Children voices speak out on ‘child marriage’

A child from Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh sketches a painting of a couple being married yet crying !. In the sketch painted by the child these are not adults but children who are getting married.

Child sketches the reason they are crying as they are losing their education, time to play and do not get to enjoy childhood. Opinions of this child are echoed by child from Bhopal, Abhinav Bairagi who studies in class sixth Bhopal school, he questions ‘why children are forced to get married and they not only lose their education, but cannot do what they want to do in life, let not allow children to get married'. Sunil Verma a student of another school of class 6 from Bhopal talks about need to stop child marriage in a poster designed by him.  He adds that legal age of marriage for girls is 18 years and boys 21 years, as information to his peers and how child marriage impacts society. He illustrates ideas as how to stop child marriage. ‘There is need of a special campaign against child marriage; which can make people aware of impact of child marriage on child and gives ‘call’ people to inform police if they see any child marriage’. 'Getting married at right age helps in emotional and mental development of children, better health and life’ adds Sonali Sahu a student of class sixth from Bhopal, in a poster designed by her.

These are few voices of children from the hundreds who are a part of school forums started by Child Rights Observatory, a child rights monitoring body in the State, working in partnership with UNICEF field office for Madhya Pradesh.

Majority of these kids feel that child marriages though have declined but still happen. They share in their write ups, paintings, and posters etc. that how child marriage does not give children their right to education, right to live and enjoy life. Bursting with ideas and keen to talk about issues like child labour, child marriage, these young people showed that they have the potential and are raising concern, sharing with their peers and speaking about the need to stop this child rights violation. Child rights Observatory plans to share the voices of these children with the decision makers like district collector, officials of women and child development department and media to help facilitate bring these concerns to the decision makers.

Child’s right to participation is part of The Convention on the Rights of the Child’, which spells out rights of each and every child. Article 12 of the convention says that children have ‘right to say what you think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect you, and to have you opinions taken into account. Opportunities like where children voice their opinion are a step towards bridging the gap between the rights and realities of children.  India had signed the convention in the year 1992. Child marriage is a reality which still happens. As per District Level Household Survey III (year 2007-08) in Madhya Pradesh, around 29% girls and 40.5 % boys get married below the legal age of marriage. Madhya Pradesh is one of the top six states in India which have high incidence of child marriage and other five being Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.  Government of Madhya Pradesh has announced a special campaign to help prevent child marriages.

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Children paint their expressions

Painting by Argha Seth, Class IX, Ranaghat- West Bengal

(As published in Joyland, children newsletter. Vol - 2 Issue - 16, May 08, 2012)

Painting by Siddharth Roy, Class VI, Golpark, Kolkata, West Bengal

(As published in Joyland, children newsletter, Vol - 2 Issue - 16, May 08, 2012)

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कारहे में मछलियों की बाढ़

मैं अरूणाचल प्रदेश के लोहित जिले के एक बहुत ही अन्दरुनी गाँव कारहे की
रहने वाली हूँ। बरसात के दिनों में एक दिन में और मेरी दोस्त अरूनमयी एक
छोटी-सी धारा के किनारे टहल रहे थे। मैंने देखा कि पानी बहुत ही गन्दा और
मटमैले रंग का था।

अगले दिन मेरा भाई धारा के पास टहल रहा था। अचानक उसने देखा कि कई
सारी-मछलियाँ एक ओर से दूसरी ओर जा रही हैं। फिर उसे एक बड़ी-सी मछली
दिखाई दी और वो ज़ोरों से चिल्लाया‚ “अनु‚ देख तो यह क्या है? यह मछली तो
नहीं लग रही पर उसके जैसी लग रही है।” फिर उसे और भी कई सारी मछलियाँ
इधर-उधर जाती हुई दिखाई दीं।

उस रात बारिश नहीं हुई। और वो धारा लगभ पूरी सूख गई। मेरा भाई जो सुबह
वहाँ टहलने गया उसने कई सारी मछलियाँ पकड़ लीं और घर पहुँचकर खुशी से
चिल्लाया‚ अप्टू देख मैं क्या लाया हूँ। देख यह मछली देख।”  वो खुशी से
नाच-गा रहा था। वो अन्दर आया और उसने मछलियाँ एक प्लेट में रखी।

अपने गाँव में इतनी बड़ी मछली को देखकर मुझे बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ। मैंने अपने
पड़ोसियों और परिवारवालों को इस बारे में बताया। उन्हें तो यकीन ही नहीं
हुआ और बोले] “हमारे गाँव में ऐसी मछलियाँ नहीं मिलती। चलो‚ चलकर सारी
मछलियाँ ले आते हैं।”

अप्तुषि मिनीन‚ सातवीं‚ वेकरो‚ अरूणाचल प्रदेश
चकमक-बाल पत्रिका, सितम्बर-नवम्बर,2011
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बाल विवाह नहीं होना चाहिए

बच्चों का इतनी जल्दी विवाह क्यों हो जाता है, उन्हें पढ़ने देना चाहिये ताकि वह अपने मन की बात पूरी कर सकें। जैसे बड़े होकर डॉक्टर बनना और माँ-बाप का नाम रोषन करना। यदि कोई छोटी उमर में विवाह करता है तो तुरन्त मना करें।
नाम: अभिनव बैरागी, कक्षा: 7वीं

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जान बची

गर्मियों के दिन थे। मैं खेत में जा रहा था तो मैं खेतों में पहुँचा। मैंने खेत में भैंस, गायों की देखभाल की। मेरी माँ ने कहा कि आम बीन कर ला। मैं आम बीनने चला गया। आम गिर नहीं रहे थे तो मैं पेड़ पर चढ़ा। डाली पर से मेरा पैर खिसक गया और मैं पेड़ पर से गिर गया। तभी एक भैया रास्ते से जा रहा था तो वो भैया ने मेरे को देखा और उठाने के लिए आ गया और मेरी जान बच गई।

विषाल, कक्षा 5वीं, भैंसदेही, बैतूल, मध्यप्रदेष

 

(This was published in Chakmak, the children magazine published by Eklavaya)

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टूटे-फूटे मकान के बरामदे में पढ़ते हैं आंगनवाड़ी के बच्चे

मैं एक बार गाँव बायंग विकास खंड रायगढ़ गयी थी। वहा  मैंने आंगनवाड़ी के के बच्चों को एक टूटे-फूटे मकान के बरामदे में पढ़ते हुए देखा। मुझे बहुत अफसोस हुआ कि इतने सारे बच्चे होने के बाद भी यहाँ इनके लिए भवन नहीं है। मैंने वहाँ की सहायिका रामप्यारी सिदार से बातचीत की। उनसे पता चला कि उनके स्टॉफ में 2 लोग हैं। आंगनवाड़ी की कार्यकर्ता व सहायिका। डिपापारा केन्द्र के नाम से यह आंगनवाड़ी चल रही है। केन्द्र में 14 बालिकाएं एवक 5 बालक मिलाकर कुल 19 बच्चों के नाम दर्ज हैं एवं सभी आते हैं। आंगनवाड़ी केन्द्र सुबह 10 बजे खुल जाती है। सहायिका द्वारा इन बच्चों को उनके घरों से सुरक्षित लाया जाता है। केन्द्र में उन्हें हाथ धोना सिखाया जाता है। इसके बाद उन्हें मीनू के अनुसार चना, गुड़, मुर्रा, भूंजा हुआ दलिया एवं दलिया से बने मीठे पकवान का नाष्ता दिया जाता है। फिर कहानी के माध्यम से उन्हें अक्षर ज्ञान कराना व कविता के माध्यम से पढ़ना सिखाया जाता है। प्रतिदिन स्वच्छता के बारे में जानकारी दी जाती है। सहायिका ने कहा कि इस केन्द्र में 19 बच्चे हैं फिर भी यहां षासकीय भवन नहीं है लेकिन जहाँ 7, 9, 12 बच्चे हैं वहाँ बढ़िया भवन बना है। सरकार को ऐसी स्थितियों के बारे में ध्यान देना चाहिए। उन्होंने आगे बताया कि दोपहर में छुट्टी होने के पहले बच्चों को पूरक पोषण आहार के रूप में दाल, चावल खिलाया जाता है। फिर दोपहर 2 बजे वे सभी बच्चों को घर-घर पहुँचाने जाती हैं।

उन्होंने अपनी व्यथा बताते हुए कहा कि नन्हें-मुन्ने बच्चे कच्चे मकान के बरामदे में पढ़ते हैं। पुरानी लकड़ी व बांस में भी दीमक लगने लगी है। इस तरह की जगह में छोटे-छोटे बच्चों को बैठाना खतरे से खाली नहीं है। इस ओर सरकार व ग्राम सरपंच को ध्यान देना जरूरी है।

रजनी सिदार, ग्राम बरपाली, विकास खंड- रायगढ़, जिला रायगढ़ (CG)

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New Year Messages from Children of Bhopal

ge u;s lky esa vPNs ls i<+kbZ djs vkSj xjhc vkSj fodykax cPpksa dh i<+kbZ esa lg;ksx djsaA lHkh dks esjh vksj ls uo c"kZ dh 'kqHkdkeuk,a A

- jkgqy uUnesgj d{kk 10oha

u;s lky dh [kq'kh esa ftrus Hkh cPps cky Je djrs gS] mudks ikap fnu rd cky Je uk djok;k tk;s vkSj mudks iSls fn;s tk,A

&amp; eqds'k oekZ cky iapk;r d{kk 10 oha

u;s lky esa cky Je nwj gksuk pkfg,] ckyfookg :d tk;s vkSj Hkz.k gR;k uk gks A

&amp;jkuh xqIrk

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बाल श्रम

Painting by Shribhan Yadav of Class 7th from Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.

