In realising the need of promoting and facilitating the process of child participation, a civil society forum called, "APPROCH” (Alliance to Promote Participation Rights of the Children) in Odisha was launched here on Monday.
The alliance will be with the child rights clubs, NGOs, parents, caregivers, community, Government officials, PRIs, schools and media houses, who are coming together to promote an enabling environment and reinforce child rights to participation.
The APPROCH believes that child participation is the cornerstone or fundamental value to fulfil other rights of children like survival, development and protection rights. This is along with the Rights to Freedom of Expression (Article 13), Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion (Article14), Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly (Article15). About 30 NGOs from different districts participated in the launching programme and decided to take forward the initiative further.The programme was facilitated by the NINEISMINE campaign New Delhi.
"Right to play is one of the important components under the participation rights but in Odisha 78 per cent of the school do not have playgrounds and play materials. This is alarming that 94 per cent of schools in Subarnapur district do not have playground and paly materials. Similar is the situation in 93 per cent schools in Rayagada and Kalahandi, 91 per cent in Balangir and Nuapada followed by 89 per cent in Koraput and 87 per cent schools in Kandhamal district. The Karnataka Government has the provision of Children’s Gramsabha where children have the scope to demand their needs and scope to raise their voices.But in odisha there is no such provision yet," said a release.