The Times of India 22.04.2013
Civic body set to launch children's corporation by May
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If the
children in the city have ever felt the need for their own
representatives, the city corporation is now readying to offer a governing body exclusively for the children. For the first time in the city, the civic body
will launch the system of children's corporation (Bala Nagarasabha)
whose function will be carried on in tandem with the main council of the
city corporation.
The preliminary steps for the formation of bala nagarasabha
have already begun in various wards. The entire process will be
implemented on the lines of 'Ayalkootam'. Four CDS (community
development societies) which comprise 25 wards each will present their
own council of children.
A boy and a girl will be deputed from each ward. Thus a total of 200 children will be selected from 100 wards. These children will form 'Balasabha'. Again another round of selection will be carried out from the 200 children to form 'Balasamithis'. Children aged between five and 15 will be selected as the representatives.
The president and secretary of Balasamithis along with three children will make it to the final council. An eight-member committee will then be formed precisely like the standing committees that now function in the corporation council. At present a council has been formed in one CDS. By May, all the four CDS will have its own councils. If everything goes as per the plan, the corporation will have its first children's corporation council meeting on May 25.
"It will have a mayor and deputy mayor. We are also planning to introduce even dress codes for the mayor. Unlike other children's councils, we want this as a permanent system that will work just like the main governing body of the corporation," said Palayam Rajan, chairman of welfare standing committee.
The children were given a first round of training in a summer camp organized at Cotton Hill school in March. They were trained on basic principles in governance, water conservation and energy conservation. "This will instill in them a sense of social and political awareness. Since the entire system is being conceived on the basis of an existing working model, the children will feel serious," an official said.
Once the bala nagarasabha starts functioning, the children can present their own problems and even issues related to their wards in the council. This will be passed by the council and will be forwarded to the main corporation council.
"We will have senior resource persons to constantly interact with the children and bring to the fore problems like child abuse and exploitation," Rajan added.
A boy and a girl will be deputed from each ward. Thus a total of 200 children will be selected from 100 wards. These children will form 'Balasabha'. Again another round of selection will be carried out from the 200 children to form 'Balasamithis'. Children aged between five and 15 will be selected as the representatives.
The president and secretary of Balasamithis along with three children will make it to the final council. An eight-member committee will then be formed precisely like the standing committees that now function in the corporation council. At present a council has been formed in one CDS. By May, all the four CDS will have its own councils. If everything goes as per the plan, the corporation will have its first children's corporation council meeting on May 25.
"It will have a mayor and deputy mayor. We are also planning to introduce even dress codes for the mayor. Unlike other children's councils, we want this as a permanent system that will work just like the main governing body of the corporation," said Palayam Rajan, chairman of welfare standing committee.
The children were given a first round of training in a summer camp organized at Cotton Hill school in March. They were trained on basic principles in governance, water conservation and energy conservation. "This will instill in them a sense of social and political awareness. Since the entire system is being conceived on the basis of an existing working model, the children will feel serious," an official said.
Once the bala nagarasabha starts functioning, the children can present their own problems and even issues related to their wards in the council. This will be passed by the council and will be forwarded to the main corporation council.
"We will have senior resource persons to constantly interact with the children and bring to the fore problems like child abuse and exploitation," Rajan added.