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Stop Child Labour

Samruddhi Jain, from Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh paints her views on child labour. She is part of the school forums set up by Child Rights Observatory in MP.

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Shivpuri Children pen monthly newspaper Naya Zamana

'Naya Zamana' is a newsletter published by children from Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh in central part of India.Child reporter Gauri who contributed in the first issue recently launched writes in her article about her happiness on opening of new inter school near their village and now she can study beyond class 8th. Rahil Khan anther child reporter talks about the problem of electricity in the district play stadium in their district which hampers them to play beyond 7 pm.Rajni and Deepak, child reporter duo wrote how electricity problem in their village hampers their studies. The newsletter is part of child reporter’s initiative of Chambal – Gwalior division of department of women and child development and UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh. 60 children from Shivpuri were trained in two batches by media representatives, child rights experts on child rights, writing skills and how children can express their opinions and views in form of stories, features etc. They were also taken to field and events to help them wrote about issues which impact them.
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Look into the moist eyes

Rizwan was surprised to see the big city. He knew no one here. He lived in Midnapore so far.

“I sat by the roadside hoping for an angel to appear before me. I hoped he would take to a beautiful place with full of love and joy,” he said.

Just then my grandfather happened to pass by and saw him.

“I told him everything and he brought me here,” Rizwan said, bursting into tears again.

I was speechless. His story was beyond my imagination. It gave me view of the present world. I rushed to the washroom. I saw my moist eyes in the mirror. I realised that there are many more Rizwans on this planet. I hail the whole human race responsible for such events. It is we who make their lives hell. I felt ashamed of myself for being a member of the class of so called aristocrats. I asked myself, “What have I done to help them?”

The answer was “NOTHING”. I decided to help these boys and girls. So that, some years later when I ask myself the same question again, the answer comes, “SOMETHING”.

Mohimarnab Biswas, IX, Dum Dum Cantonment, Kolkata, as published in ‘Joyland’

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लाइटिंग है महत्वपूण

17/09/2010-  ग्वालियर.यूनिसेफ और महिला बाल विकास विभाग द्वारा आयोजित तीन दिवसीय फोटोग्रॉफी प्रशिक्षण शिविर के दूसरे दिन गुरुवार को प्रशिक्षणार्थियों ने कैमरे के भागों के बारे में एवं फोटो में लाइटिंग के महत्व को जाना। यूनिसेफ और महिला बाल विकास विभाग द्वारा आयोजित तीन दिवसीय फोटोग्रॉफी प्रशिक्षण शिविर के दूसरे दिन गुरुवार को प्रशिक्षणार्थियों ने कैमरे के भागों के बारे में एवं फोटो में लाइटिंग के महत्व को जाना।

फोटोग्रॉफी करते समय लाइटिंग का बहुत महत्व होता है। कुछ जगह फोटो लाइटिंग में ली जाती है, तो कुछ जगह फोटो के बैक ग्राउंड में प्रकाश कम कर विषय को उभारा जाता है।
यह कहना है फोटोग्रॉफर प्रशिक्षक जगदीश यादव और प्रभाष राय का। वे तानसेन रेसीडेंसी में यूथ क्लिक फॉर ए कॉज प्रशिक्षण शिविर में प्रशिक्षणार्थियों को फोटो में लाइटिंग का महत्व बता रहे थे।

तीन दिवसीय प्रशिक्षण शिविर का आयोजन संयुक्त राष्ट्र मालकोश (यूनिसेफ) और महिला बाल विकास के तत्वावधान में किया जा रहा है। प्रशिक्षण में शहर के आसपास की जिलों से करीब 25 छात्राओं ने भाग लिया। यूनिसेफ के संचार विशेषज्ञ अनिल गुलाटी, महिला बाल विकास ज्वाइन डायरेक्टर सुरेश सिंह तोमर उपस्थित थे।

कैमरे में कैद

दो चरणों में आयोजित प्रशिक्षण सत्र के प्रथम सत्र में प्रशिक्षणार्थियांे को कैमरे एवं लाइटिंग के उपयोग की जानकारी दी गई। दूसरे चरण में प्रशिक्षणर्थियों को ग्वालियर किले का भ्रमण कराया गया।

इस भ्रमण के दौरान उन्हें अपनी पसंदीदा फोटो लेने के लिए कहा गया। प्रशिक्षणर्थियों द्वारा ली गई फोटो में से श्रेष्ठ फोटो का चयन कर उसे युवा दिवस पर आयोजित फोटो प्रदर्शनी में शामिल किया जाएगा। प्रशिक्षण शिविर के अंतिम दिन शुक्रवार को प्रतिभागियों को शहर का भ्रमण कराया जाएगा।

बताया कैमरे का महत्व

प्रशिक्षण सत्र के दूसरे दिन दिल्ली के फोटोग्राफी विशेषज्ञ प्रभाष राय, जगदीश यादव ने बताया कि कैमरा चलाने के लिए इसके सभी भागों की जानकारी होना आवश्यक है।

उन्होंने कैमरे की बैटरी, एसडी कार्ड, लैंस, कैमरा बॉडी, पावर स्विच, एलसीडी स्क्रीन, फ्लैश गन, जूम इन- जून आउट, शटर बटन, शटर के महत्व के बारे बताया। फोटो को कम्प्यूटर में डाउनलोड करने की प्रक्रिया को भी बताया।

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Writings of children express concern on child marriage

Mansi a student of class seventh of school in Bhopal writes 'child marriage is a crime'. She further adds 'Children drop out of schools, loose their childhood and get burned in daily chores of domestic work'. These words of hers are a part of an article in newsletter titled as Drishti, published by Child Rights Observatory. She is a member of school forum set up by Child Rights Observatory in school of Bhopal.

Child Rights Observatory is an independent Child Rights monitoring body in Madhya Pradesh. She is writing in Child Rights Observatory’s newsletter titled as Drsihti. She is joined by her friend Muskan Nagale who writes 'if children get married earlier they don’t even know what marriage bring to them, and future gets ruined'. 'They are given responsibilities in their child hood when they are not even ready for it'.

It is not only Mansi and Muskan, many children who wrote on the issue of child rights wrote about early marriage and its implications on their lives.

These students from Bhopal feel that inspite of law, child marriages do happen and these leads to school drop outs and impact on children lives. When Pioneer spoke to few of them, they felt that this should stop; law needs to be strictly enforced. All of them felt that child marriages impacts education.

School forums are child rights groups in 20 schools of Bhopal and nearby Bhopal, who meet at intervals and discuss about child rights issues. These are part of child participation activities which CRO undertakes to give more spaces to voices of children.

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जान बची

गर्मियों के दिन थे। मैं खेत में जा रहा था तो मैं खेतों में पहुँचा। मैंने खेत में भैंस, गायों की देखभाल की। मेरी माँ ने कहा कि आम बीन कर ला। मैं आम बीनने चला गया। आम गिर नहीं रहे थे तो मैं पेड़ पर चढ़ा। डाली पर से मेरा पैर खिसक गया और मैं और पेड़ पर से गिर गया। तभी एक भैया रास्ते से जा रहा था तो वो भैया ने मेरे को देखा और उठाने के लिए आ गया और मेरी जान बच गई।

विशाल, कक्षा-5वीं
भैंसदेही, बैतूल (म.प्र.)


