Urgent: Photos + Press Release
Grassroots Media Initiative
Press Note
Children: the leaders of social change
New Delhi. 8 May 2007. Children are the future of nation. Destiny of nation lies in the children. World over there are worries about the children's future, security, development and safety. Children have themselves also been struggling to save them or build their future. They have formed various platforms to execute their innovative acts. Media and civil society organizations are playing significant role in aiding the children's fights. Taking this reference a press meet was organized at Rajendra Bhawan today by consortium of Plan International, CASP Delhi and Grassroots Media Initiative. Bal Panchayat, a children's institution, addressed the press meet entitling 'children as change agents'.
Bal Panchayat: The children from Badarpur, Sangam Vihar and Madanpur Khadar have constituted 5 bal panchyats and 10 bal sabhas comprising 1500 children. Bal sabhas have children of 8-12 years age group, while bal panchayats are formed by 12-18 year children. A single unit of bal panchayat or bal sabha consists of groups of 40-50 children. Through this platform the participating children work for the mental and physical development of poor and undernourished children of squatters and slums. They also coerce the parents to change their attitude and behavior towards children. Some children present their work in international forums. Child Rights Information Centre (CRIC) is crucial unit of bal panchayat that not only collects information on various issues affecting children but also publishes it.
Child Labour: Child labor is an international problem today. This hinders the progress and development of the children, while forcing some to engage in illicit activities. While educating the people living in bastis on negative side of child labor, the children of bal panchayat have caught attention of the policy makers and social activists in Delhi. They have sensitized those children who usually engage for pittance in electioneering of political contestants and forego their schools.
Child Safety & Security: With the help of various tools of mass mobilization the children have educated the parents about child safety and security. Recently, these children have conducted a survey on child security between 5000 children and 5000 parents in four areas of Delhi. The results of the survey are thrilling, but the report is under preparation. This survey has been done following the infamous Nithari episode of children killing. Alongwith the media the children have also become active and concerned.
Children Press Service: Giving the children a platform to express their views, creativities and feelings in the form of written pieces of articles, features and stories, the Children Press Service is released and posted to 800 Hindi newspapers/magazines in the country. Some newspapers have placed the stories written by children. On demand of the press persons, shortly the CPS will be lunched both in Hindi and English on web also.
Giving brief account of bal panchayat Arti and Ajay highlighted the children's activities. Nirmala on the child safety, Neelam on child labor and Tarun and Arvind on CPS addressed the press persons.
In the press meet, 'Children as Change Agent', Mr. K. Kannan of Plan International, Mr. Umesh Kumar of CASP Delhi and Mr. Hasrat Arjjumend of Grassroots Media Initiative were present apart from press persons. Mr. David Cook, a journalist from Australia was special observer in the press meet.
ASHENDRA SINGH
9999042898
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GRASSROOTS MEDIA INITIATIVE
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GMI promotes application of media & communication in development of poor and eradication of poverty and hunger through capacity building, research and mainstreaming of voices of voiceless.
