For the children, by the children
P. SUJATHA VARMA
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Here’s a move for children to come together, to share their problems and protect one another.
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Young voices speak: At the Children’s Parliament
The ball has finally been set rolling for creating child-friendly environment in schools across Krishna district. Children in Government-run schools and Anganwadi hostels can breathe easy, thanks to the Neighbourhood Children’s Parliaments that will soon be a reality.
Dealing with issues related to the welfare of children can be a tricky situation. As many would think, a new toy, an ice-cream or a trip to the amusement park cannot be a permanent source of happiness for a child. These things may bring an immediate smile on their faces but will they turn them into happy and responsible adults?
For lasting happiness, children need special attention. There are subtle factors, both at school and at home, which are seldom taken into consideration. It is essential to prevent children’s possible mistreatment or abuse. The Forum for Child Rights, a consortium of a few local NGOs involved in child development projects, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and allied Government departments like the police and the railway police wings, have set in motion the process of building a child-safety net in schools by constituting Neighbourhood Children’s Parliaments.
“Children’s physical and intellectual immaturity makes them vulnerable to abuse in all forms. Their ill-treatment calls for special attention because the young ones cannot speak for themselves and their opinions are brushed aside,” says Thomas Koshy, convener of the forum.
The concept of Neighbourhood Children’s Parliament, formed on a pilot basis in Ibrahimpatnam and Penamaluru mandals in Krishna district, is a step towards creating a child-friendly environment. “We want to give voice to every child by creating a platform for them to share their problems and views on issues that are directly related to their welfare,” says Fr. Koshy.
Each Neighbourhood Children’s Parliament is a cluster of 30 families. The move aims at bringing the children together to share problems and protect one another. This will not only make the children responsible but also instil confidence in them, which can help them take charge of difficult situations.
Strong bond
Looking at the larger picture, the forum members are confident that the whole gamut of activities prescribed for the children in these Parliaments will create a strong bond among them contributing to the promotion of child protagonism. “There can’t be a happier scenario wherein children understand their problems and defend their own rights,” says Mr. Koshy.
From passive recipients of help and support, the children will groom themselves into agents of change.
Happy to find support at the district administrative-level, the forum plans to go ahead with replication of the Neighbourhood Children’s’ Parliament in every mandal of the district.
This will not only bring the children closer but will help them march ahead, collectively.
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