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चींटी

छोटी सी चींटी
शकर सी मीठी
उठा लिया गप से
खा गई गप से
काम बहुत करती
कभी ना थकती

आधे अधूरे शौचालयों से लोग असंतुष्ठ

गुना जिले के बिनख्याई गाँव में 30 मकानों में 150 लोग रहते हैं। सरकार ने 2009 में 30 शौचालयों का निर्माण कार्य कराया गया लेकिन वह शौचालय अधूरे होने के कारण अभी तक लोग बाहर शौच करने के लिये जा रहे है। जिससे गंदगी के कारण बदबू आती है और बीमारियां उत्पन्न होने से उल्टी, दस्त, पीलिया आदि रोग होने से एक तो आर्थिक पक्ष कमजोर होता है। कई बार गाँव के लोगों ने सरकार से शिकायत की लेकिन उन्होंने ध्यान नहीं दिया अभी उन्होंने बोला कि रूपये खत्म हो गये या फिर सरपंच को दे दिये गये। लेकिन सरकार से कोई सुनवाई नहीं हुई। आधे अधूरे शौचालयों से सरकार का आधा रूपया पानी में चला गया जिससे गाँव की जनता संतुष्ठ नहीं है।

हरिबाई, आवाज रिर्पोटर
जिला गुना

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मोहन की अपनी कहानी

दिनांक 6/7/2011 को एक बालक मोहन लोधी उम्र 15 को विशेष किशोर पुलिस इकाई पर लाया गया था। इस बालक को रेल्वे स्टेशन से विशेष किशोर पुलिस इकाई पर लाया गया। बालक से विशेष किशोर पुलिस इकाई के कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा काउंसलिंग की गई तो बालक मोहन लोधी ने बताया कि उसके माता-पिता का करीब 7 साल पहले स्वर्गवास हो गया था उसके घर में एक बड़ी बहन तथा एक छोटी बहन है। बड़ी बहन की शादी झांसी में हो गई है तथा छोटी बहन अपनी बड़ी बहन के यहाँ पर रहती है तथा मैं गुना में प्लेटफार्म पर रहता हूँ तथा ट्रेन में झाड़ू लगाकर जीवन यापन करता था। बालक मोहन लोधी को विशेष किशोर पुलिस इकाई पर लाने के बाद बालक को बाल कल्याण समिति के समक्ष पेश किया गया तब बाल कल्याण समिति ने बालक के हित को ध्यान में रखते हुये बालक को सम्प्रेक्षण गृह में भेज दिया गया।

आवाज रिर्पोटर, जिला गुना, मध्यप्रदेश
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Children getting vaccination in Binkhayi village

Vimla Lodha, a child reporter from Guna, Madhya Pradesh reports in newsletter titled as 'Awaaz' about a vaccination drive which happened on her village. She writes 'Binkhayi in Guna district had a vaccination camp wherein ANM and anganwadi workers vaccinated children between 0 -5 yrs in the village. Mothers had gathered at the centre and were getting their little ones vaccinated. Then ANM and anganwadi worker visited households for the kids who could not come to the centre.

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स्कूल में नहीं बटता मध्यान्ह भोजन

ग्राम पुरापोसर में मध्यान्ह भोजन के लिये तरस रहे बच्चे लोगों का कहना है कि विद्यालय समय पर नहीं खुलता है व शिक्षक भी कभी-कभी पढ़ाने के लिये आते है। जिससे बच्चों को मध्यान्ह भोजन भी कभी-कभी मिलता है समय पर नहीं मिलता है। इसकी शिकायत भी की गई है लेकिन कोई सुनवाई नहीं हुई है।

प्रताप भिलाला- आवाज रिर्पोटर
जिला गुना, मध्यप्रदेश
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When Girls ask Why ?

India Blooms News Service -  Little fingers from Bhopal bring out concern on bias towards girl child, water crisis and corporal punishment. I can't even dance in my dreams, I love dancing, it is my passion, but my parents and brother don’t like my passion, they say I would not be able to dance after Class 10. But why? These is the question of Tammana, a girl presently in tenth grade in a Bhopal school.

Varhsa another girl studying in eighth grade questions "why there is difference between girl and boy child". She argues: "When my brother comes to house from outside my mom asks me to give him water and food. But will that be same when I come from outside? Will my brother be asked to help me with food and water?"

These are voices of girls who are part of school forums set by Child Rights Observatory, an NGO advocating on child rights in Madhya Pradesh in 20 urban schools of Bhopal with support from UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh.

Few of these voices of girl child were reflected in a poster published by Child Rights Observatory titled "What do our girls say?"

Seema, another girl who wrote in the poster, said that we are two sisters but they are clueless why people "ask my parents that if we have brother?"

School forums are child rights groups in 20 schools of Bhopal and nearby, which meet at intervals and discuss about child rights issues. But these are not ‘very formal meetings’. They are play and learn kinds, explains Sonali Jana, an officer with Child Rights Observatory.

"This is start of the process; gradually we encourage them to have their own wall paper and also plan to expand this network at district level. Children contribute in meetings by their writings, drawings and many times speak out in various forums which we organise," Jana says.

Naveen, Khushi, Deepti and Anjana are also members of school forums and by writing poems, stories have brought out the issue of child labour, impact of poverty on children, environment and also reflecting about new things they are learning in school.

Rahul Kushwah, a student of class 7th from Bhopal, contributed a drawing on impact of drinking unsafe water in children magazine titled as Chakmak, brought out by Eklavya, a non-Governmental organization working on education.

His drawing reflected on the harmful effects of drinking contaminated and unsafe water.

Ankur, a child in Class 6 in a Bhopal public school shares his concern on menace of polythene bags in the city and how they are lying around near dustbins and are not cleaned for days together. He expresses concern on cows eating polybags by writing an article in a children magazine run by a media house.

Likewise Pooja from same school talks about growing water crisis in Bhopal and how Bhopal’s water body Upper Lake is losing its water. Krishna, a girl child, questions why teachers and parents beat them instead of explaining where they have gone wrong.

Sometimes it is just scolding but there are times when they are asked to kneel down, stand outside in sun, beaten up with a stick, or are paraded around the lawn of school. But why?

"It is encouraging to see that we are getting more spaces for children to air their views and opinions. This needs to be encouraged and more opportunities should be created for children to speak out on issues that impact their lives, which is their right," says Dr Tania Goldner, Chief, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh.

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दोस्त ने स्कूल छोड़ दिया

मेरा दोस्त स्कूल नहीं आता है उसने स्कूल छोड़ दिया है क्योंकि वो बैल चराने या खेत पर काम करने जाता है। खेत से आता तो उसको घर वाले कुछ भी काम बता देते है तो उसको वह भी करना पड़ता है। वह काम नहीं करता है तो उसकी मम्मी उसको डाटती है। उसके पापा भी उसको डांटते हैं। वह स्कूल आने के लिए तैयार होता है, तो उसको उसके माता-पिता पीटते भी है। इसलिए मेरे दोस्त ने स्कूल आना छोड़ दिया है। मदन बारेला, कक्षा ७वीं, खेरीखता
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मेरी सहेली स्कूल नहीं आती

मेरी सहेली रस्सी स्कूल नहीं आती है। वह खेत पर काम करने जाती है। वह गरीब परिवार से है जिसक कारण वह अब खेतों में भी काम करने जाती है। वहाँ इन काम के लिए पैसा मिलता है। हम जब उसे स्कूल चलने के लिए कहते हें तो वो यह कह देती है कि मैं खेत पर जा रही हूँ। उसकी पढ़ाइ में अच्छे अंक आते थे वह होशियार थी लेकिन वह स्कूल नहीं आती इसलिये मुझे बहुत दु:ख होता है। वह मेरी बहुत अच्छी सहेली है। कु. विमला, कक्षा ८ वीं, बगोनिया

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Visioned and painted by Naval Singh, Sunil and  Devendar

Visioned and painted by Poonam, Kajol, Rukmani and Halki Bai

School Children of a village Hinotia and Mawan in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh paint their vision of a child friendly toilet
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People of my village 'not willing' to construct toilets - Why ?

Ajay, student of class sixth reports from a village in Guna. My village has 150 houses and out of which only 5 to 7 households have toilets. Our village has a drainage lane and people defecate around it in open. Similarly there is small bridge in one of the locality and people defecate under the bridge. The place stinks, is dirty and is un-hygienic. This has a danger of impacting our health, but still why people still don't want to constuct toilet, questions the reporter. (Translated in English in verbatim style by volunteer of the blog)

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Tree numbers is declining in Imjhara, Guna

Dharmendra Ahirwar, Child reporter from district Guna  in Madhya Pradesh reports in children newsletter titled ‘Jagmag’ about decreasing number of trees in his village.  He in his news item reports from Imjhara village in Guna. The village has three temples, and have roads.  2-3 buses pass through my village daily.

But inspite of the progress, number of trees is declining in my village. Jungle which used to exist around my village is vanishing, as many people cut trees. Declining number of trees is matter of concern and needs urgent action.

