EMPOWERING CHILDREN THROUGH CHILDREN’S PARLIAMENT

By: BIS Correspondent

 AHMEDNAGAR-MAHARASHTRA, APRIL 27, 2013: Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra, Ahmednagar ventures out into new avenues. This time the focus group is children below the age of eighteen years. The staff and community are working on setting up Children’s parliament in about thirty villages.

Children’s Parliament gives a chance to speak for the children, by the children and of the children.  It serves as a platform for the children to develop leadership skills, confidence, team spirit, analytical skills and maturity.

This is none other than an organisation/movement for children. Children’s Parliament work towards establishing a casteless, secular, egalitarian and non-violent society at the neighbourhood to global levels.

The initial process required choosing a village and in that village electing their ministers by following Sociocracy election method.  According to the needs of that village, the different ministers are elected starting with Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Home Minister, Education Minister, Sports Minister, Speaker and Health Minister.

They function at different levels. Representatives from different levels federate to form a network. Thus, a Structure is formed to operate from below for the children to participate meaningfully and adequately in issues that affect them.

They collectively analyse local problems with a global perspective and evolve solutions. They execute their actions with the help and guidance of adult members of their communities. They also continuously involve in monitoring and evaluation of their own activities. In this way, children continue to involve in addressing their problems and the problems of their village.

In order to help children function better, a two day training camp on various leadership skills, capacity building and personal growth is being held in BGVK itself. The children come together for the parliament session.  There they discuss the problems and issues that affect them as well as their village. The children are made conscious of their rights and responsibilities as children.  Their ambition is to grow to become good citizens of India and to fight against Violation of Children’s Right.

DBDS CELEBRATES WOMEN’S DAY

By Mahesh Kumar

MATUNGA-MUMBAI, MARCH 12, 2013: International Women’s Day was celebrated by Don Bosco Development Society on March 7, 2013 at Matunga, Mumbai. The theme chosen for the occasion was ‘Women’s Security’. It was an apt theme, given the fact that women’s security has indeed become a critical concern in our country.  The United Nations too has proposed a similar theme for Women’s Day this year: “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.”

The programme, which began at 3.30 pm, witnessed the participation of over five hundred women from the various slum communities where DBDS works. The Guests of Honour for the afternoon were Ms. Roswitha Maus, Projects Manager, Don Bosco Mondo; Advocate Pooja Kute, Legal Consultant, Majlis; Ms. Khatoon Shaikh, Convener, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan; and Ms Poonam Sinha, Sr. Manager, Bank of India. The programme began with these guests lighting the lamp, after which there was a prayer dance by a group of SHG women.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Khatoon Shaikh highlighted the shortcomings in our police and judicial systems, which negatively impact women’s security. She shared her own experience of how women are mistreated at police stations, as well as how police refuse to register a FIR when the women go to lodge a complaint. She complemented DBDS for educating women in slum communities on the various provisions of the law.

Adv. Pooja Kute focused on the discriminatory attitudes and practices in Indian families, and the widespread phenomenon of domestic violence.  She touched upon several provisions of the ‘Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act’ and encouraged the women present to familiarize themselves with this law. Ms. Poonam Sinha spoke on the economic empowerment of women and how economic independence enhances women’s security.

Besides the speeches, various cultural items were also staged. A group of students from Rizvi College performed a skit on female foeticide, dowry, domestic violence and gender discrimination in Indian society. Different SHGs presented dances and folk songs, which added a festive mood to the occasion. The programme concluded at 6.30 p.m. with a vote of thanks by a DBDS staff member.