Kolkata, March 29: Ahead of West Bengal Assembly polls, hundreds of marginalised children have started a campaign to reach out to various political leaders and put forward their demands related to education, health, safety and protection from trafficking.
To make themselves heard, they will soon start a radio campaign too.
13-year-old Sony Khatoon, recently met Trinamool Congress leader and minister Firhad Hakim.
“He was in our area for campaigning and when I went to him he gave me a chocolate. I said I don’t want that chocolate but want the drain to be cleaned regularly. He promised me to get the work done,” Khatoon, who lives near the Kolkata Port area, said.
Chittapriyo Sadhu, state head of NGO ‘Save the Children’ which is supporting them, said there are plans to write letters to all political parties to press for the children’s demands and will soon start a campaign in FM radio channels also.
“When political parties are going to the electorate to seek votes there is no platform available for children. We want them to make children a priority area,” he said, adding the organisation wants children to meet political parties candidates and make them understand their needs.
An analysis of manifestos of political parties show that some promises have been made by them to address child rights, he said.
“But we don’t know how much of them will materialize. We want it in the political agenda,” Sadhu said.
