For the first time, all schools and colleges in the State will be part of an awareness drive on child rights on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day on November 20. This programme is being initiated by the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR).
As part of the programme, school and college students will take part in essay and elocution contests, for which they will receive certificates of participation from the KSCPCR. A human chain will be formed in the city with the participation of 15,000-20,000 students from across the State.
Kripa Alva, chairperson of KSCPCR, told Deccan Herald, “I wanted to take up this initiative as many children are not aware of their rights and the Universal Children's Day. The essay and elocution contests will be held in all schools and colleges for students of class V onwards. This includes State board and CBSE schools. I have been in touch with officials of the education department.”
The contest will be held at three levels. It will begin at the individual school level and the toppers in the school contests will take part in the zonal level competition. Those who top there will be selected for the district-level contest.
The commission has planned a massive human chain in the city on the occasion, to spread awareness about the significance of the day.
“Awareness of child rights is not meant just for children, but also for parents and the public at large. We welcome everyone to join this human chain,” she said. The Department of Pre-university Education has already sent out the information to all its colleges. The joint director (academic) of the department V K Nagaraja said this was the first time that such a programme was being held for students in pre-university colleges in the State.
Universal Children’s Day marks the day on which the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks