TOI : Balpanchayats succeed where netas have failed : Oct 18,2007
Balpanchayats succeed where netas have failed
Freny Manecksha
On October 4 an unusual convention on child rights was held in Mumbai. There were several speeches but it was children who did the hard talk. Policy makers listened. Invitees, who included Maharashtras minister for education Vasant Purake, Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule, minister for women and child development Harshwardhan Patil and pupils of Christ Church and Campion school heard out children from impoverished villages who had succeeded on a scale where the government with its huge resources had not. These warriors against child labour had mainstreamed dropouts in 220 villages of Maharashtras backward district of Parbhani.
The children had been organised by Socio Economic Development Trust (SEDT), a civil society organisation based in Kerwadi, Parbhani district. In 2000, SEDT modified educationist Bunker Roys concept of childrens parliaments to set up Balpanchayats or childrens forums to fight for child rights. The idea was sparked when SEDT staff were struck by the vast pool of talent whilst working with child labourers.
In Balpanchayats, children are given training in child rights and in how Gram Panchayats function. The method of song, dance, games and folklore is in consonance with SEDTs belief in the childs right to play and right to entertainment. Founder of SEDT, Suryakant Kulkarni, says, We use a participatory vision of a childs development as the necessary focus for socio-economic development. We seek the childs vision. What does a child feel about his school? About the surroundings? As perspectives broaden the child begins to be concerned about the village, the district, the state and the nation.
SEDTs two-pronged strategyget children back to school and keep them there by improving the schools environmentwas taken up in 2004 under the Poorest Area Civil Society programme, Ensuring Childrens Right to Education and Elimination of Child Labour, in 260 villages. Balpanchayats work in coordination with women, youth or Village Education Committees to mainstream dropouts. Sometimes persuasion is the key in home visits to parents. Explains 10-year-old Mukta Ingle of Sategaon, We tell the parents if your child works he or she will get only Rs 25 per
day but if you send him to school he will get the world. A future is assured.
At other times more forceful tactics are used. Children come out on the streets and shout slogans against child labour. A field worker explains that children have a greater psychological edge. Adults can be dismissed but how do you say no to a childs repeated pleas? The results have been dramatic. When the programme began, a baseline survey of the 260 villages showed that of 48,000 households there were 11,666 households in which children were out of school. Today 220 villages have been declared shala bahar muktchild labour free.
Children also help in implementation of the second part of the strategythe concept of sunder shala or beautiful schools. Schools have been transmogrified with simple teaching aids, brightly painted walls, banners, rangoli patterns and so on.
Balpanchayats also spearhead social messages on issues of health, sanitation, gender bias. But most important, children are encouraged to speak out and be inquiring individuals. The confidence levels of these village children and their public speaking abilities hugely impressed the ministers at the recent convention.
Sunita Shinde, in an emotionally charged voice, wondered why Mumbai society still tolerated child labour. Of what faida (use) was kaida (the law)? she demanded. She appealed to the city to take up the crusade through protest stirs, roadblocks and rallies.
Digambar Suryavanshi exhorted the audiences not to even drink water in any restaurant or eatery that employed child labourers. While the education minister said he would like Balpanchayats to be set up in every village in Maharashtra, the minister for child and women development Harshwardhan Patil assured that a bill for setting up the states child rights commission would be taken up shortly.
SAB PARRE, SAB BURRE: Children at Kaudgaon school, Gangakhed Block of Parbhani district. The school has been instrumental in creating a learning environment and preventing dropouts
Publication:Times of India Mumbai; Date:Oct 18, 2007; Section:Times City; Page Number:12
URL : http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzEwLzE4I0FyMDEyMDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom