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For the Favour of Publication
Press
Release on the
recent order issued by the
Government of
Karnataka to
Conduct Special
Children’s Grama Sabhas about children’s rights
9th Novermber, 2006
We, the Concerned for
Working Children welcome the announcement by the Panchayat Raj
Ministry, Government of Karnataka to hold yearly ‘Special children’s
Grama Sabhas’ in all Panchayats in this state in November as it
sends out a message that children are acknowledged as active members
of their rural communities.
However, a careful
reading of the order (See Annexure 2) indicates that these special
Grama Sabhas are being visualised merely as annual events for
awareness generation in Panchayats rather than as a serious
intervention that respects children as citizens and holders of
rights. Our critique draws from our two decade long experience in
facilitating children’s political participation from local to
international levels through the Makkala Panchayats.
We, the Concerned for
Working Children have for the past 20 years, enabled children to
voice their concerns and find solutions. We facilitated the very
first children’s Grama Sabha in the country in 2002 (See detailed
report published in the Deccan Herald as Annexure 3). We have,
through the setting up of Makkala Panchayats (Children’s Local
Government) linked children to the Gram Panchayats through a
Children’s Rights Task Force. In selected Panchayats in three
districts of Karnataka this has enabled children to be actively
involved in the governance of their Panchayats.
This move by the
Government of Karnataka, though a positive step in addressing
children’s issues at the level of the Gram Panchayats will only
remain an empty gesture and an act of tokenism when it comes to
fulfilling Children’s Right to Participation. Our detailed critique
of the order (Enclosed) has been submitted to the Government for
their perusal and action. The main points of our critique are as
follows:
1.
Urban children are totally left out of this process
2.
The Special Children’s Grama Sabhas are visualised as a one time
yearly event and not as an integral part of the activities of the
Grama Panchayats:
3.
Structures for Children’s Participation in the Special Children’s
Grama Sabha are not referred to.
4.
Children are viewed as audience –
not active participants:
5.
These Grama Sabhas are not linked to the planning process and
programme implementation of the Panchayats
6.
No special spaces are created for marginalised children and children
with special needs
7.
The status of children from migrant communities are not referred to
in connection with this order
8.
No budget is set aside for issues that children may raise
9.
The scope of this Grama Sabha is limited to the participation of
representatives of the Department of Women and Child Welfare,
Education and Police
10.
No reference is made to build capacities of the adults who conduct
and facilitate the Special Children’s Grama Sabhas:
11.
The GO suggests that reports on these Special Children’s Rights Gram
Sabhas are provided to the Government by the Gram Panchayats – no
reference is made to the Action Taken Reports which are critical
12.
This GO requires the “Compulsory Participation” of children within
the jurisdiction of the Grama Panchayat, parents, Anganwadi workers,
supervisors of the department of Women and Child Welfare, junior
women health workers, all school teachers, police officials, members
of the school development and monitoring committee, representatives
of the local NGOs. This contradicts the spirit of the Convention on
the Rights of the Child which this order claims to uphold.
We therefore urge the
Government of Karnataka to take cognisance of the above mentioned
recommendations and act upon them at the earliest so that the
Special Children’s Rights Gram Sabhas become a permanent and
mandatory part of the functioning of all Panchayats in Karnataka and
children are enabled to effectively use this platform to realise all
their rights through their active participation and in partnership
with adults.
The Concerned for
Working Children is happy to offer its support, expertise and
assistance by providing training and consultancy and any other
assistance to enable the Government of Karnataka to implement this
programme and make children’s rights a reality in this state.
Nandana Reddy
Director Development
The Concerned for
Working Children
Attached:
Enclosure:
Critique of the GO Karnataka Order by the Concerned for Working
Children
Annexure 2:
Literal Translation of the GO Karnataka Order
Annexure 3:
“Partners in progress” an Article about the First ever children’s
Grama Sabha in India held in 2002 and facilitated by the Concerned
for Working Children
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