The Ministry of Panchayati Raj supported by UNICEF hosted a national consultation, in Kochi, Kerala from 16-18 April, 2012. This was to roll out recommendations made at the ‘Policy Dialogue on Decentralization, Equity and Children’ in Kathmandu on 12-13 September, 2011 by UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia. The objective was to collectively understand decentralization in India, review it with respect to child related outcomes, review good practices & innovations and formulate recommendations for each state. Kerala has already successfully devolved functions, finances and functionaries to local self-government, with exemplary innovations and good practices. What is the relationship between public services and decentralization, in the context of child welfare? Most issues concerning children are covered under the 29 subjects transferred to Local Self Government (LSG) bodies. In the spirit of the 73rd and 74th amendments, public services if planned with communities and children can be more locally responsive and address specific needs. How can the ‘best interest of the child’ be brought into the decentralization policy domain? was the key question at the Kathmandu conference. Following discussions around the theme the India team made various recommendations, which were discussed in Kochi. These included capacity building for LSG functionaries, child resource centers, participatory planning with children, framework and tools for assessing child friendly local governance and services, recognition of best practices, centrality to PRIs in all its UNICEF state programs and so on. The consultation was attended by representatives from various ministries, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), secretaries from state governments, heads of various LSG training institutes and UN officials.