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| The United National General Assembly adopted Child Rights Covenant on November 20, 1989. By signing on the Covenant in 1992, the Government of India has committed itself to accord their rights to the children. It has been agreed that family is the founding group of the society. It has also been agreed that all possible protection and help should be given to all the members, particularly development of children and their happiness so they can play their role to the fullest in the society. It should be understood that a child should grow in environment of happiness, love and mutual understanding in the family for his complete and appropriate development. Child should be readied with his/her specific personality and he/she should be brought up according to the ideals enshrined in the Covenant, particularly peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and mutual unity. Bal Panchayat is a forum where children in 6-14 years age group gather, discuss interests of children and advocate for rights deprived children. |
| Objectives of Bal Panchayat |
- Protection and promotion of child rights
- Giving rights to children deprived of their rights
- Promote demand of child rights
- Reach government services to children and improve them
- Create awareness among bal panchayats for their rights
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| Benefits from Bal Panchayat |
- Understand real condition of brothers and sisters in 6-14 years age group
- Identify owners employing child labour
- Know government run welfare programmes
- Identify child friendly community
- To have their own identity with the help of child forum
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| Why Bal Panchayats |
- Create environment in favour of child rights.
- Identification of child labour.
- Identification of non-school going children.
- Identification of children irregular in schools.
- Understand sexual discrimination.
- Identification of migrating children.
- Identification of employers of child labour.
- Knowing family condition of children.
- Identification of children indulging in misconduct and bad habits
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| Structure of Bal Panchayat |
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| 21-Characteristics of Smiling Child Village |
- Birth and death registration is being compulsorily done.
- Male and Female childs are being given equal opportunity for development.
- Continuous improvement is being affected in reproductive and child health services.
- All children in 6-14 years age group are going to school
- Number of drop-outs in 6-14 years age group is constantly going down
- No child 6-14 years age group is working as labour
- All girls are being married/sent to in-laws’ home after 18 years
- Strong advocacy is being done for child labour free village
- Bal panchayat is participating in meetings of bal panchayats
- Effect of educational environment is visible in villages
- Mahila Mandal is actively participating in all the committees and decisions of panchayat
- All poor families are being identified as below poverty line families
- Women are being empowered socially, economically and politically
- Coordination is being strengthened locally and targeted plans are being activated
- Transparency is visible in implementation of development projects
- Mutual faith and self-reliance is increasing in the community
- Entrepreneurship development programmes are being promoted
- Because of constant fall in social bad customs life is improving
- Domestic and other violence against women is decreasing
- Initiatives are being taken for resolving village disputes within villages
- Community is becoming aware about right to information
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