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Sakti. Dr Charandas Mahant, Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, launched the child-friendly gramme panchayat initiative in Jogra village in Sakti district to ensure children have access to essential services critical to their survival and development. UNICEF will assist Jogra, Darang, and Balpur gramme panchayats in becoming child-friendly.
Launching the initiative, Dr Charandas Mahant, Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, said UNICEF’s supported initiative will help improve child health and nutrition indicators and also stop social ills like child labour, malnutrition, and child marriage.
Dr Mahant also took part in ongoing World Children’s Day celebrations such as #GoBlue, interacted with children, and distributed the pledge to protect their rights. Dr Mahant also urged his constituency’s sarpanches to renew their efforts to build child-friendly villages and focus on the well-being of children.
Job Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF Chhattisgarh, said Jogra gram panchayat is set to become the first child-friendly panchayat in the state and a model in safeguarding their rights through the initiative. The gram panchayats will work towards achieving 30 indicators developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Niti Aayog, thus improving the developmental outcomes related to women and children of the state.
Dicson Masih of the Social Revival Group of Urban Rural and Tribal, Korba, stated that his organization, in collaboration with UNICEF, will assist sarpanches, secretaries, PRIs, and other service providers. They will ensure that every child in the gram panchayat is healthy, nourished, learning, protected, and has access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
The launch of the initiative marks World Children’s Day on 20 November. UNICEF will organize a series of events to highlight child rights and promote the safety and protection of children. The campaign also aims to create sporting opportunities for children and young people to acquire life skills and build inspiring role models and girls’ empowerment.
