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A large number of International agencies are engaged in the field of social development mainly the United Nations Agencies are activity engaged in programmes which concern directly the welfare activities of the UN Agencies. There are a number of other non­governmental agencies based abroad which assist in child welfare/development programmes.

Some of these are mentioned below:

United Nations Agencies:

(i) World Health Organisation (Who):

The purpose of WHO is to assist the govt. to raise the standard of public health, dissemination of information on medical research. The headquarter of WHO in Geneva. The WHO assists number of developing countries to strengthen maternal and child health services, prevention of communicable diseases, improvement of environmental sanitation, rural health services, health education etc. WHO had assisted Indian in establishing primary health centres and sub centers in rural areas.

(ii) International Labour Organisation (ILO):

It aims at improving labour conditions raising living standards and promoting economic and social stability. ILO also assists state for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of working children through the child welfare programme. Social security measures and anti-child labour measures etc.

(iii) United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF):

It consists of donation and contribution for the welfare and development of children. The donations are received from the developed countries to be utilized for the children in developing Countries. Since 1949 the UNICEF has been assisting the govt. of India for a variety of child survival and development programmes.

The main programmes assisted by the UNICEF in Indian are as follows:

(i) Applied Nutritional programme (ANP)

(ii) Integrated child development services (ICDS)

(iii)Social inputs in Area Development.

(iv) Children in specially difficult circumstances including working & strut children.

(v) Urban basic services.

(vii) Safe drinking water and environmental sanitation.

(iv) Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO):

It was founded on 1945 with its headquarters at Rome. It plays an important part in increasing food production and taking measures aiming at development of rural families with particular references to women & children. It also helps the people of the world in their continuing fight against hunger and malnutrition.

(v) World Food Programme (WFP):

It is a recent venture of this FAO through which efforts are made to provide assistance in terms of food to the developing Countries. One of the major components of the programmes is making available donations of food from developed countries for feeding children in the programme of combating malnutrition and under nutrition in the developing Countries. In India the WEP has invested in a vast feeding programme for millions of Children and pregnant women and nursing mother’s particularly through ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) net-work.

(vi) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO]:

UNESCO helps to develop text books and promotion and teaching of national languages to the children of the migrant workers, training of the staff for pre-school children and assists projects to set up production of children’s book and libraries. UNESCO’s action is concentrated on the most destitute children. Being interested in international human rights UNESCO helped to promote long term and short term children’s programme within the countries.

Other International Non-Governmental Agencies:

(i) Association of Montessori International (AMI):

The AMI has headquartered in England. It aims at propagating the Montessori methods of spreading Knowledge concerning the physical intellectual, moral, social and mental development of the child. In India it gives technical assistance of Dr. Montessori, manufactures of apparatus, training of teachers, study seminars etc. The organisations functions through. Indian Organisation Concerned with-pre-school child.

(ii) Catholic Relief Services (CRS):

It has been functioning in India as an officially recognized American voluntary agency. Since 1957 when the Indo-US agreement was first signed. This agreement confirmed on the organisation the privilege to import duty free American agricultural Commodities, medicines, medical equipment and their items for relief and development of the poor and the needy. Food imports are utilized for programmes such as mother and child health programme, School feeding programmes. Food for work programmes etc.

(iii) Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE):

Its main programme in India is School and pre­school feeding, which is implemented through the receptive State govt. duly approved by the govt. of India. Presently care’s feeding programmes are spread over in 14 States feeding approximately 8 million School and 55 million pre-school children.

(iv) International Union for Child Welfare (IUCW):

The union has headquarters in Geneva. The Indian Council for child welfare is its member. The union organizes conferences and seminars assists in innovative child welfare. Projects, training of child welfare personnel and in emergency relief programmes.

(v) Meals for millions Foundation (MMF):

MMF is a US Organisation engaged in provision, relief and prevention of malnutrition through multi-purpose food to be supplied trough established institutions and agencies. The organisation has assisted school lunch programmes, rural medical programme etc.

(vi) Save the Children Fund (SCF):

The Fund operates from UK and Canada and assists in the establishment of Children’s houses, feeding of children and providing assistance and relief measures to children etc.

(vii) USAID:

The USAID’s interest lies in child and nutrition. It is assisting for running though govt. of Gujarat. Its own model of ICDS projects which includes food subsidy and special training modus. A Chinese proverb says – “If you are planning for year, plant a seed. If you are planning for 10 years plant trees. If you are planning for 100 years plant men.

This has laid emphasis on child welfare and nourishment. The child welfare programmes aims at the all round development Physical, mental, emotional and social of the child. These programmes should be given top priority in the national planning. Co-operation and support of all agencies private and Govt. and voluntary should be made available for such activities of national importance. Since children are the most valuable resources of the society. Child welfare has assured a significant place in the national planning.