More than 100 children from 30 slums participated in the 25th Berhampur Children Federation meeting today held in conference hall at Ecos eye hospital in Berhampur. Focusing on the children’s park and the space available in the city for the young children living in slums, child leaders highlighted major issues, their right to play as per the United Nations Convention of Rights of the Child (UNCRC), condition of the children’s park in the city (child friendliness audited by child clubs) and also recommended to make all the upcoming children’s park ‘toddler friendly’ under the AMRUT scsheme of Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
Child leaders Shibani Behera of Lanjipalli Telegu Street Sruti Sahu of Raghupati Nagar anchored the child federation meeting and expressed their gratitude to the Commissioner of Berhampur Municipal Corporation and Secretary, Berhampur development Authority to listen to their demands to make necessary changes/development to the existing children’s parks child friendly in the city.
On the other hand they appreciate the steps taken by the BeMC, BeDA and the state and central government for the upcoming six new children parks under the AMRUT scheme in Berhampur city. They also recommended to make these amusement parks ‘toddler friendly’ and suggested the following points to be consider for the benefit of the young children in the city.
- Take children’s views and respect their opinion before planning and during the construction of parks for children
- To make children’s parks safe, healthy and hygiene (regular cleaning, cover open drains, boundary wall, clean toilets regularly, safe electricity and transformer, keep parks from crowded places, industries and hazardous places)
- Avail clean and safe drinking water for children
- Provision more and safe play equipments in the park for children
- Make toilets and play equipments toddler friendly and create separate space for the toddlers for safe play
- Make entry free for the poor and backward children and urban poverty
- Provision of extra lights in the evening for safety of children
- Berhampur Municipal Corporation and Berhampur Development Authority should allocate more budget for the maintenance of the parks.
Children’s resolved to meet various officers and planning department at BeMC and BeDA to convey their requirements and make the parks child friendly.
In this meeting Smurti Kumari Sahu, Mamali Das, K. Dipu, Puja Das, Papun Das and others members of Children’s federation presented and share their opinion.