Nearly 166 boys and girls will participate in a district-level ‘Bala Parliament’ for children organised by the Kudumbashree district mission this weekend.
The children—one boy and one girl—will represent the 83 Kudumbashree community development societies (CDSs) in the district. The Kudumbashree Balasabhas are children’s collectives, similar to those it has set up for women. These structured neighbourhood networks of children are intended to enhance children’s understanding of democratic processes and ensure their participation in the democratic space at the local body level.
The Balasabhas too adhere to the three-tier structure. At the bottom rung are the Balasabhas (neighbourhood group level). At the ward (area development society) level exist the Bala Samithis, while at the panchayat level (CDS), it is the Bala Panchayats.
