ABSTRACT
The chapter lays down the importance of Early Childhood Development in terms of brain development during early years, establishing the foundation for a healthy life and contributing to economic growth. It initiates an enquiry into the status of the young child in India and the major issues that have led to the persistent neglect of this age group. In this context, it explores the policy and legal framework, approaches and programmes, and the role and obligations of key stakeholders. In order to develop deeper understanding of the various measures of young child well-being and the kind of variance across states, the chapter introduces the Young Child Outcomes Index and the Young Child Environment Index for the under 6s.
