Policies and Programmes for Children Development programmes aimed at reducing poverty do not necessarily reach children, or improve the environment in which they live and grow. It is acknowledged that while national development efforts for poverty alleviation would continue, the needs for children must be met today. Out of the 300 million children in India, a lot live in an economic and social environment which could impede the child's physical and mental development. The National Policy for Children, 1974, is founded on the conviction that child development programmes are necessary to ensure equality of opportunity to these children. It provides the framework for assigning priorities to different needs of children, and for responding to them in an integrated manner. Other policies, programmes and schemes for child development have been formulated, keeping in mind the objectives of this National Policy.