedhai, emphasized the crucial role of social security programs in protecting children’s rights and fostering their overall development in Nepal. He highlighted that the Constitution of Nepal guarantees children’s rights as fundamental rights. Furthermore, under Subsection (1) of Section 9 of the Social Security Act, 2075, the Government of Nepal provides a monthly child nutrition grant of NPR 532 per child for up to two children under five years old from Dalit families across the country and families in 25 districts identified as lagging behind on the Human Poverty Index, to improve child nutrition.

Participants in the discussion expressed that the child grant plays a significant role in reducing poverty and promoting child rights. They highlighted that this program provides tangible support for improving nutrition and ensuring security for families at risk. They also drew the department’s attention to ensuring that every eligible child receives the grant through integration with the civil registration system. Participants noted that only when parents practice responsible parenting can there be meaningful improvements in children’s nutrition.

A representative from one of the local governments where parenting education programs are being implemented stated that collaboration on parenting education has helped promote positive parenting practices, raise awareness on nutrition, and support early childhood development.

Rajendra Chaulagain, Program Coordinator of Social Protection Civil Society Network, serving as the moderator of the program, summarized the discussion’s conclusions. He emphasized the need to strengthen coordination among federal, provincial, and local levels to facilitate the distribution of grants. He stated that investing in children is a crucial tool for human capital development. However, he also pointed out that the current nutrition grant is insufficient and needs to be expanded to all districts.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of integrating parenting education with the child grant to enhance program effectiveness. To this end, the Department of National ID and Civil Registration under the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved and implemented the Standard on Child Nutrition Grant and Parental Awareness Program 2079 (Model). He suggested that all local governments should approve and implement this guideline to ensure its effective execution.