Special Children's Grama Sabhas of Karnataka– A promise to keep

 

At a time when the implementation of 'Children's Right to Heard' as encapsulated in the Convention of the Rights of the Child (Article 12) is being considered with utmost seriousness by international policy makers, the move by Panchayat Raj Ministry, Government of Karnataka to issue an Order ( 638 – 2007 dated 30.10.2007) which makes it mandatory for all Panchayats (Local Governments) to provide an opportunity for children to articulate their issues directly with their elected representatives at Special Children's Grama Sabhas is indeed very significant.

 

The Concerned for Working Children was consulted during the drafting process of the Order and we are very happy to note that it has now been officially circulated. We welcome this order which recognises children as citizens of today and highlights the accountability of elected representatives to children of their communities. Most importantly it makes it mandatory for the Panchayats to report back on the action taken regarding the issues flagged by children.

 

Last year, we had urged the Government of Karnataka to ensure that the Special Children's Grama Sabhas become a permanent and mandatory part of the functioning of all Panchayats in Karnataka where children are enabled to effectively use them as platforms to realise their rights through their active participation and in partnership with adults. We are glad to see this intent reflected in the Order of 2007.

 

However this historic order needs to be backed by intensive and systematic capacity building. We urge the government to ensure that the elected representatives and the officials have access to capacity building of a high calibre to enable an optimum number of stakeholders to be well equipped to implement this Order in its true spirit.

 

As an organisation that has over two decades of experience in facilitating children's participation in governance which, as a pilot project of the Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka since 1996, facilitated the very first children's Grama Sabhas in the country in 2002, we have designed a Handbook and a training module to facilitate all the adult stakeholders responsible to conduct the Special Children's Grama Sabhas to understand its significance and to enable them to conduct the Sabhas. We have also developed a Handbook specially designed for children to equip themselves to use the Grama Sabhas effectively. Our engagement with the Special Children's Grama Sabhas in 2006 in Udupi, Bellary and Sirsi has been filmed by the UNDP and the National Planning Commission with assistance from the Government of Karnataka as an example of Positive Human Development Index of the country.

 

Those who wish to avail the handbook and copies of the film may contact us directly.

 

 

Kavita Ratna

 

Director Communication