In a first-of-its-kind, the Krishnagiri district administration has introduced an exclusive grievance day for children.
The first Sunday of every month has been allotted to the children to meet the collector and give petitions.
This time, nearly 50 children gathered in the collectrate and informed him about the need for women teachers to protect them from sexual abuse.
Children under the banner of federation of children’s movements for right to participation (FCMRP) said this grievance day should be organised in all districts.
Addressing the media here on Friday, they said, “Similar to Krishnagiri district, all the district administrations should spend some time for us.”
K.A. Saveetha, a class 9 student of Chennai, said children undergo many miseries which they cannot disclose to their teachers and parents.
“If the collector meets us every month, we can alert him about children’s problems in our neighbourhoods,” she said. Another member, K. Nagaraj from Theni, said child marriages could be prevented when senior officials lend an ear to child volunteers.
Speaking to DC, collector N. Maheswaran said children would discuss civic and other problems in their neighbourhood once in 15 days in their villages.
“They would approach the panchayat president to address their grievance. If their problems are not solved, they would bring the issues to my notice.
” As the kids would be busy in school during weekdays, the collector will meet them on Sunday mornings from 11 am to 1 pm.