There were problems with persons registering the birth of their children. This is important, since the registration of births and deaths helps to keep an accurate count of the number of persons in the country.

Further, the convention on the rights of the child specifies the child is entitled to a name and nationality. This could only be made possible when a child is registered at birth.

According to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Mitradevi Alli, the registration of births also helps to monitor possible child labour situations. According to her, there are instances where some children are employed, but because of no birth certificate, there is no indication that the child may be under age.

The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Education, and Health were also involved in the exercise. A number of day-care centres, hospitals and other associations were involved in the birth campaign process.

In 2001, 12,580 births were registered, while in 2002, 17,688 were recorded.

The Convention on the rights of the child also specifies the right of the child to a family, basic education, water, sanitation, health and nutrition.

The National Commission on the rights of the child was established in March 1993. This Commission operates out of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.