Kudumbashree holds children’s parliament

A children’s parliament was organised by the Kudumbashree in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

Going beyond classroom education, programmes such as children’s parliament help foster a socially committed generation, Antony Raju, MLA, has said. He was speaking after inaugurating a children’s parliament organised by the Kudumbashree here on Thursday.

Mr. Raju said the parliament would give children a clear idea about democracy and functioning of Assembly and Parliament. The children should be able to transform such valuable knowledge into an impetus to grow and evolve, he said.

The parliament, held at the Old Assembly Hall at the Secretariat, saw the children raise razor-sharp questions, give strong replies, move adjournment motions, and stage a walkout.

Organised to provide them an opportunity to understand the importance of democracy and Constitutional values, the parliament witnessed the children raise issues such as health, education, environment, sanitation, and gender justice.

As many as 165 children – 154 who had performed excellently in the district-level children’s parliaments organised by the Kudumbashree and 11 from Attappady – participated in the State-level parliament. They represented 4.59 lakh children who are members of 31,612 Balasabhas in the State.

The Minister handed over the ‘Arivoonjal’ magazine brought out by the Kudumbashree’s Balasabha by handing it over to Kudumbashree Executive Director Jafar Malik and gave away certificates to the children.