PLAN INDIA BAL VIDHAN SABHA

• Plan India has initiated a children’s led state level advocacy platform
through the formation of Uttarakhand Bal Vidhan sabha in 2014 aligned
to Plan India’s belief that children are the best advocates to identify and
raise their issues themselves before policy and decision makers.
Plan India is implementing various community-led programmes that are
sustainable due to the deep engagement with the community,
especially girls and young women. Uttarakhand Bal Vidhan Sabha is one
effective child-led advocacy forum that works to improve the lives and
give a voice to over 40 Lakh children from the state.
• Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), is
actively engaged with Bal Vidhansabha, we also receive patronage from
the speaker of the State Assembly and support from various ministries
& departments of Government of Uttarakhand. Run across 13 districts,
many children have applied for membership to the Children’s Assembly
since 2014.
• Through this intervention, children learn and become aware of democratic values
and are provided with a platform to discuss child rights issues in their areas and
explore solutions. The solutions are shared with the state government for further
action in the form of resolutions passed during the sessions of the Children’s
Assembly.

• About 100 such resolutions have been submitted to the state government since
inception which have contributed to government actions like strengthening the
commitments of the Juvenile Justice Act at district level and development of WASH
infrastructure in schools. Bal Vidhan Sabha is the only structured Children’s
Assembly of its kind, that promotes equal opportunities and presents an avenue
for participation and representation in the democratic process to young girls and
boys.

• To ensure transparency, open applications are requested through advertisements

in newspapers. A thorough process led by a review committee selects 70
members, with almost equal representation of boys and girls. These selected Bal
Vidhayaks conducts elections to elect their Chief Minister and other ministers, the
leader of the opposition, and a speaker.
• This year 286 applications were received for the 4th Bal
Vidhansabha. Through a robust selection process led by a
Jury, 70 Bal Vidhayaks (37 girls and 33 boys) representing
70 constituencies of Uttarakhand have been elected.
These elected Bal Vidhayaks adopted democratic process
to elect their Chief Minister & Deputy Child Minister, the
leader of the opposition & deputy leader of opposition, a
speaker & deputy speaker and other 06 ministers.
• In the 1st session of 4th Bal Vidhansabha, more than 20
issues have been raised by Bal Vidhayaks and the
department head have answered the questions raised by
Bal Vidhayaks.
• KEY ISSUES DISCUSSED IN 1ST SESSION
• Inability of girls to complete their school education
• Quality of education, child labour
• Low enrolment of girls in math and science subjects at secondary level
• Lack of female teachers in secondary schools
• Reducing number of students in government schools and Anganwadi centers
• Child marriage
• Malnutrition
• Poor and inadequate WASH facilities in schools
• Inadequate sanitary napkins in schools
• Increasing cases of child abuse
• Exploitation and discrimination
• Low immunization
• Health-relatedted counseling
• Weak implementation of child protection programmes and schemes in some
districts
• No childline in some districts
https://www.planindia.org/get-involved/make-a-dona
tion/because-i-am-a-girl-2/

https://www.planindia.org/