students selected for State-level Children’s Parliament

students selected for State-level Children’s Parliament

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 07, 2014: Enthusiasm was at a high reality among a group of 25 children from different schools which participated in the district-level Children’s Parliament at Kadri Bal Bhavan on October 6. Though only three children from the group were to be selected to the state-level Children’s Parliament, children unmindful of the contest, took part in great spirits.

They were asked questions related to child rights, discussions on various subjects and other exercises in order to train them and develop an interest in responding to child rights issues. The district-level event was jointly organised by the Federation of Education Resource Centres, Padi-Valored, Childline and Women and Child Welfare department. Children’s Parliament is an initiative by the Karnataka Legislators’ Forum for Child Rights to sensitise children and legislators to problems that affect children.

Taluk-level Children’s Parliament were held last month and five children were selected from each taluk to participate in a district-level programme.   Two children are selected from each district and a team of 60 children from across the State will get an opportunity to interact with the Chief Minister at Children’s Parliament in November.

Three students from the district selected are :  Abhishek Bhat, SSLC student of SDM English Medium Highschool, Ujire, Bhagyalakshmi, VIII Std student from Government Higher Primary School Thannirpantha, Belthangady and Rakshitha, VIII Std students Government Higher Primary School Keddalike, Bantwal were unanimously selected by other students to represent them in the state-level Children’s Parliament.

Speaking at a formal inauguration, Child Rights Trust resource person, Satyanarayana spoke in length on how the elected representatives have ignored the problems related to children.   A very few legislators raise questions pertaining to child rights. Out of 6,288 questions raised in the Karnataka assembly last year, only 166 questions were related to children. There is a need for children to impress upon the elected representatives to lend ears to their problems, he said.

Padi-Valored Director Renny D’Souza spoke about the necessity to study the impact of rehabilitation of families due to development projects, on children’s lives. There are instances of children not finding a school nearby because of rehabilitation. It is nothing but violation of child rights, he said. The interactive meet was highly motivating to all participants..