(Translated by volunteer for the blog. Jagmag is children newsletter brought by children from Guna district supported by NGO Vaibhavari & UNICEF)

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Aarti wants to become a doctor

Kiran Kumar Kaushik, child reporter from Lohara, Chhattisgarh contributed this story in Hindi in children newsletter titled 'Bal Swaraj', December 15, 2010 issue.

She writes a story of inspiring Aarti who inpsite of being physically challenged and from poor family wants to fight it out and become a medical doctor. Aarti was physically challenged by birth, lives in poor family. Her father is working outside, to earn money while her mother is daily labourer. She has to do all household chores and then has to travel 5 kilometers to go to school. She has not recieved any bicycle from the Government but gets disability grant of Rs 150 per month, which also comes after 4-5 months. But inspite of this she wants to study and wants to become doctor so that she can treat children who are physically challenged and children can be given routine vaccination, polio drops so that no one has to suffers physical disability like her.

Bal Swaraj is children newsletter and has articles/ contributions by child reporters from Chhattisgarh. It is brought out by Mayaram Surjan Foundation with support from UNICEF. (The article has been translated in English by a volunteer for the blog)

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Look into moist eyes ! (a short story)

- Contributed by Mohimarnab Biswas, IX,  Dum Dum Cantonment, Kolkata.(republished with permission from children's newspaper titled JOYLAND)

Last week, I visited my grandpa’s house and saw Rizwan for the first time. He works in my grandpa’s house. The eyes of this 12-year-old boy speak volumes. In the kitchen, I found him staring at the sky in search of something. I got myself a glass of water. But it slipped out of my grip and split into pieces. The boy was startled.

Rizwan rushed to clean up the mess. But, I preferred to do it myself. He stood by me quietly. “Why have you come here leaving your home?” I asked him. He looked at the floor in silence.

“Tell me, brother,” I told him. He started weeping. I hugged the boy to console him.

“My mother left him when I was small,” he said, sobbing.

“My father was an alcoholic. Last year, he died in an accident. With nowhere to go, I took refuge in my uncle’s house,” he said.

His uncle promised to give him proper schooling. A few months later, he sent the boy away with a man and in turn took money.

“I was later sent to Kolkata as a child labourer. I was forced to work all day long in a small factory with other children. I got disgusted with that life. It seemed there is no way out,” he said, looking vacantly.

Finally, one day he fled from there.  Rizwan was surprised to see the big city. He knew no one here. He lived in Midnapore so far.

“I sat by the roadside hoping for an angel to appear before me. I hoped he would take me to a beautiful place with full of love and joy,” he said. Just then my grandfather happened to pass by and saw him. “I told him everything and he brought me here,” Rizwan said, bursting into tears again. I was speechless. His story was beyond my imagination. It gave me a view of the present world.

I rushed to the washroom. I saw my moist eyes in the mirror. I realised that there are many more Rizwans on this planet. I hail the whole human race responsible for such events. It is we who make their lives hell. I felt ashamed of myself for being a member of the class of so called aristocrats. I asked myself, “What have I done to help them?”

The answer was “NOTHING”.

I decided to help these boys and girls. So that, some years later when I ask myself the same question again, the answer comes, “SOMETHING”.

For more details on JOYLAND please contact @ ourjoyland@gmail.com

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Coconut Tree - Child from Kolkata sketches his expressions !

This drawing is done by Bapi Naiya, a child from Tollygunge, Kolkata.

This was published in children newspaper titled JOYLAND  brought out from Kolkata.

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4 out of 11 handpumps are not working in my village

Deepak Kushwah, child reporter from village Tarawata in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh reports that 4 out of 11 handpumps are not working in his village. This causes water shortage in my village. He adds in his newsreport in hindi, which has been translated by blog in English that few handpumps are nicely built with cemented structure around them, some are not. Wells in our village are dry and people then use it as dustbin and threw domestic waste in it, which leads to many diseases.

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बड़ी बहन को खूब पढ़ाना चाहती है निर्मला

कु. संगीता कन्नौजे, ग्राम अर्जुनी, विकासखंड धमतरीए, बाल पत्रकार, छत्तीसगढ़ - ग्राम खपरी में मुझे एक लड़की मिली। वह खेतों में काम करने जाती है। उसका नाम निर्मला धु्रव है। वह 14 वर्ष की है। उसके पिता का नाम दिलीप कुमार ध्रुव और माता का नाम यशोदा है। उसके मात-पिता मजदूरी करते हैं। वे दो बहन और एक भाई हैं। उसकी बड़ी बहन 9वीं कक्षा में पढ़ती है। निर्मला ने मुझे बताया कि उसे पढ़ना अच्छा नहीं लगता। काम करना अच्छा लगता है। वह काम करने के लिए दूसरों के साथ खेतों में जाती है। कुछ दिनों के लिए उसे दूसरे गाँव भी जाना पड़ा था। उसे काम करने के बदले एक दिन में 50-60 रुपये मिलते हैं। इन पैसों को वह उसकी बहन की पढ़ाई में खर्च करती है। उसके पिता को उनके काम करने के बदले में जो पैसे मिलते हैं उससे वे शराब खरीदकर पी लेते हैं और घर खर्च के लिए एक पैसा भी नहीं देते। उसकी माँ को मजदूरी में जो पैसे मिलते हैं उन्हीं पैसों से घर का खर्च चलाती हैं।

निर्मला ने कहा यदि वह काम करने के बजाय पढ़ाई करेगी तो उसकी बहन की पढ़ाई छूट जायेगी। क्योंकि घर की आर्थिक स्थिति को देखते हुए उसके माता-पिता उसकी बड़ी बहन को भी पढ़ाना नहीं चाहते। यही कारण है कि वह खुद न पढ़कर अपनी बहन को खूब पढ़ाना-लिखाना चाहती है।
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स्कूल में नहीं है खेल सामग्री

बाल-पत्रकार, बबीता नागवंशी, झील पिपरिया, मध्य प्रदेश - ग्राम के मिडिल स्कूल में खेल सामग्री नहीं है। जिससे 2 बजे की छुट्टी में सब बच्चे स्कूल में ही बैठे रहते हैं। कई बच्चे तो घर चले जाते हैं और देर से लौटते हैं। जब सब बच्चों ने मिलकर प्रिंसिपल मैडम से पूछा तो उन्होंने बताया कि तीन वर्ष पूर्व खेल सामग्री आयी थी लेकिन अब क्या पता क्यों नहीं आती है। इससे सभी बच्चे बहुत परेशान हैं, उन्हें खेलने को खेल सामग्री प्राप्त नहीं हो रही है। इसलिये सरकार से आग्रह है कि ग्राम के स्कूल में खेल सामग्री उपलब्ध कराएं ताकि बच्चे अपने खेल के पीरियड में खेल सामग्री के साथ खेल सकें।

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Guna child reporter reports about problem of electricity in his village

Deepak a student of class 7th and child reporter from village Imjhara in Guna shared about problem of electricity in his village in newsletter titled Jagmag which is brought out by NGO Vaibhavari. Deepak reports in Hindi (English translation done by the blog) in the newsletters as follows -

'We have problem of non availability of electricity in our village. When I spoke with my friend Sandip about this he shared with me that he cannot study as there is no electricity at home. While my another friend Ankit shared with me that he cannot see TV due to no supply of electricity in our village. I also spoke about this with my other friends VirSingh and Amit. Virsingh shared that he cannot complete writing work given by his teacher at school as there is no electricity at nights. While Amit said that our field don’t get adequate water as there is no electricity.'

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What is important in news? How can we contribute better in our newsletter?

Jyoti a child reporter from a village in Sohagpur, Hoshangabad at a State level child reporter seminar held at Bhopal queried Resident Editor Hindustan Times, Bhopal Shri N K Singh on the above. He shared his thoughts with her and elaborated that 'one should use small sentences, simple words' as we use in our daily language. He added that 'put the issue first'. To put it simply it is how you would respond to your friend on telephone. He advised ‘child reporters’ that don’t get into jargon, and copy from newspaper. Use your own language. He praised children for raising issues which matter and are local and sometimes get missed by major dailies. (As shared by child reporter in Hindi, translated by the blog)

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Glimpses of Child Reporter Seminar

The inaugural by Sheela Khanna, Chairperson State Commission for Child Rights, Child Reporters and Manish Mathur Programme Manager UNICEF

Media matters !

Shivkumar, child reporters sharing his experience &

how he managed due to his reportings to get tubewell in his village

Child reporters learning at the meet

Group photograph at the closing with N K Singh, Resident Editor Hindustan Times, Bhopal

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Bhopal - Child reporters state level seminar held

Bhopal : A three-day state level seminar of child reporters was held from June 14- 16, 2010. Child reporters from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Gujarat participated in the same. “You have the power of pen to advocate for your rights. It matters a lot,” said Sheela Khanna, Chairperson State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, while speaking to children who are participating in event.

