Dimapur, Oct. 20 (EMN): The deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Sachin Jaiswal, stated that the children’s parliament is one of the best platforms for children to hone their leadership skills.
Delivering the keynote address at the annual interface meeting and second general session of the District Children’s Parliament (DCP) held at Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) training centre on October 20, Jaiswal stated that children have a vital role to play in ensuring that the democratic system and values are upheld, an update from DAN stated.
“Together with learning about their rights, the children have to understand the importance of their duties as the future of their communities and the country,” Jaiswal said.
He exhorted the young leaders to make their voices heard in different platforms in regard to the issues that are affecting progress and development.
“Children should seek to understand the process of elections in their respective locations and start working towards ensuring free and fair elections,” the DC added.
Jaiswal further stressed on need to ensure gender equality in the families, institutions, communities and the country at large for sustainable development.
In the focus group discussions (FGD) held with the resource persons, members of the children’s parliament had an opportunity to directly interact with the resource persons and get to know about the functions and processes and procedures in respective institutions, it informed.
In the common debriefing session that followed, the children presented the key learning they had during the FGDs. It added that the resource persons have encouraged the children to actively engage with the departments and also share the learning with their friends and family.
Dr. Tiamenla Phom, ADCP of Women and Juvenile; Temsuyanger Ao, SMO of district mental health programme; Shikato Zhimo, SWI of DWO, Dimapur; Weri-u Mero, centre coordinator of Sakhi One Stop Centre; and Susan Lotha, chairperson of CWC Dimapur; were the resource persons of the focus group discussions.
The event was attended by 65 representatives from six institutions and two neighbourhood parliaments.
The DCP also held its second annual general session where the institutional and neighbourhood children’s parliaments presented the reports of the activities undertaken by them.
The director of DAN, Rev. Fr. Sajan Joseph, expressed gratitude to the deputy commissioner and the officials from departments, who could spared their time to inspire the children to be leaders of tomorrow.
He exhorted the children to identify the concerns that affect them and voice them out in the right platforms.
“When you become the voice of the voiceless, you become leaders to serve our people,” Fr. Joseph said.