Launch of 'Our child our progress' - Child tracking system for collection, analysis of information for protection of children

An ambitious project of CRT, Our Child Our Progress (OCOP), child tracking system for collection and analysis of information for protection of children will be launched by Mr. Umesh Aradhya, Chairman, Karnataka State commission for protection of Child Rights [KSCPCR] on 29th March at EDC auditorium, Sheshadhri Road in the city at 10:30 am.

Mr. Sridhar Pabbisetty, Chief programmes officer at B.PAC; Ms. Shashikala Shetty, Project Director, Integrated Child Protection Scheme [ICPS], GoK; Ms. Suchitra Rao, Independent Development Consultant; Mr. Guruprasad, Partnership Manager, Railway Children, UK; Mr. William Gali, Country Director, Every Child, UK; Dr. Padmini, Trustee, Child rights Trust will take part in the programme followed by discussion on 'Status of children and the importance of collection and analysis of statistics in relation to children'.

Background

Well being, a better status and condition of children in any community defines the development indicator of a state or nation. For this purpose information related to children are collected in large numbers. Of late this kind of collection, analysis and reports are prepared with the help of computers and technology. But, still we find disparities in reports, analysis and reports due to non compatabilty in statistics collected by various NGO's and Govt departments that are working for upholding rights of children. The sum total effect of it, continued violation of Child rights.

In order to arrest these obstacles CRT has developed a web based software-Our Children Our Progress for collection and analysis of child centered information locally and generation of reports. Child cenered information gathering begins from womb till children complete their 18 year. With the help of this system, information will be collated and analysed and reports on the situation of children are provided to the service providers advocating them to uphold the rights of the children and to prevent exploitation.

This dream project of CRT has been tested with the financial support of EveryChild and technical inputs by Hooduku IT solutions. This software has been tested in the last two years in 20 Grama Panchayats at Rayabagh taluk, Belagavi District with the back up of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department of GOK. MASS, a local organisation and 25 volunteers took the responsibility of collecting on line data with house to house survey. The software has analysed the information for about 18,000 children from 6000 families (with children). This software generates reports that can be used at Panchayats, Anganawadi, Health centres, Schools, Police, Social welfare department and NGOs. All these can join hands with the Panchayats in understanding the ground realities about the status of the children and analyse the same and take measures to uphold rights of the children . This software also helps to curb the misuse of resources.

This Software helps to generate

1. Age wise children Report
2. Religion and cast based Children report
3. Report on Orphan Children
4. Report on Child Labour
5. Report on Birth registration
6. Report on children with disability from birth
7. Report on Child marriage and Minor pregnancy

Run with CRT and support the cause

One of the many celebrated events in Bangalore city, the TCS World 10K is nearly here with its seventh edition on Sunday the 18th of May, 2014. This time round, Child Rights Trust is participating in a bigger way and we invite you to join us.

Ms. Nina Nayak, former Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is our Care Champion and runs with us to create awareness on child rights and to raise funds for CRT.

We at CRT are aiming to have 80 to 100 runners for the Majja Run to support our cause towards realizing the rights of every child. You can aid our efforts by more than one means.

1. You can register for the Majja Run, be a part of our big group and help raise awareness on the importance of every right for every child and the significance of Right To Education. 

2. While you gear up to run, you can also be a Pledge Raiser and raise funds for our cause. You can use the following link to register or get in touch with us for your registration before 20th April 2014.

http://tcsworld10k.procamrunning.in/registration/application-fees-payment-modes/  

3. You can also sponsor individuals or groups to run for CRT 

4. You can make a donation either directly to CRT or through Bangalore Cares, Official Charity Partner of TCS World 10 K Bangalore to support the cause.

Your donation: 

You can write in to CRT for more details or use the bank account information given below to make direct donations.

The official Charity Partners of the event Bangalore Cares have also made it possible to donate online. In this kind of donation, 7% of the amount will be deducted by the Charity Partner. Please use the following link for this process: http://www.bangalorecares.in/seacheventngo/?eve=6&search=Child+Rights+Trust&x=0&y=0

A receipt with 80G certificate (50% tax exemption) will be issued to all donations made either directly to CRT or through the Charity Partner.

For More Details Contact

080- 41138285

CRT ran to help the children affected by flood in North Karnataka during 2010

Sunfeast Run and CRT-2010

CRT participated for the first time in the Sunfeast Run on May 23, 2010 and the experience was exhilarating to say the least.

