Freedom from Discrimination j the lack ofaccess to pre-natal care and, more generally, limited access to quality public I health care facilities, insufficient numbers of qualified health workers, poor health education,inadequate access to safe drinkingwater,and poor environmental sanitation. □ The Committee recommends the State party to take allnecessary steps to adapt, expand and implement the Integrated Management of Child Illness Strategy, and to pay particular attention to the most vulnerable groups of the population. □ The Committee is concerned that the health of adolescents, particularly girls, is neglected, given for instance a very high percentage of early marriages, which can have a negative impact on their health. ( □ The Committee recommends the State party to strengthen the existing National i 2.21 For its part, in the light of the foregoing, the Commission has the following recommendations to make at this stage, in regard to the issues of gender discrimination: P I □ The Commission wouldlike to reiterate its recommendadon, repeatedly made in earlier reports, that there is urgent need to ensure that free and compulsory education is provided as a Fundamental Right to all childrenundl they complete the age of 14 years j Reproductive and ChildHealth Programme, targedng the most vulnerable groups of the population. as required by the Supreme Court, and that the 83*^ Amendment to the Constitution f ' f I ► f' I be passed without further delay. The Commission would also like to emphasize that greater efforts are required to combat discrimination against the girl child in all ofits manifestations, and that, in particular, the doors must be opened to better health care and education for the girl child. □ The Commission is convinced of the efficacy ofeffecdve and timely consultation tvith all concerned groups in civil society before the submission ofIndia's reports before the competent treaty bodies. It, therefore, recommends to the Central Government, that it undertake thorough and extensive consultations with all the appropriate NGOs and other activist groups, in as large a number ofcentres across the length and breadth of the country as possible, before preparing the country reports. □ The Commission recommends, in particular, the gender sensitisation ofhealth workers, andwomeninregardtoaccess tonutritionso as to effectively combatmaternalanaemia. and a specifically targeted health care campaign to combat discrimination against girls It further recommends, that a vigorous and comprehensive national campaign be undertaken against female foeticide and female infanticide, as these are matters, which ' needurgent andutmost concern of the Government ofIndia and the State Governments. ' □ The Commission notes with deep concern the prevalence of the devadasi system in certain parts of the country and also the persistence oftrafficking in women, especially of those belonging to the weaker sections of society, for the purpose of prostitution. It recommends that the Government take effective and vigorous steps to prevent these atrocities on women and prepare a meticulous nationwide programme, with special