She further said: “It is heartening to see that you are raising concern and bringing the issues at the village level to forefront.” She encouraged young reporters and interacted with them. “You know the power of the pen as you write in a monthly newspaper.” She shared the issues like lack of water, tobacco use and violence on which stories have been written by child reporters. “But more important is that you’re write ups are spurring change.”

Manish Mathur, Programme Manager, UNICEF, said: “UNICEF believes that if we have to make world fit for children it can only be done with participation of children and young people. And we see the same with you. You are like ‘voice of children of MP’ and are writing for the ones who don’t get their due rights. There is need to expand such forums which give children a voice to express themselves. “

Shivam Rajput from Nimsadia village of Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district shared about his experiences as child reporter. Similarly, two more child reporters-Preeti and Rashmi-also shared their experiences. Child Reporters project is part of UNICEF Child participation initiative started by Dalit Sangh, NGO with support from UNICEF in year 206 and now 340 children are part of this initiative.

This group of children bring out their own eight-page newspaper which was earlier quarterly and is now monthly newsletter shared Gopal Authey, co-founder of Dalit Sangh "Platforms like these, giving children an opportunity to participate and express, are in line with Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” said Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh.

In the State level seminar they are getting opportunity to meet and interact with many resource persons from media and child rights expert who will be training on the issues like writing skills, illustrations, photography, news writing, and child rights. The trainings are done based on the interest expressed by children participating in the seminar.

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Malaria fear in my village due to growing mosquitoes

A child reporter from village Ankhmau, Babai Panchayat, in Madhya Pradesh expresses his concern on growing number of mosquitoes in his village in 'April edition of their own children newsletter'.

He writes about slush around open wells and handpumps due to lack of drainage system to clear the water which falls around it. He adds that due to slush and dirty water it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and which can cause malaria. Even the sanitary wells are not cleaned regularly and that adds to uncleaniness in village and mosquito woes. Many in my village are having fever and one of the cause of which can be this, he fears.

- Satyanarayan Pathoriya, Child Reporter
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Children anchor radio programmes, share aspirations

Bhopal, March 7 (IANS) All India Radio (AIR) listeners here Sunday had a surprise when they heard children anchoring various programmes and expressing their feelings and aspirations on the occasion of the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting.

The day provides a unique opportunity for child broadcasters to use the medium, and an important part of the initiative is that children themselves decide how and in what way they will participate.

The theme for this year’s ICDB was “All Rights All Children”, and a group of children — all below the age of 10 years and from weaker sections of society — expressed their wishes for the future with slogans like “Listen to our slogan, Education is our right”, “We will associate ourselves with knowledge and even touch the moon” and “We will study to rise high in life”.

“Many (children) who have been part to this earlier wait for the day and many new join in. It is an interesting experience for some and boost their confidence”, said an AIR official.

“Radio has already made a comeback as a major source of entertainment. Such an attempt by children would further add to its glory as who doesn’t want to listen or experience the talent of children,” A.N. Tripathi, a school teacher, said.

“Radio is the most powerful medium even today and such an opportunity would encourage children to speak about themselves. It would also teach them about communicating with a larger audience. And above all, we the adults would also be able to understand children better who otherwise remain hesitant in expressing themselves,” S.P. Shukla, one of the participant’s parents, said.

AIR and Doordarshan in partnership with UNICEF produced special programme seeking views of child reporters from villages in Hoshangabad district.

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Child reporters raise issues, spur change in Madhya Pradesh

Sanjay Sharma : Bhopal, March 6 (IANS) They are village children from Madhya Pradesh and they know the power of the pen as they write in a monthly newspaper, Child Reporters, about a slew of issues like lack of water, tobacco use and violence. What's more, their writeups are spurring change.

Shivam Rajput from Nimsadia village of Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district writes about various shortcomings in his village. 'We have a well in our village but no water. The well in the village has dried up and people have to travel a distance to get the water,' he writes. He adds that all people in the village are suffering due to shortage of water in the village.

Most importantly, the child reporter adds, children are the biggest sufferers as they cannot go to school on time because they have to fetch water first and requested the government to get a handpump installed in his village.

Around 300 children like him are part of the initiative called Child Reporters, wherein a group of children bring out their own eight-page newspaper - launched by Dalit Sangh, an NGO working with the support of the Unicef office in Madhya Pradesh.

'This has not only given them space to air their views, which normally do not find space in the mainstream media but have also helped them grow as individuals and increased recognition of their rights,' says Gopal Authey, co-founder of Dalit Sangh.

'It is part of Unicef's overall child participation effort - including 'International Children Day of Broadcasting' (ICDB) - which started to give exposure to the issue of children's rights.'

The Bhopal centre of All India Radio and Doordarshan besides local media have organised several special programmes with children to mark the occasion.

'Platforms like these, giving children an opportunity to participate and express, are in line with Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a step forward in helping children recognise their rights,' Tania Goldner, chief of Unicef's field Office for Madhya Pradesh, told IANS.

'And going through this eight-page monthly newspaper, to which about 300 children from villages in Sogahpur block of Hoshangabad district contribute, one can see how young people from far off places are able to use the media to highlight issues which concern them,' said Sunil Raghuvanshi, coordinator with Dalit Sangh who works with these child reporters.

Savita Patel, a youngster from Gurumkhudi village, has written about her school not having a boundary, while Rakesh Ahirwar has written about how child reporters have vowed to help other children stop using tobacco.

Others like Gopal Kushwah have written that there are taps in their school but they don't get a drop of water to drink and how slush around the taps is adding to the mosquito menace - the biggest source of malaria among children.

Many child reporters have also expressed concern about price rise, problems in district and block hospitals, incidents of violence in their area and how it impacts them.

'Many a time we see action as we circulate this newspaper in the district, media, NGOs and within the community. For example, children raised concern about proper implementation of the employment guarantee scheme and it lead to a debate in Gram Sabha,' says Raghuvanshi.

Similarly, a child was not getting scholarship and the administration sanctioned it after the issue was raised in the Child Reporter. Problems in mother and child welfare centres too have been taken care of by the administration after the children raised it in their newspaper.

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Children paint on Right to Education

A child from Bhopal expresses through colours on right to education in painting competition on chil rights organised by Child Rights Observatory, Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal. The event was supported by UNICEF.

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Children paint their thoughts on child rights

To mark 20th anniversary of Convention on the Rights of the Child, MP Child Rights Observatory had organised a painting and essay competition on child rights. Children from schools of Bhopal had used pencils and colour sticks to paint their thoughts on thier rights. Few of these paintings are shared on the blog.

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Their is well but no water !

Shivam Rajput, Child reporter from Nimsadia, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh reports about water scaricity in their village. We have well but no water. Well in the village has dried up and the people have to travel distance for getting water. He adds that all people in the village are suffering due to shortage of water in the village. Most importantly the reporter adds that children are suffering, they cannot go to school on time as they have to fetch water first. He goes on to request Government to take some action or get handpump established in their village.

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Increasing problem of electric supply in my village

Our village is facing shortage of electricity. Number of hours which shed down used to happen has increased. Even when it is supplied, voltage level is low. Out of 24 hours in a day, we do not get electric supply for 15 - 16 hours. Farmer in my village is facing lot of problems. They have to pump water from the well which is not possible due to less electric supply. Even availability of drink water is a problem. I remember that people in my village had done strike few months back, but things have not changed. Am not sure what is the alternative do we do strike again ?
- Somesh Sahu, Child Reporter from Sohagpur, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, India

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Child rights meet at Bhopal - Children Day Special

Dalit Adhikar Manch held children meet at Gandhi Bhawan in Bhopal to mark Children's Day. Children from 14 districts of Madhya Pradesh participated. The meet was hosted by Dalit Sangh, with support with NGOs from 14 districts and Action Aid. It was an opportunity for children to speak out their views, enjoy play and voice their opinions. Adults not only listened and interacted withy them but also welcomed the children who were on dias. A booklet Child rights in Hindi was also released by children. The booklet is about child rights and not only defines rights but also had viewpoint of children about realisation of thier rights. Children were also distributed children’s newsletter titled ‘Bacchon ki Pehl’ which is brought about child reporters, a initiative oif Dalit Sangh supported by UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh.

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Kolkata boy’s film ‘The Classroom’ wins UNICEF CRC video contest

‘The classroom’, a one minute film by eleven year old Sonu Thakur is the winner of UNICEF CRC (Child Rights Convention) One minute Video Contest and will be the part of the broadcast of UNICEF 20th CRC Anniversary celebrations in New York and will be made available for broadcast by the UNICEF for the 2010 ‘The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting’. The theme of the film was every child’s right to education that had actually impressed the UNICEF. As Unicef writes to Sonu, “The judges were incredibly impressed with the expression of the theme of the rights of the child, the technical qualities of the video, and your overall creativity.”

