For
the establishment of real democracy need to be establish from childhood
through right to participation at various levels, process, policies and
action related to the children by the children.
In
this feudal society, head of family takes all decisions. This
phenomenon is exists either in patriarchal or matriarchal family. The
structure of family and society is constituted on this premise.
Although the democratic system of governance has been adopted in this
country, but there is no room for participation of all persons equally.
Regarding participation of children, all adults, families and above all
society seem to be diffident. If we closely observe behaviors of
children, we find that children fight among themselves and become united
after sometime. However, this does not happen with adults. Adults make
division in the society on the basis of caste, religion, class and
gender and try to inject this division among children. Says Lenin Raghuvanshi.
Due to the venerable economic condition the children of Musahars, Chamar and Nats communitiesfrom
the very young age are helping hand for their parents such as taking
care of their siblings and helping their parents in the their work.
During that time children are exposed to torture and organized
violence.
So, in this context it was decided to pilot the concept of Children Parliament against torture in
four ways to ensure Right to Participation, Right to survival, Right to
Development, and Right to Protection of children between age – group 10
– 18 years in 22 villages of Badagaon and Pindra blocks of Varanasi
Districts. As the sustainability of the initiative “Healing and Empowering marginalized communities in India” because
these 22 villages are already in the advanced stages for declaring it
as torture free model village and we are planning to exit in these
villages.
In
the formation of the torture free villages we were working with the
adults on the torture and organized violence issues and enhancing their
capacities on various Act and Guidelines and breaking their silence
through various activities. While working on the various issues at the
grass – root level activist came across with the many cases related to
the children such as child sexual abuse, discrimination and corporal
punishment in the school, child marriage, bonded labour and child labour
and police torture and caste based discrimination etc.
This
concept will provides wider platform for the participation of children
and enhancing their capacities on various law, acts and guidelines and
schemes related to the children such as POCSO Act, JJ Act etc. through
perspective building workshop, theatre play and meeting and workshop for
using Information Technology (IT) as the tool for prevention against
torture. From time to time the activist will do monitoring.
Karna hoga ahsas har Bacha hai khas (We have to feel that all children are unique) this initiative started in 2003
through participation of children in children parliament in Baghwanala
an urban slum of Varanasi. Now 10 children parliament are functioning in
22 villages child rights centric village with the participation of 195
children (127 female 94 male). The name of the bal panchayat are on the
name of eminent personalities and social reformer such as Munshi Prem
Chandra Bal Panchayat, Savitri Bai Phule Mahila Panchayat. The
perspective building of the children done through various activities
i.e. Workshop, meeting and theatre play etc. The outcome of
participation was children opposed the child marriage and child sexual
abuse. Says Shruti Nagvanshi, Child Rights activist.
Shirin
Shabana Khan is Program Director at management committee and Program
Manager of PVCHR – Dignity initiative “Healing and Empowering
marginalized Committee in India
#pvchr #childrights #torturefree #democracy