Bhima Sangha and Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana release their manifestos ahead of the General Elections 2019
Posted on April 03, 2019
3rd April, 2019
Release of the Bhima Sangha Manifesto: Your commitment to the voice of children?
It is the responsibility of organization such as CWC to uphold the fading voices and concerns of children, women and their communities during the time of the hustle and bustle of the elections. For the desire of votes, even though politicians lend a keen ear to what people have to say, of what has been heard during the elections, after elections, what actually translates as work for the betterment of people is a rarity. Even then, the ultimate opportunity to exercise our right in a democracy that comes once in 5 years, cannot be ignored.
Bhima Sangha is a union of working children advocating for the rights of working children across Karnataka. The members of Bhima Sangha are active in Bangalore, Udupi and Bellary districts. More than 60 representatives have come together (Facilitation of the process: The Concerned for Working Children) to put forward their manifesto to the candidates contesting in the upcoming general elections 2019. Those that have a genuine interest in upholding the well-being of children must consider this manifesto with great seriousness and importance.
Faced with poverty, migration, flawed education system, situations wherein the existence of their entire community has been jeopardized at a young age, such challenging situations have pushed children to work. These working children have put together aspects that would uphold their right to protection, provision and participation and strongly urge various candidates contesting in the elections to express their commitment towards realize their rights through the manifesto.
These children put an end to the days where children were seen are citizens tomorrow and proclaim that ‘Children are Citizens Today’. Children have effectively proclaimed that though one must be above 18 years of age to cast their vote, everyone, including children, must have equal rights in exercising their rights. In their manifesto, they firmly recognize that girls, adolescents, persons with disabilities and children with special needs deserve to be treated with equality and not equity.
A people’s democracy finds its true stronghold in the empowerment of people and in the strong commitment of people’s representatives to uphold democratic values. Unions such as Bhima Sangha who are the torchbearers of the future generation and pave the way for new development through their presence, they form a bright guiding light for our country. It would be a great achievement for civil society organisations such as CWC if the political parties take cognizance and take up the responsibility of protecting and upholding the rights of unions such as the Bhima Sangha.
Neelavathi (16) and Anjali (15), Hosadu panchayat, Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, Karnataka, who are working in the coastal areas to carry fish, have been members of the Bhima Sangha since the past 1 year. They submitted their manifesto to Mr. B Y Raghavendra, contesting for the general elections 2019 from the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency from the Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP).
Bhemavva (15) working in agricultural fields and Shivakumar (12), working as household help, from Hiremalanakeri panchayat, Huvina Hadagali taluk, Bellary district, have submitted their manifesto to Mr. Igol Chidanand, members of Indian National Congress Party (INC), contesting in the general elections from Bellary parliamentary constituency. They have submitted their manifesto to the taluk president of the Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP), Mr. M B Basavaraj and Chief Secretary of Bellary INC, Pujappa and have received acknowledgment regarding the same.
You can read the Bhima Sangha manifesto here: BhimaSanghaKarnatakaManifesto(GeneralElections2019)_Feb&Mar2019_CWC
You can read press coverage regarding the release of the Bhima Sangha manifesto here:
Prajavani (Bangalore Urban Edition)
Release of the Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Manifesto: Your commitment to the strengthening of local governance?
The Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana releases its manifesto today, looking forward to aspects that enable strengthening local-governance institutions towards functioning as local self-government in the manifestos of national political parties. The candidates contesting in the general elections 2019 must uphold the interests of representatives of the local self-government, members of the gram panchayats and the general public in the rural areas to progress towards strengthening decentralized democracy. GPHA also wishes to highlight that the implementation of any public welfare schemes can be successful only if decentralization exists in its full spirit.
As the Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 2016 is in force in the state of Karnataka, it would amount to a violation of the Act itself if the demands made in the manifesto are not upheld by the successive government in power. This manifesto has been drafted in consultation with the representatives of the local self-government, members of the gram panchayats and the general public in the rural areas in order to ensure the functioning of local-governance institutions as local self-government.
Read the GPHA manifesto here: GPHA Manifesto 2019 Final
