Bengaluru: To give children a voice in rural governance, the state govt has directed all gram panchayats (GPs) to create dedicated Facebook pages focused on child rights and welfare. The initiative is part of a 10-week special campaign running from Nov 14 to Jan 26. In a circular issued by rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) department last week, Arundhati Chandrashekar, commissioner of panchayat raj, instructed that each Facebook page be titled ‘Makkala Hakkugala Rakshane’ (child rights protection), preceded by the name of the respective gram panchayat. “Teachers and local NGOs should make the pages popular among children,” Chandrashekar said, emphasising the need for active engagement with young voices at the grassroots. Each page will serve as a digital bulletin for issues concerning education, schools, health services, hostels, food and nutrition, child protection, disaster management, sanitation, water access, and anganwadi centres. Panchayats have also been asked to upload questions or concerns raised by children in their jurisdiction. The circular cautioned officials against posting photographs of children, directing them to ensure all content is related only to their “development and welfare”. To complement the digital effort, RDPR has ordered installation of ‘Makkala Dhani’ (voice of children) complaint and suggestion boxes at schools, ration shops, libraries, anganwadi centres, and other public spaces. Inputs collected from these boxes will be discussed during special children’s gram sabhas (village meetings) to be organised during the campaign period. Department sources say RDPR plans to hold a state-level online training session for executive officers of taluk panchayats and panchayat development officers to help them conduct the campaign effectively. “Two children from each gram panchayat may also take part in this training,” the circular said, marking an inclusive approach rarely seen in administrative training exercises. The campaign’s goals go beyond awareness — it aims to ensure registration of all births and prompt issuance of birth certificates, promote nutritious diets and vaccination awareness, identify school dropouts for re-enrolment, and provide skill development opportunities for adolescents aged 14 to 18. Panchayats have also been encouraged to organise sports, cultural and educational activities for children, turning the initiative into a community celebration of child welfare and participation. Officials said the campaign reflects a shift toward making rural local bodies more child-sensitive, harnessing both digital and community channels to ensure that the voices of the youngest citizens are heard and acted upon.
