For 12-year-old Shabnam Bano Guddushaikh, a children’s parliament is a space to discuss their issues, future and rights. By Urvashi Sarkar
Shabnam Bano Guddushaikh is only 12 years old but her wise words and thoughtful views belie her age. A resident of Sathe Nagar in Mumbai suburban district, she displays a keen understanding of children’s rights and awareness of social problems affecting her neighbourhood. She credits her awareness to a children’s parliament near her home.
Shabnam is a member of the parliament which is run by the NGO JeevanDhara. The parliament, according to her, is a space to discuss “children’s issues, their future and rights.” With bright eyes and a cheery smile on her face, she promptly reels off the key rights— Right to Life, Right to Education, Right to Protection and right to participation. She is also aware that the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child has 54 fundamental rights.
“When girls are born, they are killed. Many girls who survive are denied educational rights,” she says, making it clear that rights are not just buzzwords for her. “I did not know children have rights,” she confides. “They don’t teach us these things in school. I realised this when I joined the children’s parliament last year. I also became aware of child marriage where girls are married before they turn 18.” She asserts that girls should complete their graduation or at least study till class XII, prior to marrying.
A student of class VII, the 12-year-old knows several children who are admitted in school but would not attend because they did not see the importance of education. Their mindset changed after they joined the children’s parliament. “They realised it is possible to become somebody only if one goes to school. They learnt this in the parliament. Otherwise, the only options available for them are to clean gutters, pick up garbage and do taporigiri (hooliganism),” she says, pointing out that these children have started going to school regularly. The parliament also informs parents and teachers when they notice that there are children who are not attending school. Do parents stop their children from attending school and make them help out with work instead? “This happens in villages and not in urban areas, like Sathe Nagar where I live,” she says.
Shabnam is aware of the environmental and social problems that affect her neighbourhood. She is bothered about the lack of cleanliness, an issue that the children’s parliament has discussed. She is not afraid to ask her neighbours to not litter. “I once requested the woman next door to not litter the areas outside her house. I explained that this causes ill health. She laughed at what I said, but agreed and stopped littering.”
She points to other worrying trends such as young boys smoking and drinking, and the prevalence of suicides among young men in her neighbourhood. The children’s parliament plans to take out a rally to raise awareness about the ill-effects of smoking and drinking. “People ask my mother, ‘How does Shabnam know so much?’ I say that I know such things because we discuss such matters in the parliament,” she says.
Shabnam feels encouraged and appreciated by her mother who wants her to work and achieve success in life. But she isn’t overly optimistic in this regard. While she believes that girls and boys have equal rights, she feels she can only become a teacher since girls in her community are told so. “My brother can become anything because boys are not restricted. I would like to become a doctor. But as a girl, I am only allowed to become a teacher, and thus, I will make efforts to teach,” she says. She admires her tuition teacher because she is a graduate, and has also done a teaching course. As a co-captain in the children’s parliament, she is no longer shy or an introvert. “I feel I am growing up and becoming confident, knowledgeable and wise,” says she.
—Charkha Features