Book launch: Changing Lives in Andhra Pradesh (Telugu version)
"Young Lives research gives a good insight into the lives of children and the findings from the study will help to turn public policy", said the Chief Guest Mr Chiranjiv Choudhury, IFS, Commissioner, Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh releasing the Telugu edition of the new Young Lives book 'Andhra Pradesh Lo Maarutunna Jeevitalu: Young Lives Balala Edugutunna Teeru' in Hyderabad on 21 September 2013.
The book shows how life is changing for children in Andhra Pradesh. Children and their parents may have high aspirations, but their chances in life are often heavily influenced by where they are born and their family circumstances. ?There is a need to invest more resources in the area of nutrition and education. Studies like Young Lives provides in-depth information in these areas and there is a need to disseminate these findings widely,? added Mr Choudhury. ?There is a need to focus not only on policy, but also on implementation and monitoring to ensure public policies are able to influence the lives of poor people.?
The book captures the voices of Young Lives children and their families interviewed as part of Young Lives research. It tells how children in Andhra Pradesh see their lives and gives us a unique insight how their lives are changing as they grow up. The children reveal what they think it means to be poor or rich, how they see their families, friends and communities, the importance of education, what is different between their generation and the previous one, and their dreams for the future. Their stories are accompanied by themed boxes that give more detail on the context in which the children are living.
The launch was attended by around 25 stakeholders from policymakers, researchers, staff from NGOs and INGOs dealing with child issues, and the media, and was chaired by Dr Anjaiah, State Programme Manager for Save the Children.
Dr Uma Vennam, Lead Qualitative Researcher for Young Lives in India and author of the book, presented the in-depth, qualitative research from which the profiles were taken. Giving an overview of the book she said, ?Children are social actors and are capable of providing us with essential information about the way in which poverty affects their lives and well-being and this forms a major component of Young Lives research.?
The book launch was followed by a presentation on ?Food Prices and Child Nutrition in Andhra Pradesh? by Professor S. Galab, Principal Investigator of Young Lives in India and Director of Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) in Hyderabad. Prof. Indrakanth, RBI Chair, Council for Social Development, Hyderabad was the discussant for the paper and provided valuable inputs.
The presentation was followed by a lively interactive session. At the end, Dr Anjaiah thanked the panel and the participants for engaging actively in the day?s discussion.
Venue: Conference Hall I, CESS, Begumpet, Hyderabad
Date: 21 September 2013
Time: 10:30 am ? 1:00 pm, followed by lunch
Chief Guest: Sri Chiranjiv Choudhury, IFS, Commissioner, Department of Women Development & Child Welfare