Pratapgarh: For the first time, representatives of Bal Sansads (Children’s Parliaments) formed in tribal and rural areas of the Peepalkhoont and Suhagpura Panchayat Samitis visited the district headquarters and interacted directly with senior police and administrative officials.

The initiative is being undertaken with the support and guidance of Gayatri Seva Sansthan and Child Rights and You (CRY) to create greater awareness among children and communities about child rights and encourage children’s participation in local governance.

During the visit, Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police Vishal Jangid interacted with the Bal Sansad representatives and encouraged them to speak openly about issues affecting children. Addressing the students, he said that if they see something wrong happening to another child, if a child feels threatened or scared, or faces any difficulty, they should report it without hesitation.

The SP also shared his official contact details with the children and assured them that their concerns would be heard seriously. He explained various legal provisions related to child protection and informed the representatives about the role of Child Welfare Police Officers (CWPOs) appointed at police stations to deal with cases involving children.

Jangid encouraged the children to remain aware of their rights and appreciated the Bal Sansad initiative for providing children with a platform to raise issues concerning themselves and their communities.

The delegation subsequently visited the District Collector’s Office, where they interacted with Additional District Collector Vijesh Kumar Pandya. He briefed the children about various programmes run by the district administration, along with government schemes and facilities available for children. He also interacted with them to understand the issues and challenges they face.

Dr Shailendra Pandya, child-rights expert and Director of Gayatri Seva Sansthan, briefed the officials about the concept and functioning of Bal Sansads and the importance of children’s participation in rural communities. He also discussed the need for effective implementation of the Rajasthan government’s orders concerning Bal Panchayats in Pratapgarh district, so that children’s participation can be meaningfully linked with local governance.

During the visit, Bal Sansad representatives Vandana Meena, Nari Meena, Priya Yadav, Parmeshwar Meena and Sumit Anjana presented posters prepared by children to the officials. The representatives also apprised the authorities of local issues and problems concerning children in their respective villages.

The children described the direct interaction with district administration and police officials as an important learning experience. They said such interactions helped them understand their rights, government schemes and mechanisms available for raising complaints, while also giving them greater confidence to communicate their concerns directly to authorities.

Ramchandra Meghwal, District Coordinator, Gayatri Seva Sansthan, said that 30 children selected from different Bal Sansads participated in the visit. He added that the child representatives would return to their respective villages and share the information gained during the visit with other children through their monthly Bal Sansad meetings.