BANGALORE: Six children from Vignan Nagar Ward under K R Puram constituency participated in a Ward Sabha or a ward meeting along with representatives from the BBMP, corporators, MLAs and 500 students.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, an urban body listened to the grievances of school students.
The children grabbed the attention of the representatives and even convinced MLA Nandish Reddy to commit to a campaign to save the Vibhutipura Lake, which was facing out threat.
Radhika, a student of Ramaswamipalya Tent School raised concerns over the lack of toilets in her school.
“We have 130 students in our school but have no place to build toilets.
The Annasandrapalya school does not have water facility for toilets.
This needs action from authorities concerned,” she said, to which Mahdevapura Zone Joint Commissioner Devaraj assured action.
“Soon, Cauvery water will be available in this area.
Drainage pipes too will be laid in the next couple of months,” Devaraj assured.
Other issues raised were poor condition of roads adjoining schools, open drains and the need for more anganawadi’s and tent schools in the area.
The children’s Ward Sabha was organised by the Concerned for Working Children (CWC), a child rights organisation, along with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Stressing the need to treat the city as their own, S Harish, Deputy Mayor said, “Things will not change until the citizens take ownership.
We need to manage our resources effectively to be able to meet the needs of all people in the city.”