Baal Sansad (Children’s Parliament)
The Baal Sansad is a unique initiative which emerged from SWRC Tilonia that emphasises children’s power to guide and govern their own lives – and the responsibility that comes along with it.
A night school student voting at the elections of the Baal Sansad
It works as a tool to make children aware of the powers of a parliamentary democracy. It is also an early lesson in being a responsible citizen and stresses the need for involvement in community affairs. Via the Baal Sansad, children at the night schools learn about democratic processes, the right to vote, the rule of law, the power of a fair ballot and the need to choose candidates on merit rather than according to caste, religion, creed or sex. The idea of Baal Sansad came about at a Baal Mela (children’s fair) where the children expressed a desire to know more about the importance of the different institutions of governance, including the panchayat, the legislature, parliament, the courts as well as the police. During the course of this three-day gathering of more than 1,000 children, they spontaneously decided that there should be a children’s parliament.
The night schools are managed by children through the Baal Sansad. All children in the night schools vote to select members of the parliament who then vote to elect the Prime Minister and constitute a Cabinet of Ministers. The staff of Manthan, SWRC and other network partners play the role of secretaries to the children. Children visit night schools to inspect them and identify the needs of the children. They also evaluate the conduct of teachers. Every month they hold a meeting to discuss the issues that emerge from their visits. In addition to managing their schools by themselves, through this process, the children also learn how to listen to each others’ perspectives and to respect each other.
A meeting of children to discuss village issues
Problems arising in the villages are also taken up in the Parliament. The children apply pressure for further improvements in the village, such as solar power and water pumps. They also organise cultural activities such as children’s festivals, which are designed to provide relief from their hard, everyday farm routine. Through the Parliament, children are encouraged to be actively involved in every aspect of their daily lives. They have their own magazine to keep the young people of the desert informed about local politics and their own rights.