It is a great time for little Sonu. Sonu is a slum dweller of Eastern Bypass area and studies in the informal school of the Adivasi Kalyan Sangh. He was a part of the UNICEF workshop held in Kolkata with prominent broadcast journalists as resource persons. It was then that for the first time he could ever hold a camera. Exhilarated, Sonu says, ‘ We were asked to tell our tale and then do a video of it. My mother always wanted to go to school but she could not. So, I told this story of every child’s right to study”.

Sonu had lost his father very young. It was at the behest of his mother that he continues to go to school despite hardships in the family. He wants to grow up as a film- maker and story -teller. Sonu learned the nuances of the camera in the three-day workshop by children held by the UNICEF, Kolkata office. From the storyboard to rolling the camera to writing the script, children got to learn all the workshop held in the month of August.

Along with Sonu , two other boys with similar situations, Chhatu Kumar’s film ‘Self help’ and Rahool Goswami’s film ‘A Story’ had also been shortlisted for the contest amongst the twelve semifinalists from across the world.

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Use of polythene is becoming a problem in our village

Village Baharpur, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh - Krishan Kumar reports from his village that use of polythene is becoming a major problem in his village. He in his report says that animals eat the polythene bags and they eventually die. One can see polythene on cultivable land which is rendering it uncultivable. Many burn polythene bags which pollutes air and has impact on climate. Need is to build awareness among people in my village about disadvantages of polythene bags.
(Translated in English from Hindi by the blog team) Krishan Kumar is part of child reporter group formed by an NGO Dalit Sangh, in a project supported by UNICEF.

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Children Group wants 'No to Punishment in Schools'

More than 60 children, members of children council met here today. The meeting was held under the auspices of 'State Forum for children' set by civil society organization who associated with City level programme of Action, an NGO network organizations working with children.

These NGOs are from Kolkata, and West Bengal's North & South 24 Parganas districts. Children council is children meeting, for and by children which takes place after a period of 45 days.Children decided on a theme, debate and came out with recommendation for adults, which are shared with functionaries of NGOs for them to advocate for action. Today the theme was punishment in schools: it happens or not? Children were divided in groups and they came out with many revelations.

Rani (name changed) a 13 year old girl questioned today in the meeting that why do teachers and parents beat us, can't they explain it to us, where we have gone wrong, so that we can try and amend. Mohamed another 12 year old boy said ‘Few of my friends leave for school from home but don’t come to school, fear of punishment allays them’. All of them felt that punishment does happen in school and at home, sometimes it is just scolding but ther are times when they are asked to kneel down, stand outside in sun, beaten up with a stick, or are paraded around the lawn of school.

Achintya Bhattacharya convener of City Level Programme of Action said that they plan to share these recommendations with Government. He thanked UNICEF which is supporting this initiative and shared that there are plans to expand this children council to other districts like Murshdabad, Purulia, Malda, Hooghly and Nadia in next year or so. It is giving children a voice, why not expand this network.

Corporal punishment is shattering dreams of many children in state and India. A fact sheet by by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a body set up by Government of India for Children and UNICEF states that corporal punishment is not limited to any geographic area or state in India. It happens in every district of India, both in Government as well as private schools. Most children do not report or confide about the matter to anyone. Difference here is that these children group in Kolkata is speaking about it.

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Kolkata kids producing 'one minute video's'

Kolkata kids are on new endeavour. They are making one minute video's on child rights. This is part of the global contest on youth video which is being organized by UNICEF. The contest is part of 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Video’s would be on themes related to children’s rights, and will try to bring out their voices to promote and protect every child’s right to know more, say more and do more about the world they live in. They want to speak out if these rights are not being fulfilled.

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क्या स्कूल चलें हम?

मोहम्मद सरफराज आलम/ चिल्ड्रन प्रेस सर्विस

कांटी(बिहार)ः सर्व षिक्षा अभियान अर्थात सब पढ़ें, सब बढ़ें कि पहल पूरे देष में काफी जोर षोर से हो रही है और इसका सकारात्मक असर हमारे समाज पर हो रहा है जिससे बच्चे स्कूल कि तरफ आकर्शित हो रहे है।

किंतु स्कूली व्यवस्था में कोई फर्क नही लगी। वहा रावण रूपी व्यवस्था बच्चों को स्कूल छोड़ने या उत्पीड़न का शिकार बना रही है। चाॅद सेन्ट्रल माॅडल स्कूल में नर्सरी वर्ग का छात्र है। उसकी परेषानी यह है कि वह दिमागी रूप से अस्वस्थ है। षिक्षक उसे प्यार के बजाय डांट एवं उनके साथ छड़ी का प्रयोग करता है क्योकि वह समय से गृह कार्य नहीं कर पाता एवं न ही पाठ याद कर पाता। चाॅद षिक्षक से इतना डर गया कि वह उनके सामने खड़ा भी नहीं हो पाता है। एक बार षिक्षक षंकर प्रसाद ने उसे इतना जोर से डांटा कि उसने वहीं पर पेषाब कर दिया। फिर उसके नन्हे नन्हे हाथों से षिक्षक ने उससे पूरी कक्षा की सफाई करवाई। उसके बाद उसको छड़ी से इतना पीटा है कि उसको पूरे षरीर पर पिटाई के निशान पड़ गए और वह एक सप्ताह तक स्कूल नहीं जा पाया। इतने से ही उस नन्हे उस बच्चे को राहत नहीं मिली। अब कक्षा में उसके साथ कोई नहीं बैठता उसे सबसे पीछे अकेले बैठना पड़ता। ’(चिल्ड्रन प्रेस सर्विस) (मोहम्मद सरफराज आलम कांटी निवासी है और बाल रिपोर्टर है। )

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Print media v/s Electronic media

By Chitra Chatterjee

The twentieth century has seen a quantum leap in technology. The advancements in various fields be it that of manufacturing or space exploration or instrumentation are too many to enumerate. But unquestionably the greatest revolution has been in the field of communication.
The electronic media has changed the way we look at this world. It has brought continents closer into a lag of milliseconds barely noticeable in the flicker of a screen and the static of a headphone. Distance is no longer the unbridgeable divide it once was.

The consequences of adopting this technology have been far reaching. One major effect has been its influence on education.

With the advent of super search engines the net can provide a sea of information at the click of a mouse. Searching for obscure esoteric subject matter is as simple as typing a name or a term in a window. Compare this with the best library where despite excellent cataloging the same search would have definitely taken more time, considering you would have to go to the library first as opposed to sitting in the comfort of your home.

In addition online tutorials provide better visual aids to learning, the sort that a 2-d photo or diagram cannot parallel. Portability is yet another factor since with the advent of laptops and data cards the learning process continues even when you are on the move.

The most important aspect of communication with regard to education is that studying is no longer an isolated process dependent on physical proximity of peers or teachers. Online mentors and study groups ensure that you may summon the best minds to your aid if ever you need guidance.

Therefore it is true that print media has taken a backseat to electronic media where learning is concerned. However as far as reading goes the issue is entirely different. Reading is ubiquitous in the sense that any information must be read to be learned, the domain of television included. You may look to television for entertainment and for an update of current affairs, but ultimately what you get is an opinion. To objectify that opinion and distil it to the point where what you see is what you learn you will have to read. It may be statistics, it may be articles, it may even be reading the headlines on a newspaper or off that newspapers website; in the process of learning at some point or the other you will have to read.

Therefore I believe that reading is an intrinsic part of learning that can never take a back seat but that the medium from which we read may well change as it has in the past from stone slabs to papyrus to paper to a monitor.

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Children youth to use power of the pen to protect their rights

Civil society organisations in Kolkata today embarked on a unique endeavour to orient child journalists and youth population to use the power of the pen to protect and promote their rights.

The four-day training programme aims at orienting children and young population on various aspects of creative writing and developing a proper understanding about child rights. ''Budding reporters, aged between 10-21, can voice their opinion through their newsletter titled 'Youth Speak. The youth platform would help children and young people to grow up as confident individual,'' said Ilona Bhattacharya, co-ordinator of the Youth programme, Sanlaap.

This kind of orientation programme could go a long way in helping them protect and promote their rights, she added. ''I feel 'Youth Speak has given us a wonderful platform to write on areas which we feel concerned about,'' said Patul, a youth reporter. 'Youth Speak' is a bilingual monthly publication which provides a platform to budding child reporters and youth to pen their stories on child labour, child abuse, HIV & AIDS, climate change, corporal punishment and other issues of concern.

