Bhubaneswar: Every child has rights and to celebrate their progress of participation, the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was celebrated at IDCOL Auditorium. The august occasion was organised by Odisha Alliance for Child Rights (OACR), UNICEF, Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC).
The interim report of a study, i.e. Child-led Child Rights Situation Analysis in Odisha, was shared by the children which focused on their needs, aspirations and recommendations to break out of the barriers in the way to their overall development. Child researchers from districts participated in the event and presented their views and research findings to the esteemed guests chairing the occasion, Naba Kishore Dash, Health Minister, Samir Ranjan Dash, Education Minister, Tukuni Sahoo, Minister of Woman and Child Development, Sandhyabati Pradhan, Chairperson, OSCPCR, Subas Singh, Chairman, OBOCWB, Monica Nelson, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha, Pradeep Biswal, IAS, Addl. Secretary (Finance), and Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, Chairman, OACR. 217 child researchers reached out to 11776 children throughout the state during the survey and the final report will come out soon.
Mr. Ranjan Kumar Mohanty welcomed all and said that its time to need to create a culture where all need to listen to children. He also said that it is the largest ever survey done by children and for children in India. Mr. Naba Kishore Dash, Minister of Health said that if children are sensitized and made aware of their roles and responsibilities, then they will carry foreword the monitoring work. Mr. Samir Ranjan Dash, Minister of Education said that children of present days are fortunate as they are getting opportunity to share their issues which was not the case few years back. In order to respond the questions of the children he shared the activities taken over by Govt. of Odisha especially for strengthening the quality education. He answered to various questions raised by children relating to issues like non-availability of playground, school boundary wall, etc. Tukuni Sahoo, Minister of Woman and Child Development briefly responded to the questions asked by the children like the process adopted by Govt. of Odisha for construction of AWC building, toilet & drinking water facilities at AWC. Sandhyabati Pradhan emphasized to provide opportunities to children for participation in different developmental activities. She added up saying that public hearing can be used as a tool to address the issues of the children in districts where major issues are found related to children. This kind of survey is surprisingly unique, said Monica Nelson of UNICEF. She congratulated the children for confidently questioning the ministers and conducting the survey. She was happy for children coming foreword to discuss their issues and at the same time felt sad for the challenges faced by them. She ended stating the need to think & reflect on children’s issues and come up with solutions. Sj. Pradeep Biswal also thanked the efforts of child researchers for conducting such a mega research and gathering the valuable findings. Mr. Subash Singh said that along with UNICEF & PECUC the government will take effort in doing away all the atrocities on children. The vote of thanks was given by Ms. Usharani Behera.
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