Bengaluru: In a significant democratic exercise reflecting children’s participation in governance, the Children’s Cabinet of Bengaluru-based Sparsha Trust has submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for inclusion in the Karnataka State Budget 2026–27.
Addressing the Chief Minister at Vidhan Soudha, the children urged the state government to prioritise education, child safety, healthcare, nutrition, and mental well-being, aligning their proposals with national child protection laws and international child rights frameworks.
Sparsha Trust, a child protection organisation working in Karnataka for over two decades, runs a girls’ Children’s Home near Devanahalli and a boys’ Nature Village, Nisargagram, near Hesaraghatta. In both centres, elected Children’s Cabinets actively function as platforms for leadership, dialogue and civic engagement.
According to the organisation, the recommendations are grounded in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and reflect discussions, field observations and lived experiences of children across Karnataka.
“Empowering young voices in the budgeting process strengthens democratic values and ensures that policies address the real needs of future generations,” said Nagasimha G. Rao, Child Rights Activist associated with the initiative.
Quality Education and Infrastructure
The Children’s Cabinet called for strengthening infrastructure in government schools, ensuring adequate teacher appointments, and improving overall learning quality. They also emphasised the need to identify and reintegrate out-of-school children into the education system with sufficient budgetary support for child-centred education models.
The children demanded strict identification of working children, comprehensive rehabilitation measures, and financial assistance for affected families to prevent child labour.
Child Safety and Protection
Raising concerns about violence and abuse, the Cabinet recommended stronger safety mechanisms in schools, homes and public spaces. They urged allocation of funds to build child-friendly cities and communities, and emphasised awareness and effective implementation of the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Health, Nutrition and Mental Well-being
The recommendations stress free health check-ups, improved mid-day meal schemes and strengthened Anganwadi services to combat malnutrition and anaemia. Importantly, the Cabinet proposed appointing trained counsellors in every school to address mental health concerns and create stress-free learning environments.
Preventing Child Marriage and Digital Risks
The Children’s Cabinet also sought stricter enforcement to prevent child marriage and teenage pregnancy through village-level monitoring and awareness campaigns. Recognising emerging digital challenges, they called for community-level digital safety education to protect children from online threats.
Institutionalising Child Participation
One of the key demands includes strengthening Children’s Cabinets and organising Children’s Gram Sabhas and ward-level meetings, ensuring children’s opinions are formally recognised in governance processes. Budget allocation for institutionalising child participation platforms was also proposed.
The Children’s Cabinet concluded that safeguarding child rights is a shared responsibility of the government and society. Expressing confidence in the leadership of the Chief Minister, they urged the state to make Karnataka safer, more inclusive and opportunity-rich for every child in the upcoming Budget 2026–27.