The programme is part of the media advocacy programme initiated last year by SANLAAP, a non-governmental organisation and supported by UNICEF. The orientation programme would be imparted by representaives from the media, human rights activists and UNICEF. (UNI release)

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Bringing back our friend from another state

Puja Mahato (name changed) is a student of a school under National Child Labour Project in Barabazar. She came to the school regularly and loved to study and play. Everything was fine. Then one day she stopped coming to school. We, her friends, after visiting her home came to know that she had been sent to Ranchi, in the state of Jharkhand, where she was working as a domestic help.

We knew how much Puja loved studying and hence felt sorry for her. We then decided to bring Puja back. We took our teachers to her house. Puja’s father told us that he was unable to maintain the expenses of his six daughters and that is why Puja had to be sent to Ranchi to work They did not want to tell us where Puja was working. All of us requested Puja’s parents to bring her back. We also told them that Puja was only 10 years old and making her work was illegal. It took a lot of efforts from our end to bring Puja back from Ranchi. Now we are happy and so is Puja.

- Child activists from Purulia
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Punished for nothing

Daisy Kumary/Children press Service

Athri:On a visit to Senior secondary school in Athri, it was observed that three boys and two girls, Ram Kumar, Gautam, Krishan, Nikita and Neha, were all standing under scorching sun reading their respective science books and mugging up answers. On their return to the class, we asked them why they were made to stand out, to which Neha and Nikita replied, “We wont come to school tomorrow onwards, we don’t like coming to the school”. We further asked them the reason for the same. To which they replied, that they have their reasons but it is futile to tell anyone, and that their class teacher Taamur encourages none of that, owing to the same they have been made to stand under the sun.

On assuring them that they can confide in us, Neha said that she was unable to prepare for the oral round of question and answers for today as she had relatives visiting her place yesterday.

We tried to console her and said that we would go and speak to her teacher.

On enquiring, teacher Abrendra quipped that these students will not behave themselves unless they are disciplined. He further fumed and asked us to stop this nonsense and to get out of the class. We told him that we would not leave until we are taught or physically punished. On this, he questioned our courage and remarked that he would immediately report this matter to the principal. He further added, “Despite the fact that we teach you children and consider you as our own sons and daughters, you behave like this”. We answered that we do not deserve such treatment if we are considered to be the children of this school, and questioned why he would then punish students by ordering them to stand under the harsh sun. “You may say whatever to the principal, and we shall narrate our end of the story,” we added.

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The Silent 'beats'

Child Beating and Corporal Punishments are crimes that are considered to be absolutely normal in India. Beating a child to 'discipline' her/him is seen as a just practice and thus rampantly carried out. Furthermore the Indian culture and tradition teaches us to respect our elders unquestioningly which creates a 'culture of silence'. The child has no idea that he or she is a being a victim of abuse even when they are in severe pain. They are taught to remain silent and raised to believe that it is the right of parents and elders to beat them.

What we tend to forget is that apart from the physical pain and damage, physical punishment almost always, causes a host of emotional scars that are invisible and difficult, if not impossible, to heal.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development in a survey that it conducted in 2007 found out that two out of every three children in India are physically abused. The extensive study covered 13 states of India. 12,247 children (between 5 and 12) and 2,324 young adults (over the age of 12) were questioned. The findings of the study reminds us that India is home to almost 19% of the world's children, that is, there are 440million of our population are below 18 years of age. And at least 40% of these children are in need of care and protection. Minister for Women and Child Development, Ms. Renuka Chowdhury described the findings of the study as "disturbing", and appealed to the country to bring about an end to the "conspiracy of silence".

Even though there is no law against such beating of children, the Supreme Court did take a step towards the right direction when it banned corporal punishment for children on December 1, 2000. The apex body directed the State to ensure "that children are not subjected to corporal punishment in schools and they receive education in an environment of freedom and dignity, free from fear".

However like all laws in our country, this law too exists only in the papers. Corporal punishments in various forms are practiced all over the country in all schools. Infact the Government Schools themselves flout the law and use it as a tool to discipline children.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights describes corporal punishments as something that is not an isolated instance, but it is a manifestation of a culture of violence and insensitivity towards children and their rights. Beating and corporal punishments in our society are socially sanctioned ways to discipline a child.

Kathleen Malley-Morrison's in her book "International Perspectives on Family Violence and Abuse", rightly points out that the greatest form of physical abuse that currently plagues our society is – female foeticide and female infanticide. These are burning issues and are rampant in this part of the sub-continent. These practices are prohibited by the Indian Judiciary and yet they continue to wipe out millions of our daughters every year. These practices have led to a highly imbalanced sex ratio.

Thus it's high time that our society breaks free from the 'culture of silence'. Our children and their rights should be protected and we must realise that any form of violence not only can kill our young ones physically but these can even leave scars that are much deeper than the ones that can be seen.


By Youth correspondent published in You(th) Speak, Oct 2008 edition. This newsletter is 'by young people for young people' published from Kolkata, West Bengal with support from Sanlaap and UNICEF.
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Saving trees

A child reporter from Purulia draws how people come forward to save trees from being cut.

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Wonder, this happens!

A popular slogan and drive throughout the nation can be seen in the by lanes of suburbs and small towns. “Don’t differentiate between a boy and girl, treat girls on par with boys”. Such posters are also seen on the walls of school, in hospitals and on major crossings. Obviously the objective is to sensitize the public and to hence remove or at least reduce the gender bias but alas people seem to have a defense system, which bounces off these messages conveniently. Efforts are being made by both governmental and non-governmental organizations, under various schemes to bring about an inner change in the fabric of our society. Especially in schools, various initiatives are taken to bring about awareness so that at least students and teachers do not hold this bias, and that girls are able to assert their identity on par with boys so that the on the bigger scenario of national development, both sex can contribute equally........ But most of the people in the society fail to realize the simple analogy that a bicycle cannot function if the two tyres are not in tandem; forget about covering a small distance.

During a research on gender bias, we came across many schools, which had practised this differentiation in one form or the other. Different yardsticks are used for boys and girls in most of the schools. Although, the victims of gender bias are mostly girls there but there has also been a reverse situation. In Akmick College, it was reported that some teachers while teaching are kind towards girls but have a different behaviour towards boys. This strengthens the mental and social divide.

In another incident, during sports hour, boys were given equipment for sports, however when some girls approached for the same, they were denied outright and even scolded. When asked, the teacher justified his behavior himself by saying that girls are physically incapable of playing sports.

Owing to the cultural stereotypes and lack of rational knowledge coupled up with, “let it be, who cares” attitude, the bias thrives in our society, which not only hinders but also kills the development of intangible and tangible kinds.(Children Press Service)

(Sushila Rani is a Class VI student in Bihar. She is a child reporter)

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Human faces

Human faces painted by Apurba Bera, a youth reporter from Kolkata for You(th) Speak, a newsletter by young for young.
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Lakiron se sandesh !

Children of Vaishali district used 'sketches' to share their thoughts and concerns. They had met and shared the same with the District Magistrate of the district. It was covered by Hindustan Times, copy of same is enclosed.

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Pain of children into camel jockeying

Anjali,an eighteen year old youth reporter paints the pain of children into camel jockeying.
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Blue-kurta

- Reshma Khatun, youth reporter
Ten past nine in the morning...
The heavy rain of the last three days
Has given the city no respite.
Someone wearing a blue kurta waits at the bus-stand.
The half-wet bottoms of his jeans
Are carefully folded, like paper.
He has a pair of black shoes on, and they squelch with water.
Sprayed by the rain,
The brown bag on his right shoulder
Has turned the colour of wet earth.
The watch on his wrist is probably water proof:
So Neel Kurta does not pay it any attention.
Twenty-five past nine...
Blue-kurta's feet disappear into a crowded bus. They seek some warmth in there.
I had thought
When the sun would shine through the rain,
I would mingle Blue-kurta's wet feet
With my pink bedspread.
And I would tell you
The colours of his rain-wet reflection.
Ignoring the half-submerged city covered in a rain-shroud,
I rushed towards the phone booth.
Without waiting a second, I picked up the receiver
And dialled a few wet numbers.
Three seconds....
And a voice from the other side said, 'This number is not reachable.'

Translated from Bengali by Urbi Bhaduri. Acknowledgement - "Para Diaries", Project of Kalam: Margins Write" which was in collaboration with SANLAAP. The poem was also part of edition of You(th) Speak newsletter.

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Child reporter reflects concern on child labour

Santoshi, a youth reporter with You(th) Speak, a newsletter by young, paints concern on 'child labour in a tea shop'. You(th) Speak is part of Youth lead media initiative of Sanlaap an non governmental organisation & UNICEF in Kolkata.

