Organizational alternative for child nutrition programming : Tamil Nadu childrens commission

ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT AND DIFFICULT PROBLEMS UNDERLYING MATERNAL AND CHILD MALNUTRITION IN LDCS IS THE LESS THAN EFFECTIVE WAYS IN WHICH THE NATIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE ADMINISTRATIVELY ORGANIZED TO MAKE FULL USE OF FUNDS AND OTHER RESOURCES PROVIDED BY DONOR AGENCIES. WELL-CONCEIVED PROGRAMS OFTEN BECOME SPLINTERED, TRANSFORMED, AND DISSIPATED WHEN THEIR FUNCTIONS ARE ASSIGNED TO EXISTING AGENCIES TOO INFLEXIBLE TO ASSIGN THE NEEDED PRIORITY TO NEW FUNCTIONS. THIS PAPER PROPOSES THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH AN AUTONOMOUS TAMIL NADU CHILDREN"S COMMISSION. ITS PURPOSE WOULD BE TO MEET FIRST-PRIORITY NEEDS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS OF NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE RESOURCES, LEADERSHIP, POLICY FORMATION, AND EVALUATIONS OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. THE PAPER DESCRIBES THE FUNCTIONS, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND PROPOSED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION.