Pipra Paschim to be declared 'child friendly'

Kathmandu, Nov. 16: Pipra Paschim, a northern village of Saptari, is in the final stage of being declared as the 'Child Friendly VDC'.

Secretary of the VDC Tek Bahadur Khadka said that the village had written a letter to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) asking to declare the village as the child friendly as it had met most of the indices of the child friendly local governance (CFLG).

The village had begun to apply the CFLG standards about a decade ago to institutionalise child protection, child development and child participation in local level policy making, structure, system and behavior.

The village officially announced to go for the child friendly local governance through Village Council meeting four years ago.

Following the announcement, five additional early childhood development centres were constructed in 2013.

The village was declared 'open defecation free' and 'universal vaccination' village in 2014. 

"We are waiting for the response of the Ministry. The VDC office is preparing the village and child profile. Rest of the indices of CFLG have been met," said Khadka.

Pipra has 1,707 children below 18 years of age. All of them go to school.

Four years ago, only 80 per cent children used to go to school.

The Child Clubs formed at the ward and school level, and Child Club Network at the village level have been assisting the village in developing the child-friendly infrastructure, run campaign for education, sanitation, child development and against various social maladies like liquor and tobacco.

The government has made a provision that every local body should allocate 10 per cent of its annual budget for the CFLG.

The children suggest the VDC where and how to spend the budget through their Child Council Meeting organized once in a year in January.

"We ask budget for developing the sports infrastructure in every ward, birthing centre, sports and other competitions on Children's Day, run awareness campaign against child marriage, child labour and drugs," said Ramita Tharu, treasurer of Naba Jyoti Child Club of the village.

This year, 81 children, including members from marginalised, dalits, indigenous and minority community participated in the council meeting.

After the initiation of CFLG in the village, children have been representing at the School Management Committee and Health Management Committee.

Headmaster of Janata Lower Secondary School Rajeshwor Prasad Chaudhary said that the representation of children in the management committee had helped bring positive results.

"They have been pivotal in bringing change in teachers' behaviour, suggesting required infrastructure, creating educational environment in school and maintaining it," he said.