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Young Girl Falls to Bullet from BSF

- Rahul Goswami, 10 years, Kolkata, Child reporter, You(th) Speak

19 November, 2008: Several newspapers published articles about the death of Khukuli Khatun at Hatkhala, Chapra in Nadia district. We learned that Khukuli was returning home with her younger sister after her Madhyamik examination. On the way she got into an argument with a jawan of the BSF who shot at her at pointblank range. The reason for this is not clear. The police, however, inform that jawans on the border area fired at smugglers and it was one of these bullets that entered 17 year old Khukuli’s stomach- she died at Krishnanagar Shaktinagar District Hospital. Several newspapers have been reporting this incident for the last few days

We need to look at the other aspect of this incident. Every border area is risk prone and the BSF personnel are not the protectors of these borders alone. They are protectors of the nation. According to local sources- when Khukuli’s bloodstained body fell to the ground, the local people rushed to her aid. However, the BSF jawans raised their rifles and threatened to shoot if anyone came near. The sources informed that the jawans misused their authority and fired at Khukuli.

Is this the state of our country’s security system? Are these our protectors? This is not the first instance of misuse of authority by our border forces. We have seen how, in the past, border security forces have abused men, women and children. How does a human being fire at an innocent girl ? Young people today should address these issues and be vocal about them. Otherwise the credibility of the forces will be lost. (Translated from Bengali to English on verbatim basis by blog)

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Global warming - Let’s Fight it now

- Ranjit Kamat 17 years, Kolkata

Global warming is a major problem today. It is increasing day by day and ruining human civilization. Several causes are responsible for global warming. Industrialization and continuous cutting down of trees, lead to global warming. Increase in pollution leads to release of harmful gases like CO2 and NO2 and methane. They make holes in the ozonosphere. Due to global warming, the glaciers if the Antarctic region are melting and the water levels in seas and ocean are rising. Climatic and weather conditions are altering and due to all these harmful affects of global warming the ecological balance is getting disturbed. On ca stop global warming by reducing atmospheric pollution and planting more trees. It is our duty to save future generations from the harmful affects of global warming. (Article appeared in Dec 2008 edition of You(th) Speak)

Ranjit is youth reporter with 'You(th) Speak' a newsletter managed by children and young people from Kolkata, West Bengal. This initiative is supported by an NGO 'Sanlaap' & UNICEF.

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Child reporters in Muzaffarpur visit Dainik Jagran

Child reporters in Adithi, Muzaffarpur (Bihar) went to the Dainik Jagaran's office (Hindi newspaper)and interacted with journalists. Children Press Service was one of the active partners in this initiative facilitating this event. Also enclosed is the press coverage of the event.

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Aami Sabhadhipati hote chaai !

I want to be Sabhadipati (Head of Panchayati raj institutions at district level) !
- Kalpana, Child Activist, Purulia, West Bengal.

When I grow up I want to be the Sabhadhipati. (Sabhadipati is head of all panchayats (cluster of villages), in a district under decentralized governance structure) It is Sabhadhipati which can work for the entire District. In various programmes which are being held in Purulia town I get opportunity to meet students from other blocks. Like me, they are also the students of NCLP schools (national child labour project). Like me they also have many sorrows. If I become Sabhadhipati I can improve the condition of all of them. One person from my block and from poor financial background like mine has become our present Sabhadhipati. The childhood of Smt. Bilasibala Sahis, the Sabhadhipati of our Purulia District was more miserable than mine. She studied with much distress. Even then she became highly educated. She became a teacher of high school. Then she joined politics to work for the society. She has become minister of our state twice. Now she is the Sabhadhipati of our district. I believe that if she, from such poor condition, can become so successful, I also can achieve so. That's why I am studying very seriously. And when I shall grow up I want to be Sabhadhipati to work together and to work for all. ''(Translated on verbatim from Bengali to English by blog)

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Child reporters unravel the true state of education in Uttarakhand

- Seema Anand, Child reporter (Released by Children Press Service)

Alternate reporting by children using media tools is a unique strategy pioneered by the Umang group in Uttarakhand to highlight issues surrounding children’s rights that need immediate attention of the policy-makers and others who can secure these rights for them Umang stands for ``Unique Media Approach for a New Generation’’ and comprises child reporters in 13 districts of Uttarakahnd who have been trained by Shri Bhuvaneshwari Mahila Ashram (SBMA) and Plan in five media tools viz. print, radio, films, comics and photography.

Taking an innovative approach by combining the use of media tools and simple research and survey techniques, Umang came up with their first alternate report entitled ``As We See It’’ covering issues of primary education, universal birth registration and discrimination. This is the second report by child reporters of the Umang group under the UNCRC children’s alternate report series.

This time the children have tried to investigate the reality surrounding Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which states that children should not be subject to any sort of physical or psychological abuse in home or in schools. Article 28 (2) of the UNCRC further states that education should be such that it maintains the dignity of the child.

Day-to-day incidents of corporal punishment, bullying and sexual abuse in schools undermine the spirit of the two articles mentioned above which say there should be no violence against children. Under the “Young Hearts Project” child reporters, trained in the use of various media tools through a series of workshops, conducted an extensive survey in select schools in 13 districts (Pauri garhwal, Bageshwar,Almora, Tehri,Haridwar,Dehradun, Nainital,Haridwar, Chamoli, Champawat,Udham Singh Nagar,Rudrapryag, Pithoragrah) of Uttarakhand.

The child reporters, with the help of questionnaire and their media skills, interviewed students, teachers, officials of the education department in these districts on the issues of corporal punishment, gender based violence, bullying, substance abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and discrimination against children and negative and positive aspects of teachers. In every district the child reporters covered around four to five schools.

The responses of all those who were interviewed were documented. A number of case studies were also generated taking up select individual cases. The findings are an eye opener for policy makers as well as those who implement it in schools.

Corporal Punishment widely prevalent

It was very clear that in all the districts and in most of the schools corporal punishment is prevalent. The children are often thrashed mercilessly over trivial issues. This discourages children to come to school. It also affects their learning process, as they are reluctant to ask questions from teachers. Most of the children who were interviewed revealed that they have suffered corporal punishment in one form or the other. In one particular case a student revealed that he was admitted to a hospital for two months after his teacher thrashed him over a trivial issue. The children revealed that they are slapped, forced to stand or sit in painful postures and often beaten by wooden sticks by their teachers. Some of them stopped coming to school after receiving such inhumane treatment at the hands of their teachers. All the children rejected any form of corporal punishment.

A large number of teachers admitted that they use corporal punishment as a tool to enforce discipline and instill fear of the school establishment in children. They found nothing wrong in this. In many schools while teachers and the principal claimed that corporal punishment is not resorted to, the experiences shared by the children belied these claims.

The parents, alarmingly, were not bothered about this problem. In fact many of them endorsed corporal punishment. Though in same cases, some of the parents informed that they had objected to it. In one such case, the father of a victim had to approach the district administration after his son was beaten mercilessly by teachers in the school as the principal refused to address his grievance.

It was also clear that corporal punishment is prevalent at all levels-primary, middle and secondary level. The officials refused to accept that such incidents happen in schools. The problem persists in both government as well as the private schools.

The children, who were interviewed, suggested that teachers should try to explain their mistakes to them. But it rarely happens, according to the survey’s findings.

Bullying is common in Schools - children survey report

Bullying is a common problem in most of the schools. The junior and physically weaker students are worst affected by this. Some of the girl students also reported that they were victims of bullying by their fellow girl students.

The school administration did not seem to take a strong notice of this problem. The parents were also largely unaware about this. In fact, the survey findings clearly show that in most of the schools, students designated as “Monitors” in the class turn into bullies. The teachers patronize them. The reason is that the teachers enforce discipline through these “Monitors”.

In most of the cases, students dislike the “Monitors”. They do not want to interact with them. In some cases senior students bully the junior students. They take away money from them and beat them. The parents are largely unaware about this problem, which their wards face almost on daily basis in the school. The school administration refuses to recognize.

Substance Abuse, an emerging problem

Substance Abuse has emerged as a major and serious problem among young children. What is alarming is that even primary school students are getting addicted to smoking, drinking and chewing tobacco. Some of the students have even discontinued their studies due to this problem.

The parents recognized this as a problem and many teachers also accepted that substance abuse is a problem in their school. However, instead of counseling, in most of the cases the victims are beaten physically in an attempt to scare them so that they should stop smoking or chewing tobacco or consumption of liquor.

Some of the students said they were pushed into this by their friends, some picked up these habits from their members of family. In some cases even teachers were found to be indulging in substance abuse setting bad examples on impressionable minds.

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