The event in Keradi takes on a special significance
because Keradi is an extremely remote Panchayat in Kundapura Taluk which
has been ignored for several decades by the political parties as well as
governmental administrators. The children of Keradi are giving the local
Panchayats a new lease of life with their active involvement in not only
identifying the problems they face, but also proposing solutions.
Children and adults of the communities have been working together for
weeks to set the stage for this mega event which will be a culmination
of a series of smaller ward-level children’s gramasabhas. The government
schools in these areas have been the venue for the programmes where
children have carried out discussions about issues which concern them,
what they think needs to be done and about their vision for a dream
Panchayat. They have also been having fun making kites, telling stories,
doing pottery and many such activities. Each of the children has been
bringing a fistful of rice, lentils or vegetables that they cook
together for lunch – a subtle, yet loud message of caste, class and
gender equality.
Bhima Sangha and Makkala Panchayat, both powerful
advocates of rights of children, lead the entire process. Bhima Sangha
is a union of, by and for children. Makkala Panchayat is a parallel
Panchayat of children, elected by all children in the Panchayat. It
consists of representatives of working children, school going children
and children with disabilities.
The NGO, the Concerned for Working Children (CWC) is
the facilitating organisation. CWC presently implements its programmes
in several urban and rural districts of Karnataka and is committed to
the eradication of child labour and facilitation of children’s
empowerment.
Kavita Ratna
Director
