Encouraged by the success of the ongoing child-friendly local governance (CFLG) project in a few local bodies, the District Planning Committee (DPC) has decided to expand the project across Kozhikode. The programme will be implemented in line with the United Nations Child Rights Commission guidelines for the protection of children’s rights. The rights include health and sanitation, nutrition and education, social security and participation in all activities concerning them.
At a news conference here on Thursday, Kozhikode district panchayat president Babu Parassery said the project was now being executed in association with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) at Thooneri, Kuttiyadi, Chorode, Kottoor, Kunnamangalam, Chengottakkavu, Kadalundi, Unnikulam, Balussery and Thamarassery grama panchayats, and Koyilandy municipality.
In this regard, a workshop was conducted for DPC members, chairpersons of all municipalities, representatives of block and grama panchayats and Kozhikode Corporation members to chalk out a strategy. A meeting of heads of all local bodies will be held on October 17 to prepare the project. KILA would also organise a workshop by November 30, he said. He said that a survey of children would be conducted in all the 91 local bodies, including 12 block panchayats seven municipalities and 70 grama panchayats, before implementing the project. The data collection will enable planners to focus more on the decentralised action plan for children in the district. Grama sabhas for children to tackle issues relating to them would be one of the salient features of the project, Mr. Parassery said.
One centre is already functioning
Already, a Child and Adolescent Care Centre under the Kozhikode district panchayat is functioning at Purakkateri. This will be developed to international standards, and a research centre will be set up in the coming months. A district-level web portal would be launched to coordinate all activities, he said. As part of the project, all schools will be empowered with basic facilities, including girl-friendly toilets, safe drinking water and other infrastructure for studies, games and recreational activities. The objective of the project was to convert school premises into ‘zero zones’, thus making them entirely safe for students, Peter M. Raj, Associate Professor, KILA, said.
Special projects, including large-scale campaigns with the participation of students, would be initiated to effectively combat the growing drug menace on campuses, Mr. Parassery said.