Adolescents from 25 districts participated in online interactive meeting with elected representatives, Member of Legislative Assembly from MP. This interactive meet was organised by Child Rights Observatory (MP) and UNICEF.
Adolescents from Rewa, Sheopur, Khandwa, Damoh, Umariya, Rajgarh, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Raisen, Niwadi, Tikamgarh, Datia, Aliarjpur, Harda etc. and others spoke on the challenges they see at ground particularly in area of school education, online learning, missing sports practice due to closure of schools. violence, and increasing use of tobacco by children and health. Adolescents spoke from their homes in rural areas from across the State using their mobiles or mobiles of their Parents. Few of them wanted to schools to reopen so that they can go back and meet friends, share and learn, as they find online challenging due to low bandwidth or lower mobile coverage.
Ajay Vishnoi, ex-Minister Health, Jaivardhan Singh, ex-Minister Urban Development, Hiralal Alawa, Sanjay Yadav, Ashish Sharma, listened to these adolescents and responded to their questions. Elected representatives appreciated the efforts of CRO and UNICEF in organising the same.
Ajay Vishnoi, MLA from Jabalpur - from spoke on the motivational aspect for adolescents in times which are tough and encouraged children to take up newer things including sports in Covid-19 times.
Jaivardhan Singh, MLA from Raghogarh, spoke on the importance of initial years in life of the child and need to focus on health, nutrition and education. He said that issues being raised by adolescents are important and need to be responded to. He spoke on the role technology is playing in today’s world and encouraged adolescents to speak out and share.
Sanjay Yadav, MLA from Bargi, Jabalpur, said there is need to invest more on education and nutrition sector, and that he will turn 30 schools in his constituency as smart schools. He acknowledged that since children don’t vote, so many times challenges facing them get less importance, but they are important and State needs to lay more focus on education, nutrition and health. He said that in his constituency he is going ta make 30 schools as smart schools. Ashish Sharma MLA from Khategoan, spoke on the efforts of the State, and need to focus on education, schemes of State Government for children and effort of State to respond to challenges.
Hiralal Alawa, MLA from Manwar, acknowledged the challenges of children and said that we as representatives of people will use these voices into the State Assembly discourse and call for need to focus more on tribal challenges. He listened to all adolescents and was happy that this platform could bring adolescents and children from interiors and they could share their views.
As way forward Nirmala Buch President Child Rights Observatory said that we will collate all the voices of adolescents, share with them elected representatives and the State so that they can be responded and will follow up on them. She spoke at start that these meetings are part of process of work organisation does to bring voices of adolescents to the attention of decision makers. Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF coordinated the meeting and spoke on why it is important to listen to children as it is their right.
The meet had participation of around 150 people from across the State, and in many places number of people listening to one connection, many of which were part of CRO network.