Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday literally turned into a classroom, with politicians taking lessons on child rights from experts in a bid to make Karnataka a child-friendly state.
Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday literally turned into a classroom, with politicians taking lessons on child rights from experts in a bid to make Karnataka a child-friendly state.
About a dozen politicians, members of both the legislative assembly (MLAs) and members of legislative council (MLCs), along with child rights activists and experts, discussed at length various issues and problems, the children has been facing.
The politicians were candid enough to admit that they lacked awareness on pressing child rights issues and raised the need for them being regularly updated by members of voluntary organisations to solve the problems.
The discussion on child rights issues were part of the fourth meeting of Karnataka Legislators’ Forum for Child Rights at Vidhana Soudha. The forum is a joint initiative of Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KCRO) and UNICEF.
The forum also released a book Vidhana Soudhadalli Makkaliddare? (Are there children in Vidhana Soudha?)
According to an analysis by the KCRO and UNICEF, out of the total 4,893 questions raised in the assembly during 2008-10, only 183 were related to children. Similarly, out of 2,861 questions in the legislative council, only 117 were related to children. Only 4.09 % and 3.7% questions related to children and their welfare were raised by the state’s politicians during 2008-10 in the Soudha and Parishad, respectively.
The MLAs and MLCs decided to give special emphasis and work for children’s welfare in Raichur, Bagalkot, Dharwad, and Mahalakshmi Layout in Bangalore.
“Soon, consultation meetings between children and legislators will be organised across Karnataka,” said Nagasimha G Rao, campaign coordinator of KCRO.
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