Where Children are Seen and Heard

TEN-year-old Kantharaju was determined to improve the condition of the toilets and address the water supply challenge at his village school in south Karnataka. So he took it upon himself to find a solution.

The 5th standard student of Government Lower Primary School at Magodu Gollarahatti, spoke out during the annual Makkala Grama Sabha (Children’s Village Sabha) held at the local higher secondary school. He asked the Panchayat Officers why his school’s water tank had never had any water in it.

It didn’t take long before the village officials visited Kantharaju’s school, arranged a separate water pipe connection and now, with regular water supply, the taps rarely run dry.

It is to address exactly these sorts of issues that the Makkala Grama Sabhas were set up - a pioneering initiative by the Karnataka government.

In 2006 the state mandated all village panchayats to hold one participatory council meeting every November where children were recognised as equal citizens, could meet the authorities and flag any problems affecting their lives.

CMCA has energised more than 600+ such meetings since 2011. Last year alone 27,000+ children from 450+ schools attended the sabhas. These sabhas have empowered rural children to raise their voices about issues that affect them and their communities - knowing that they will be addressed. Some of the success stories include:

• Construction of a new compound wall for a government school
• A new bus service connecting villages
• New bore well dug to provide drinking water in a village that had severe water shortage.
• Sign boards for a village displayed on the national highway
• Blocked drainage systems at two villages were cleaned

Your donation will help more children like Kantharaju get involved in local governance to bring positive change to their rural communities. DONATE NOW!