Why should I Vote
for leaders who care for Children?
At 400 million, children constitute 41% of India's population. And in most constituencies,
children are in the majority than adults.
In spite of the plethora of issues that children face,
their problems are either ignored or forgotten by political parties and policy makers, because they
are not their vote bank.
Thus, since the children do not have the right to vote, these children
trust us, the rest 60%, to use our 'Right to Vote' responsibly and choose a government that's
receptive to the issues of India's children.
Why think about
children?
Around 20% of Children between 6 & 14
years do not go to school.
2, 20,000 children are HIV infected. A very large percentage of them
have no proper access to treatment and are uncared for.
12.6 million Children work in hazardous
occupations.
40% of women sex workers enter into prostitution when they are still children (i.e.,
before they are 18 yrs old)
47% of children are malnourished
74% of children below 3 years are
anemic.
But the budget allotted to address issues of 400 million children was just less than 5%
of the total budget.
What do the children
want?
Following is a 10 point “Children’s
Manifesto” that children from across the country have put together as part of the ‘Bal Adhikar
Sabha’ organized by World Vision India.
Every Child to be immunized, every pregnant mother
receive nourishment and care, every village has a hospital with doctors.
Free, compulsory,
quality and inclusive education for all children till they complete eighteen years.
Every village
has a school, every panchayat a school upto std. 12.
Value-based education should be part of the
regular curriculum to enable children to make right decisions in future.
No discrimination on the
basis of caste, gender, religion, poverty, disability, colour, appearance or migrant
status.
Children should be included in all the development programmes organized by society and by
the Government. In every area a special cell should be formed to look after the children's
problems.
Protection for children from all forms of abuses and severe punishment for
perpetrators.
Bal Mitra Police and Bal Adalats for protection of children.
Extension of
National Child Labour Project to every district.
25% of allocation in Budget for children who
form 40% of the population.
What can you do to
help?
There are a lot of ways in which you
can help children. But as elections are round the corner, there are two things that you have to do
now.
Go and Vote.
Before you Vote, remember that you will be representing 40% of India
(children) who can’t vote. So vote responsibly and vote for leaders/parties that are receptive to
the issues faced by children.
Your choice will make all the
difference. Press the Right Button
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender.
