Slum kids submit their charter of demands to Odisha CM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 31:

More than 30 child leaders of Humara Bachpan Child Clubs along with other community members of different slums in Bhubaneswar presented their charter of demands to the Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik during the foundation stone laying of Rajiv Awas Yojna houses at Mandap slum and Munda Sahi slum in the city today.

“This is indeed a prerogative that needs to be delivered to us. We demand a child-friendly city. The slums are in a dilapidated condition and as child leaders we will channelize our advocacy to incorporate child-friendly components in schemes that aim at improving living conditions of children living in urban space”, said Master Subhajit, a Humara Bachpan child leader of a slum area near Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT) while submitting the charter of demands to the chief minister.

The child advocates, apart from handing over the charter of demands, also highlighted their dreams to transform the capital city into a child-friendly city.

Improper garbage cleaning, non-availability of dustbins, anti social activities in school compounds, unsafe housing, poor transport system, hazardous roads and pathways, non availability of public place for children, zero ventilated housing and non-supply of drinking water are the major problems of Mandap slum and Munda Sahi slum, the child leaders told the chief minister.

“I speak on behalf of my friends who get no space to play and also find it unsafe to stay in the slums due to lack of street lights around. Even the Rajiv Awas Yojana houses are not built properly. There is no proper ventilation and this poses serious health hazards for the children,” said Master Rupak, another child leader from Science Park slum.