Launch of Karnataka Legislators Forum for Child Rights

Legislators’ forum for Child Right - Proceeding of the First meeting

Children account to about 42% of the total population in India. No one can ignore this situation and it calls for attention on various counts. 

In the background of the 2004 and 2008 Assembly elections, CRT-Child Rights Trust along with UNICEF is conducting a follow up on the promises made by various political parties to the children of Karnataka. While analyzing the state budget and question hour of the Assembly and Council, we are also trying to find out answers to the following questions:

• Whether our legislators are aware of the conditions in which our children are eking out their life?

• If they are aware of the facts, are they bringing them to the notice of the Government in an appropriate manner?

• Are the legislators influencing or lobbying with the Government for higher allocations in the budget, suitable programmes, policies, etc.?

Karnataka has a significant position in the country as a developing state. Although the state has made its position in education, management, IT, BT, art and culture, etc., the state has a dubious position in Human Development indicators. On an overall scale the state may seem to be doing well. But, a close look at various development indicators and particularly at district level with statistical analysis, one finds that a lot of interventions are needed urgently. 

As a result of the process of finding answers to the above questions, CRT is publishing annual study reports titled ‘Are there children in Vidhana Soudha?’ since 2005. The study has the following components:

• Tabulation of the promises made by various political parties to children
• Listing of number of questions raised by each legislators (general and child centered)
• Analysis of the Question Hour of the Vidhana Sabha and Parishath
• Recording of aspirations of children
• Explaining the situation of children in Karnataka on the basis of various secondary sources (largely published by Government)
• Comments on certain Government policy, programmes and allocations
• Recommendations from NGOs, academicians etc. 

The Forum:

With close touch with people in the grassroots and the development interveners CRT under KCRO has interacted with legislators in several forums and occasions to explain about the situation of children in Karnataka. We have also facilitated in formulating questions on unexplored areas with respect to children.

In such processes, several child sensitive legislators agreed with the idea of forming a forum of legislators to take stock of the situation of children. Thus the idea of ‘Karnataka Forum of Legislators for Child Rights’ is evolved. This is said to be first of its kind in India.

The Forum plans to meet periodically and take up the following:

• Study the situation of children in select areas
• Legislators to take responsibility to spread awarenss about child rights
• Visit to get first hand understanding on the situation of children
• Consult individual and group experts for information
• Gather solutions if any, from other sources and visit areas for orientation
• Examine the current stand of Government and its interventions
• Recommend to Government remedial measures to be taken up
• Raise the issues if necessary on the floor of house for greater debate in formulating solutions, policies or programmes.

• Visit and study problem and solution areas and recommend to Government to take action to uphold child rights.

• Study the budgetary allocations and demand for legitimate allocations for child rights issues.

Upshots:

• Legislator Mr. Mukyamantri Chandru has promised that he dedicates at least 5 min of his time in all his speeches wherever he goes to address about Child Rights.
• Child friendly legislators said that education, health is more important for child development. Hence they will work on those major sections.
• Few legislators also promised that they will be happy to attend next meetings of the Forum and even asked to conduct one more session post by elections in Karnataka so that they will get their party members.
• Legislators’ assured for their presence in the place where we really and genuinely need them to combat against any violence against children.
• As members of The Karnataka Legislators Forum for Child Rights the legislators would work as catalysts for the implementation of child rights.