Children from different Tamil Nadu regions to read out from their manifesto on April 4

A manifesto brought under the banner of Federation of Children’s Movement for Right to Participation would essentially reiterate basic rights they should enjoy as children but most often do not.

On April 4, a group of children representing different regions of Tamil Nadu would meet the press in Chennai to spell out their manifesto. The manifesto brought under the banner of Federation of Children’s Movement for Right to Participation would essentially reiterate the basic rights they should enjoy as children but most often do not. They would make an old demand one more time: voices of children be given a hearing before schemes and policies are inked in for them.

Ahead of the big event, Chennai-based NGO Arunodhaya Centre for Street and Working Children maps out the details of the manifesto-drafting exercise. This exercise is conducted for not only Lok Sabha polls, but also Assembly and local-bodies elections.

This year, the preparations began in January and through several rounds of discussions, the manifesto was drafted. Children groups from 15 districts were involved.

“Just before the DMK manifesto was released, we made sure the children’s manifesto reached the manifesto committee at Anna Arivalayam,” says Virgil D. Sami, executive director Arunodhaya Centre for Street and Working Children and convenor of the facilitation task force. “This time, RTE finds a mention in the DMK manifesto and we are happy about it as we have been seeking that it be extended to all children up to 18 years.”

Many of their representations at the local level have been addressed.

“For instance, MLA from R.K. Nagar took to the state assembly a representation made by children on the need for a bridge in Ezhil Nagar. Because of the railway crossing, children were being late to school every morning. Construction of the bridge is now under way,” says Virgil.

A playground in Korrukupet was another demand made by children last year.