Some of the runners before the start of the Sunfeast run (From L to R: Ms. Lakshmi, Dr. Padmini, Mr. Vasudeva Sharma, Mr. Vasanth from SICHREM, Mr. Nagasimha. G. Rao, Ms. Rashmi, Ms. Nina Nayak, Mr Srinivas from SICHREM)

While we were amongst the smaller groups running (20 of us), the enthusiasm levels were extremely high. 2 CRT members ran the 10 K while the rest participated in the 5.7 K. 

CRT team members at the starting line

CRT was running to raise money for a program to help children affected by the North Karnataka Floods that hit in late 2009. Details on this can be found here. 

The fundraising attempts before the run in itself proved to be quite a novel experience. From going office to office in our building (it is amazing how people work in the same building and never know who works next door) to a student mobilising money for us at a US university campus to a man at a photocopy center instantly donating Rs. 50 listening to our story.. the responses and reactions were truly heartwarming.

Mr. Nagaraj of CRT was quite the showstopper with his enthusiasm and endearing personality. Even the cop joined us in some of the fun!

The preparations for the actual run/walk in the process were sidelined with conversations leading up to the day being about whether we will survive the run/walk and if the weather gods will be on our side (Both of which went our way finally!). 

The only time they attempted to run was when the camera was on them:)

The energy and excitement at the event drew us all in and seeing the innovative ways in which various social messages were shared using the platform gave all of us ideas for the next time. 

CRT team members towards the end of the walk ( looking more tired than they would like to admit!)

We finally raised Rs. 35,000 through this run. While the amount hardly matches the lakhs that many other NGOs raise through the event and the team running was small, it gave us a glimpse into the possibilities this event holds. Everyone was brimming with ideas about how to organise ourselves better next time and all that we can do differently.

Mr. Nagasimha. G. Rao, Associate Director, CRT embracing the spirit of the run

So the day ended with a lot of fun, meeting many of our NGO colleagues along the way, a sense of satisfaction at having done our bits for a cause we work for everyday and a resolve to leave a bigger mark the next time around.

Press Meet on The Assurance for 40%

Analysis of the 2014 Lok Sabha Election Manifestos of Major Political Parties from Child Rights Perspective 

Bangalore, 11th April 2014: Karnataka Child Rights Observatory(KCRO) of which CRT is Secretariat welcomes the assurances made to children by various political parties in their election manifestos, which supports  ‘Today’s Children Today’s Citizens’ perspective. The needs of children, who constitute 40% of the population of India, are multifold. In the last two decades,  several networks and campaigns have  approached political parties with the most important issues surrounding children’s health, education, protection and participation. In the recent past, although political parties include child centred issues in their manifestos, we question the implementation and methodology adapted, quality and reach of the same.

We are doubtful about the high sounding list of assurances given by most political parties on health and education without mentioning about budgetary allocations. Only CPI(M) has indicated allocations of
about 6% and 5% of GDP for education and health respectively. Similarly, major parties continue to assure education, health and protection rights of children, without considering the definition of the
child, ‘up to 18 years’ as accepted in international forums. Even in this, CPI(M) has promised to provide free and compulsory education to every child in the age group of 3 to 18 years. Although
hundreds of programmes are announced at national and state level, violation and corruption of the same is experienced at the grassroots level. Our experience has shown that the services provided at anganwadis, health centres, schools, public distribution, welfare of the disabled, etc., improve and reach only when the local self governments and village /ward sabhas take the responsibility of monitoring. Aam Admi Party manifesto has the tone of ending corruption at the grassroots level too.

The major parties contesting for elections have repeated the list of promises made to children in the last two elections (2004 and 2009). Eg., improving quality in primary education; ending malnutrition, building toilets; preventing female foeticide; preventing child abuse and child labour; upholding the rights of children with disabilities; protecting the girl child, etc. The Indian National Congress, in its 10 years’ regime has succeeded in passing a few child centred Acts. But, in its current manifesto it
has accepted that the country is yet to solve problems of malnutrition and building toilets. BJP has assured to bring down child and maternal mortality rate. It has also promised to establish National Health Mission which would lessen the burden of common man from spending for healthcare and has also mentioned about providing clean potable water to arrest epidemics. In the present context, there is a need to establish forums for children at various levels to express their needs and aspirations and reach out to the Government. But, no party has made any attempt in this regard. Children below 18 yeas are one of the biggest chunks of the country’s population. Children are not voters. However, children are the citizens of this country. The MPs represent children too in the Parliament. KCRO continues to observe how the MPs represent children in the Parliament and outside. KCRO will monitor the functioning of the party/ alliance that comes to power in 2014 at the Centre, as to what kind of actions will be taken to uphold rights of the children in the next five years.

                                                     KCRO team at Press Club- Bangalore