Children’s Gram Sabhas On 30th October 2007, Karnataka State Government
concerns, they were very categorical about what
passed an order making it mandatory for village
had to be done from the purview of child rights.
Panchayats to offer children a platform to voice
In Deodurga, children had also questioned the
their concerns and problems, through special
negligence of SDMC members, who have not even
Children’s Gram Sabhas (village general body
visited the schools once.
meeting). However, this initiative is yet to be formally regularized by the officials concerned. Children’s Gram Sabhas do not happen in all the Panchayats as mandated by this order. CREAM has tried to make a dent in this context in 3 of its districts – Davangere, Deodurga and Gulbarga. Children raised issues concerning their rights – food served in the schools or the indifference of authorities to the plight of child labourers/school drop outs/out of school children or infrastructure
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cream
In Bangalore, children’s issues are being taken up for discussion in Gram Sabhas. 1098 (Child Help Line) is now publicly advertised. Suggestion boxes placed in schools and Panchayat offices helped in solving the issue of obtaining TC for school admission for a child. In Davangere district, the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) has passed an order to all Panchayats – asking them to conduct Children’s Gram Sabhas in all the villages in coordination/ collaboration with the CREAM team.