The Hindu        12..01.2012

Children's parliament seeks action from Corporation

Students from Kannapan Nagar found it difficult to study for their half-yearly exams as the power cut in the area was from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The schedule should be changed as the students living in slums didn't have any other alternative, said one of the members of children's parliament.

The children's parliament organised last week at the night school run by Anbu Charities saw the children coming up with issues they faced in everyday life which they hoped would be solved by the authorities concerned.

According to S. Franklin Manivannan, secretary of Anbu Charities, the proposal prepared by the students was submitted to M. Gunashekaran, councillor of Ward 45. He had promised that the issues would be raised in municipal meeting, Mr. Manivannan said.

Open sewage and manholes were another problem faced by the residents of the area. Open manholes were risky as children used to play in the area, the members pointed out. Another problem raised at the second session of the parliament was the mosquito menace in the region.

Increasing student dropout rate in the area, child labour in the city and provision for providing drinking water were the other issues raised. The students also expressed their wish to organise sports day periodically, arrange for computer classes during half-yearly vacation and spoken English class during summer holidays.

The ministers and the speaker were elected through voting from among the 150 members of the night class. Nandhini M, Std. XII student of Government Higher Secondary School, Ganapathy, was the speaker while Divya. V, Std X student of Government HSS, Rathinapuri, was the chief minister.

The ministers were Priya A. of Corporation Middle School, Sanganoor, Ramesh R. of Corporation Middle School, Sidhapudur, Venisha G. of Corporation Middle School, Sanganoor, Azarutheen A. of Corporation Middle School, Sanganoor, Ganesh P. of Government HSS, Rathinapuri, and Kaviya M. of Government HSS, Rathinapuri.

The parliament was an attempt to build leadership skills among students and encourage them to deal with social issues, Mr. Manivannan said.