Children’s issues will have a place in the manifestoes of the political parties. Priorities shall be given to children’s issues in education, health and safety while preparing the manifestoes as has been promised by the major political parties during an interface with children representatives here on Monday.

The children drawn from various districts presented their own charter of demands to political parties what they call it as Children's Manifesto for the elections 2019.

The interface was organised by Odisha Alliance for Child Rights (OACR) in collaboration with several other groups. A 30-point charter of demands prepared by the children was presented to the leaders of various political parties. The interface was chaired by chairman, Odisha Alliance for Child Rights Ranjan Kumar Mohanty .

BJD general secretary and spokesperson Sulata Deo, former Minister and chief of the Congress Manifesto Committee, Ganeshwar Behera, BJP Manifesto Committee member and State vice president Aiswarya Biswal, Jayant Das of CPI, Santosh Das from CPI(M) and BSP’s Sudarsan Pradhan appreciated the demands made by the children and assured to give them a place in their respective manifestoes in the coming general and Assembly elections.

Children’s representatives Snigdha, Dillip, Sashi, Barsharani, Doli, Indramani, Ahalya, Priti, Jadumani, Surya, Lipsa, Saripili, Pritimayee, Jyotirmayee, Sumati, Bhaskar  presented their manifesto to the political parties  to include various needs and aspirations of children.

The demands include protection of children, safe drinking water, birth registrations at panchayat level, free health check up, participation of children in School Management Committee, keeping no detention policy in Right to Education Act, total eradication of child labour, among others.