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Dear Friends,
Very recently, 7 children were admitted to hospital. They were suffering from malnutrition and weighed barely half of what they should have. Their parents, daily wage earners, are too poor to give them the balanced diet every growing child needs. Entitled to subsidised provisions meant to keep body (if not soul) together, they are unable to to get foodgrains from ration shops, which are perennially out-of-stock. The food provided to the children under the government’s mid-day meal scheme is of such poor quality, the children are unable to force it down. The network of public hospitals intended to provide healthcare to these families, the poorest of the poor, are inadequately staffed and invariably out of medicines.
The most shocking part? The government denies the problem exists. This is not some drought-stricken part of India, but the megapolis of Mumbai, India’s richest city, where the per capita income is almost thrice* that in the rest of India. It is a telling example of how, even today, millions of Indian children are denied their basic rights to food, healthcare, education and other inputs required for normal physical, mental and emotional development.
 It is the reason why CRY – Child Rights and You – has chosen to adopt the path of child rights which are permanent instead of relief that is temporary. Our 27 years of working for underprivileged children has made us at CRY realise that lasting change happens only when the people and families affected take charge of their lives. Our role is to support projects that catalyse this process. Your support makes it possible. Donate, volunteer, tell your friends, do what you can … just get involved!
In faith and goodwill,
The CRY Team
Read More on the issues of malnutrition in Mumbai
*Mid-Day (Mumbai Dope – Today’s Trivia)
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During the elections held recently in the state of Tamil Nadu, CRY, along with other NGOs, drew up a charter of demands asking every political party contesting the state elections to make a commitment towards children’s rights. 
