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Social change through children
Union Sports Minister Sunil Dutt along with actress Nandita Das releasing a book on Bal Panchayat in New Delhi this past week.
Realising the importance of children in bringing about social change and accepting them as equal and important members of society is a new book, "Bal Panchayat: Celebrating Children's Participation'', which was released at India Habitat Centre in the Capital this past week by the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sunil Dutt, in the presence actress and social activist Nandita Das.
The book shares the stories and experiences of many underprivileged children, their families and communities as they underwent a metamorphosis while bringing about children's participation and ensuring child rights.
It reflects the concerns, joys, aspirations and tribulations of children as they move from a position of victim to a position of empowerment.
In fact, Mr. Dutt was not originally supposed to release the book. On coming to know that he was attending another function at the same venue, the children approached him.
"I couldn't say no to them and that is why I am here,'' Mr. Dutt said, lauding the work of the Bal Panchayat and ensuring more support to children through sports so that they are able to empower themselves.
Recalling her association with the Bal Panchayat, Nandita said the positive thing about children was that they were honest to the core and like adults are not yet tuned in to the world of make-believe. There is a sincerity of purpose in whatever they do and that is evident in the work of the Bal Panchayat,'' she said.
Talking about the book, the Executive Director of CASP, Bhagyashree Dengle, said it was a tribute to the children's capacity to overcome their circumstances and grow and develop. It recognises children as agents of social change and reflects how given the right opportunities and guidance, even the seemingly most underprivileged children can be our nation's strongest asset.''
Added Bruno Oudmayer, the Country Director of Plan India, which has supported the Bal Panchayat experiment : "Children have both the capacity and the commitment to contribute to decisions affecting their future. The whole community would be better off incorporating the views of all, men and women, as well as children.''
The book traces the story of Bal Panchayat, a children's organisation that has grown from being an informal forum for development to a full-fledged children's group with its own governing committee (made up of children) and programmes and agenda.
Bal Panchayat began as a small activity to educate children and help them break out of their shells. Over the years, it has impacted the lives of over 800 children.
Today, Bal Panchayat is a group of young child rights activists who undertake various social activities like funding children's education, media scanning on child rights, imparting training to NGOs on enabling children's participation and running libraries.
By K. Kannan
Photo: Rajeev Bhatt
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