With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, scores of children on Monday visited the offices of some political parties seeking inclusion of child-friendly policies in their election manifestos.
Nagasimha G. Rao, campaign coordinator of the Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KCRO), said that children visited the offices of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) parties and submitted memorandums.
They sought measures to tackle malnutrition and enforcement of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. Their other demands included strengthening children’s homes in State, holding childrens’ gram sabhas regularly, and making education and healthcare facilities accessible to children with disabilities.
Monica R., Class 7 student, underlined the need to upgrade infrastructure at the State-run hospitals. “Children’s health is a major area of concern. We want the government to ensure that the government hospitals are child-friendly.”
Kavita C., Class 8 student, said: “Even though we do not have voting rights, we hope political parties will take our demands seriously.” She said steps should be taken to ensure all children in State were sent to school.
