State Institute of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development (SIPRD) and UNICEF implemented a pilot initiative from 2019 wherein, over a period of close to two years, intense engagement with elected representatives and community members, particularly with children in 10 villages, were conducted systematically on issues that impact their well-being to be integrated in the annual Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) as part of the People’s Plan Campaign.
This intervention led to demand charters drafted by children in special forums like Shishu Sabhas, held in schools, prior to the Gram Sabhas where village plans are finalized. Demands included repairing classrooms, desks and chairs, provision of sanitary pads, libraries etc. Sensitization workshops and handholding sessions for elected representatives by SIPRD on why and how to cost children specific activities supported to reinforce the need for exclusive focus on children issues in village plans. 196 demands articulated in these charters were included in GPDPs in 2021-22. There was increase in allocation of budgets for children related activities from 5.86% in 2020-21 to 10.33% in 2021-22 under “Untied grants” and from 6.25% in 2020-21 to 8.83% in 2021-22 under tied funds in these 10 villages (Data Source : E-Gramswaraj portal). This demonstrated the premise that specific designed interventions, when implemented for children, enables them to participate and articulate their issues in a meaningful manner within the overarching child rights principles. Gudielines, by themselves, are possibly inadequate if not tailored at implementation level, to meet the needs of specific populaiton groups, in this case children, who are important staekholders in the communities.
