By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations) organized Face to Face with Little Citizens program on 20th December 2011. Students from 25 schools from the old city area of Hyderabad participated in this program and interacted with political leaders and government officials on issues of Health, Education and Recreation.
The members of the panel included Mr. Syed Amin Jafferi, MLC, Mr. Ayub Hussain, Academic Monitoring Officer, Rajiv Vidya Mission, Mr. P. Lakshma Reddy, Regional Director for School Education, Mr. B. Madhusudana Rao, Joint Director, Department of Health. The Chief Guest for the program was Dr. Jafer Qureshi, Vice Chairman, Muslim Aid, U.K. Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director, COVA presided the event.
Face to Face program for school children and officials organized by COVA in Hyderabad
The Face To Face Program was organized to provide an introduction to children to different dimensions of responsible citizenship and propel them on to the path of becoming concerned and motivated members of society committed to social transformation. The students were involved in the program for 3 weeks that included research, field visits and interviews to finally culminate in the interaction with and interrogation of policy makers and officials on issues and problems affecting children.
The young school children who participated in the Face To Face Program have passed the following Resolution which they would be submitting to Ministers, elected representatives and officials of different departments.
Resolutions
We the children are as much citizens as the elders and have rights. We also pay taxes for everything we consume- even when we are buying a chocolate, we are paying taxes. So the government that is collecting taxes is responsible and duty bound to provide us all the required services. In fact, as vulnerable and growing children we have more needs and requirements then the elders and so we must have more rights, but in fact even our most basic needs and requirements as human beings and citizens are not being fulfilled. Hence we demand the following from the Government:
Demands
Health: Government should allot 3% of the GDP for Health. There should be one Government dispensary for 20,000 people and a hospital for every 1, 00,000 populations. There should be special hospitals dedicated to children adequate medical staff, equipment, proper facilities and clean amenities should be provided to patients and their attendants. Government should stop privatization and take full responsibility for medical care of the people.
Education: The government should give 6% of GDP to education as promised to provide free and compulsory education to all children between 6 and 16years of age as required under the Right to Education (RTE) Act passed in 2010. Government should provide free books, uniforms, and science and computer laboratories and sports equipment to all students in government and private schools. Enough and qualified teachers, proper buildings, furniture and clean toilets and hygienic environment should be provided at all government and private schools. Teachers should be made responsible for giving good education and showing good results Fees in private schools should also be regulated to make it affordable to the parents. All schools should be made disabled friendly and stringent action should be taken against employees and parents to stop child labor and ensure that all children are getting proper study.
Recreation: There should be at least one playground for every 1000 children. With 25 lakh children, Hyderabad would need at least 2500 play grounds. Special playgrounds / timings should be allotted for girl’s .Government should have a Master Plan to acquire properties for making of playgrounds just like Master Plans for road widening. All government buildings, community centers, private houses constructed on playgrounds should be demolished. All playgrounds and parks should have proper boundaries, toilet and water facilities, play equipment and coaches.