The Child Rights Advocacy project, the Bal Sabha Manch (BSM), by CSA, offers a platform to build capacities and raise voices for child rights. It trains the children to identify issues and initiate action at various government levels throughout the project period.

Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions were conducted with the partners across all three phases in Raigad District (Phase I – 4 ToT’s, Phase II – 2 ToT’s & Phase III – 2 ToT’s). For our partners in the Thane and Mumbai districts, yearly schedules were provided to the animators along with resource materials for conducting the sessions.

The ToT sessions have built the capacity of the grassroots social workers and animators and their knowledge of child rights has improved. This in turn has had a positive impact on the children who are now identifying issues and networking with stakeholders at various levels of the government to resolve these issues.

Issues such as water tap installation, school dropouts, Bal Sabha timings, Samaj Mandir repairs, cleaning of wells and drainage lines, and road repairs were resolved. Additionally, two child marriages were stopped in Raigad. The children’s parents have also played an important role by visiting the primary school to test the food quality, and now they are getting proper nutrition.

Children have also used different mediums of expression such as posters, slogans, street plays, rallies, etc. to spread awareness on issues such as child labour, child marriage, environmental degradation and pollution, child abuse, health and hygiene, etc.

Exposure visits to various government departments and other institutions such as the Primary Health Center, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC), Nagar Palika, Post Office, Banks, Gram Panchayat Office, ICDS (Integrated Child Development schemes), and BDO (Block Development Officer) office, etc. has helped the children understand the structure and functioning of these departments.

Feedback from children, animators, CCO staff, and Wadi Prerika related to the TOT training has been positive. Providing resource materials was beneficial for taking sessions, understanding 54 articles on child rights, and increasing leadership skills. Overall, the children’s participation in Bal Sabha and Gram Panchayat has increased, and their public speaking skills and confidence levels have improved.