The Times of India (Mumbai) – 4th December 2000

`Callous remarks can have adverse effects on children'

It would've been yet another conference on `Child rights and child participation' had ten children, along with film actress Nandita Das, not voiced their opinion on the issue. The national consultation on `Realizing Rights of the Child', a two day conference organized by Community Aid and Sponsorship Programme (CASP) which concluded on Thursday, was enlivened as Nandita gave a fresh perspective to the subject.

Speaking on `Grassroots Communication with Children', the actress invited her little friends, a group of ten children, on stage. These children from different CASP units delineated how teachers, parents and even siblings unknowingly humiliated them with callous remarks or comments, not understanding their perspective. Nandita noted, "Such quick comments that we make at times give the child a complex which can have adverse effects later in his life".

A few children also pointed out that while adults often harped on children's participation in various programmes, it was rarely implemented. "Take this conference for instance, we were being discussed but we didn't understand a word. Why were we invited, to showcased?" questioned Hemlata Rawat, a young girl, also a CASP member from Delhi.

Nandita noted, "The only way of understanding a child is to relive your childhood". She added that when parents and teachers doled out lessons on value education, they should ask themselves whether they followed any of those principles and then expected the child to do the same.

Among the other issues discussed were laws on children and their implementation, child and social justice, children in the shadow of HIV and AIDS, girl child trafficking and rehabilitation and resource mobilization, Child participation at different levels was asserted by most speakers.

Jaya Sarkar, Sponsorship and Grants Support Manager with PLAN, who spoke on `Perspectives: workings with Children', said "The frustration we feel when we know we are right but nobody would listen to us is how a child feels when ignored by parents or teachers".

She also pointed out how children were manipulated when they were made to hold placards or made to sing and dance for a cause which they were not even vaguely aware of. "Children as participants should know about the project and why they are participating in it", she added.

Country director of PLAN, Roger Branden, described child rights as a crucial issue for organizations like PLAN and CASP. "For a country like India, so vast and complex and without sufficient resources, it is an issue impossible for any one organization to tackle alone". He urged that instead of wasting resources by duplicating efforts, different organizations working for the same cause should come together and work.

"We also need to look at education of every child because it is an issue which can change the lives of children and the face of the nation", observed Shefali Sunderlal, director with CRY.