Children plan to meet President and PM

Varanasi, June 18 (UNI) Two children, who represented India at a recent international meet on child rights in Kathmandu, plan to meet President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand for a national child rights policy.

Roshan and Soni Bano, both aged 13 and hailing from Lohta and Chiraigaon area here, said they are contemplating meeting both Dr Kalam and Dr Singh to raise the demand for a national child rights policy.

''Children form 45 per cent of the country's population, but are a neglected lot, as all decisions about their life are taken by their parents or family elders,'' said the two, who were among six Indian child participants at the International Meet on Children Rights and Participation in the Nepalese capital from June 6 to 9.

Children from eight countries participated at the meet organised by Save the Children -- a Swedish Agency and TDH, a German initiative.

''When the country can have national policies on various counts, why can a Child Rights Policy not be formulated,'' they asked.

The two are children of carpet and saree weavers who live in abject poverty.

''We want a national policy of our own to be implemented by a Child Rigts Commission, much on lines of Minority and SC/ST and Women Commission, where decisions concerning children will be taken after taking into account our aspirations,'' Roshan, who wants to become a doctor, said.

''We do not even have the freedom to wear the dress of our choice or play games we want as it is decided by parents. We will first write to both Dr Kalam and the PM. If they give us time, we will meet them and explain the rationale behind the demand for a national policy,'' Soni added.

Both Soni and Roshan, members of Bal Adhikar Manch, a forum for downtrodden children, facilitated by local NGO Human Welfare Association (HWA) said the national policy should take care of the 54 rights enlisted by the Child Rights Convention (CRE) of United Nations in 1993.

HWA Director Rajnikant said the letter will be sent by the Bal Adhikar Manch soon to both Dr Kalam and Dr Singh.

Besides Soni and Roshan, four more children -- including two from tsunami-affected Tamil Nadu and the remaining from Maharashtra had participated at the Kathmandu Meet.

UNI ARS VS LR RK1450