"No more empty promises. Let us see them converted to action" urge children

"We children should be involved in formulating and critiquing legislative Bills that have a direct bearing on our lives" asserted children from different parts of Karnataka at a State Level Consultation jointly organised by The Child Rights Trust and The Concerned for Working Children at Bangalore on July 26th, 2005.

After discussing The Karnataka Child Rights Bill, The Karnataka Compulsory Primary Education Bill, The Karnataka Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, The Karnataka Food Security Programme Bill and The Central Prevention of Child Marriage Bill, children demanded that the Government should examine these Bills very carefully and transform them to child rights friendly laws that meet the requirements of the poor and the marginalised. (Some of the main recommendations are listed further below)

Inputs regarding ‘Children’s Rights; the structure of our Government; Selection process of representatives from the Gram Panchayat (local government) up to the parliament, law formulation process’ etc were given to children as part of the consultation. Children took part in small group discussions where they examined the present realities and expressed them in the form of extraordinary skits. They juxtaposed the Bills to these realities and checked if they were appropriate to children and the poor.

"Compulsory Education should be re-worded as ‘providing free and meaningful education’ said one group. Another group said, "People in the villages do not have employment during all seasons of the year. Hunger haunts us. It is Government’s responsibility to ensure that our parents get jobs provide them give them a decent wage". "Father, please do not marry me now, I want to study" pleaded a girl in one of the Skits which depicted how sometimes children are forced into marriage. Children, through their many forms of expression were unequivocal in saying that these Bills have to focus on the needs of those who are extremely poor and in most difficult situations.

Children are committed to take back the outcome and insights from this consultation to share with their friends. Together with them, they wish to convey their recommendations to the legislators in their respective areas in order to advocate for child rights friendly laws.

In the beginning of the consultation, children had several questions. "How are laws made?’, "How does the Government decide when a new law needs to be made?", "Who will decide whether or not a law is child rights friendly?", "Is there any space for children to express their views when laws are being made?" were some among them. All these were not raised at one go – but they arose as a part of the design of the consultation process that not only welcomed questions but also facilitated children to discover the answers.

Children also opined that only if the Bills take into account the views and opinions of children in different parts of the State can they become holistic. They recommended that the Government should carry out consultations in different parts of the State in order collect and consolidate what children feel about these Bills.

Some of the key issues raised by children during the Consultation:

Views related to The Central Prevention of Child Marriage Bill

  1. We do not accept child marriages. This Bill says that we have to file a petition in order to make it void! That is meaningless.
  2. From now on, who ever attends wedding should make sure that the age of the bride is over 18 years and that of the groom is above 21 years.
  3. Children should be provided complete information about child marriage.
  4. There should be provisions to educate parents about child marriage.
  5. When children get married, they get completed cheated off their childhood. So everyone should object to it.
  6. The fine imposed for getting children married should definitely be increased. It is meaningless to say ‘upto one lakh’ – the fine amount should be ‘one lakh’.
  7. In the list of people who can assist the Child marriage Prevention Officer – ‘children’ should be included.
  8. It is senseless to give fine concessions to people who say "We did not know this is child marriage". Marriages should not be conducted before finding out the ages of the bride and the groom.
  9. Our society should get ready to ensure that children who were married when they were minors (and their marriages were cancelled) are accepted for marriage when they turn major.

Views related to The Karnataka Child Rights Bill

  1. We should ensure that children do not get pushed out of protective environments (like their homes)
  2. Laws should be made in our State that are in line with Children’s Rights. Before taking any decisions about services to be provided to children, children should be consulted.
  3. Care should be given to ensure that children are not subjected to any form of discrimination.
  4. This law should ensure that there are opportunities for children to participate and to express their views.
  5. This law should take into account the role of families and local governments to protect children.
  6. All children should receive information and opportunities to form their own organisations/groups.
  7. This law should be able to create opportunities for children to participate in the formulation of laws related to them. Such information should also be included in text books.
  8. We children should be aware and watchful about children’s rights. We should also make sure that the Government is continually alert to children’s rights.
  9. Government should collect complete information about all areas/regions; be aware of all the requirements in those areas and respond to the needs of people speedily.

Views related to The Karnataka Compulsory Primary Education Bill

  1. Compulsory Education should be re-worded as ‘providing free and meaningful education’.
  2. ‘Education’ should not be limited to primary education. It should include the education required for children below the age of six years as well as vocational training/skill building.
  3. Children with disabilities should have special facilities in school. They should be provided special education, if needed. They should not be subjected to any form of discrimination.
  4. People who are able to provide children all facilities in school as well as respond to the needs and difficulties of children (keeping in mind their family background) should be appointed as teachers.
  5. Parents should also take the responsibility of, and be concerned about the education of children.
  6. Free education should not be limited to 10th standard. It should extend beyond class 10.
  7. School and other educative environments should compulsorily include opportunities for children’s sports and recreation.
  8. In many schools the quality of teachers and teaching methods must improve.
  9. Education should be in accordance with children’s rights.

Views related to The Karnataka Rural Employment Guarantee Bill

  1. It is meaningless to provide employment only for 100 days as said in the Bill. This Bill can become meaningful only if the realities and the ups and downs of our environment are taken into consideration and employment is provided for more number of days.
  2. This Bill should take into account those families that are landless and those who lack resources.
  3. Only if migration of people in difficult circumstances stops and their employment is guaranteed, can their children be protected and also get educated.
  4. In this employment scheme, it is of no use to pay only Rs. 40 per day (minimum wage).
  5. This Bill talks only of ‘rural poor’ and neglects the ‘urban poor’. How can that be acceptable?
  6. In order to stop people from migrating to cities, action should be taken in the villages.
  7. In the Bill, instead of saying ‘employment guarantee to one adult per family’ – it should read ‘employment guarantee to all adults in the family’.

Views related to The Karnataka Food Security Programme Bill

  1. While providing ‘food security’, children on the streets should also be attended to.
  2. ‘Food’ cannot mean just one meal per day. Children and the poor should not face food scarcity in any season of the year.
  3. During droughts food should be provided to all, without any discrimination.
  4. In ‘food distribution’ programmes, it is very wrong to distribute food of cheap quality. Children have health problems due to this.
  5. There is a lot of corruptions in the Ration shops (Government’s Fair Price Shops). If this is stopped, ‘Food Security Programme’ may gain some meaning.

Back