The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Now, children in gram sabhas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 23, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Now, children in gram sabhas

Bageshree S.

Government asks all gram panchayats to hold special sabhas for children

While some say children can be role models, the others oppose it
‘Romanticising child participation will not serve any purpose’

Bangalore: To what degree should the opinion of children be part of the decision-making process in panchayat raj institutions?

A recent circular by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj asking all gram panchayats to hold special sabhas focusing on children’s issues, and asking for the direct participation of children in them has given rise to a debate on the question.

Preparing for future

The circular states that children’s participation is a way of preparing them to be “active participants in gram sabhas when they grow up”.

Concerned for Working Children (CWC), which was consulted during the drafting of the circular, has welcomed it as a historic one “which recognises children as citizens of today and highlights the accountability of elected representatives to children of their communities”.

The non-governmental organisation, which has worked in ensuring children’s participation in panchayats in Udupi, Bellary and Uttara Kannada districts, calls it a recognition of the right enshrined in Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ganapathi of CWC says their experience had proved that children could indeed be “role models” for adult members.

“Often what adults think is in the best interest of the child is not so in the child’s view,” says Mr. Ganapathi.

Dilutes responsibility?

However, Child Rights Trust (CRT), another non-governmental organisation, argues that the emphasis on children’s participation in the circular “dilutes” adult responsibility in ensuring child’s rights. Says Vasudeva Sharma of CRT: “While eliciting views of children is necessary, the focus should not be diverted from the adult community taking responsibility for the rights of children.”

He points to a study CRT did in Bellary which found that gram panchayats did not have even primary data on development indicators of children, a reflection of the absence of involvement of these bodies in child-centred issues.

Sense of balance needed

Niranjan Aradhya of the Centre for Child and Law, National Law School University, argues for a “sense of balance” while conceding that democratic values have to be inculcated at an early age.

“For example, while you can ask a child’s feedback on whether the drinking water being supplied to them is good, the onus is on an adult member ensure at the first place that water is provided,” he says.

Dr. Aradhya says Article 12 states that “every child capable of forming his or her own views” should be accorded the right to do so “freely on all matters affecting the child”. It says the views of the child must be given weight “in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”

A vulnerable section

He warns against children’s interventions ending up being “neither spontaneous nor fully-informed” considering that children are a vulnerable section. What is needed is strengthening of provisions enshrined in the Panchayat Raj Act and incorporating them in the overall agenda rather than “proliferation of guidelines”.

“Romanticising child participation will not serve any purpose,” is the opinion of Dr. Aradhya.

On the other hand, Ashrafulla Hassan, Director, Panchayat Raj, believes that the recent circular only “further strengthens” the gram panchayats’ responsibility.

“It will ensure a more galvanised and enthusiastic participation,” he says.

“The idea is that children should also participate once in a while,” he says.

Anyone upwards of six years is eligible for participation, according to Mr. Hassan.

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