The event spotlighted the Modi government’s dedication to early childhood support systems. Dr. Kumar described early intervention not as an optional service but as a sacred national duty to safeguard futures. He elaborated on how the initial six years critically influence brain growth, lifelong health, education, and societal engagement.

The Noida CDEIC exemplifies timely, evidence-driven aid reaching infants and toddlers. Instructing it to set benchmarks in excellence, the minister demanded integration of cutting-edge tech, expert staff, and proven methodologies. Central to his vision: families as core to intervention success, with mandatory certified training for caregivers to make them active developmental partners.

Dr. Kumar called for transforming CDEIC into beacons of hope and innovation via DEPwD collaborations. He pledged ongoing enhancements to services, enabling disabled children to thrive and integrate into society. Additional Secretary Manmeet Kaur Nanda announced this as the 28th such center, praising its role in nationwide early detection efforts and urging top-tier, family-focused care.

Tailored for 0-6-year-olds with delays or special needs, the center provides holistic services: therapy sessions in occupation, physio, speech; medical advice; tailored education; counseling; and pre-school prep. Its modern setup promises comprehensive care for regional families.

Tours included inspections of therapy buses, special schools, and PMDKC facilities. Children performed lively cultural shows, received aids and materials. The program ended with a plantation initiative, embodying commitments to development, eco-sustainability, prompt interventions, and shared duties for child empowerment.

The WHO conducted a survey in 49 low- and middle-income countries, finding that children who were exposed to corporal punishment—those who were hit or given a punishment intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, no matter how mild—had a 24 percent lower chance of development compared to children who were not exposed to corporal punishment. Globally, an average of 1.2 billion children are subjected to physical punishment every year. The report states that 17 percent of all children who were victims of physical punishment in the last month were severely punished, such as by being hit on the head, face, or ears, or by being hit hard and repeatedly.

Parents, teachers, and child care providers often resort to these methods, citing their desire to correct their children’s behavior and maintain discipline. They may believe that hitting children is an expression of love, aimed at preventing them from going astray. However, the evidence suggests this is not the case.

According to the WHO, there is now clear scientific evidence that physical punishment poses a number of risks to children’s health. It does not benefit children’s behavior, development, or well-being, nor does it benefit parents or society. Clinical psychologists suggest that physical punishment tends to exacerbate anger and stubbornness in children. Thus, physical punishment is not the correct approach.

Instead of physical punishment, alternative methods are advised, including logical conversations, where the child is lovingly explained why their behavior is wrong and what its consequences might be, and praising good behavior, where children are rewarded and encouraged for positive actions, encouraging them to repeat such behavior.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 calls for ending violence against children in several of its goals, with Goal 16.2 explicitly stating that “abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children must end.” However, this goal remains unmet even five years later.

While physical punishment is prevalent around the world and across different cultures, there are regional variations. For example, approximately 41 percent of children in Europe and Central Asia are physically punished at home, while the figure is 75 percent in the Middle East and North Africa. The disparity is even greater in schools, with only 25 percent of children in the Western Pacific region experiencing physical punishment during their schooling, compared to over 70 percent in Africa and Central America. Both girls and boys experience it at similar rates, though girls may face different forms or methods of punishment in some places.

The report also highlights that children with disabilities are at a higher risk of physical punishment. Additionally, physical punishment is more likely to occur in poor communities and communities facing economic or racial discrimination.

Physical punishment is often associated with psychological punishment, which includes belittling, shaming, and intimidating the child. In many societies, physical punishment is not considered wrong, and it is also linked to religious and cultural traditions.

Currently, 68 out of 193 countries have completely banned physical punishment. Sweden was the first country to do so in 1979. In the UK, it is prohibited in Scotland and Wales, but still permitted in domestic settings in England and Northern Ireland.

The report suggests that to prevent physical punishment, alongside implementing laws, awareness-raising campaigns should be launched. It is possible to explain to parents that physical punishment has a negative impact on children’s minds and hearts, and by showing them new ways of teaching with love and understanding, they can be helped. Children learn by example, so if parents want their children to behave well, they should first model that behavior themselves. The report shows that if parents knew about other, more effective methods of disciplining children, they would use them.

Based on the June 2025 Poshan Tracker data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the districts with the highest levels of stunting include Nandurbar in Maharashtra (68.12 percent), Paschim Singhbhum in Jharkhand (66.27 percent), Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh (59.48 percent), Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh (58.20 percent), and Bongaigaon in Assam (54.76 percent).

Uttar Pradesh tops the list, with stunted growth levels exceeding 50 percent in 34 districts, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Assam. In response to several questions, the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that 35.91 percent of 8.19 crore children aged 0-6 years in Anganwadis are affected by stunting, while 16.5 percent are underweight. The prevalence of stunting is even higher among children under five years of age, at 37.07 percent.

Nandurbar in Maharashtra recorded the highest prevalence of underweight children at 48.26 percent, followed by districts like Dhar (42 percent), Khargone (36.19 percent), and Barwani (36.04 percent) in Madhya Pradesh, Dang (37.20 percent), Dungarpur (35.04 percent) in Gujarat, and Sukma (34.76 percent) in Chhattisgarh.

Chronic malnutrition, including long-term or recurring undernutrition, is identified as a primary cause of stunted growth in children, according to the June 2025 data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development. While the average rate of stunting in India has decreased from 42.4% to 29.4% over 19 years, the condition remains a significant concern in some districts. This data is available on the Poshan Tracker maintained by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which records information on children’s nutrition and development.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Sai reviewed the Women and Child Development Department’s infrastructure, budget, and ongoing schemes. He highlighted the department’s critical role in the nutrition and protection of children, adolescents, and women. He stated that the more sensitively and skillfully the care and nutrition of young children are managed, the more effective and robust their physical and mental development will be.

He stressed that children are the foundation of the nation’s future and that the participation of everyone is essential to strengthen this foundation. He instructed the departmental staff to work with activism and self-motivation at the ground level. He emphasized ensuring that every child in the state receives supplementary nutrition and benefits from departmental schemes.

He discussed in detail various aspects of the nutritional food and hot meals distributed in Anganwadi centers, including quantity, quality, and calorie standards, and highlighted the need for continuous monitoring of the distribution process. The Chief Minister inquired about the operation of 197 Anganwadi centers under the PM Janman Yojana and directed to work with sensitivity and commitment towards the overall development of children of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) community.

Reviewing key indicators related to child nutrition, Chief Minister Sai called for concrete efforts to bring about the desired improvements. He stated that the indicators make it possible to assess the actual situation, and wherever deficiencies are found, prompt corrective measures should be taken. He expressed satisfaction with the improved performance in the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and directed that this progress be sustained. He said that small things and behavior have a profound impact on the mental development of children, so Anganwadi workers should establish an emotional bond with children with sensitivity.

The Chief Minister called for ensuring regular training for departmental staff to enable them to work with technical proficiency and a research-oriented approach. The meeting also reviewed the Bal Vivah Mukt Chhattisgarh Abhiyan, Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, Sakhi One Stop Centre, Shakti Sadan, Women and Child Helpline, Mahila Kosh, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mission Vatsalya, and other schemes.