In a first-of-its-kind digital initiative aimed at amplifying children’s voices in rural governance, the Karnataka government has directed all gram panchayats (GPs) to create dedicated Facebook pages centred on child rights and welfare. The move is part of a 10-week special campaign running from November 14 to January 26, designed to ensure that children’s concerns are heard, documented and acted upon at the grassroots level.
In a circular issued last week, Arundhati Chandrashekar, commissioner of the rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) department, instructed that each Facebook page must be titled “Makkala Hakkugala Rakshane” (child rights protection), preceded by the name of the respective gram panchayat. She emphasised that the pages should become active platforms for engagement with children. “Teachers and local NGOs should make the pages popular among children,” she directed, highlighting the role of community participation in strengthening the initiative.
Facebook pages to act as digital bulletin boards
According to the circular, every gram panchayat’s Facebook page will serve as a digital repository of issues concerning education, school functioning, health services, hostels, anganwadis, nutrition, child protection, disaster management, sanitation and water access. Panchayats have been instructed to upload questions, comments or concerns raised by children within their jurisdiction.
To ensure safety and privacy, the circular specifically warned officials against posting photographs of children, insisting that only development-related content be shared. The pages are expected to function as a transparent interface between children and local administrations, enabling officials to monitor recurring complaints or areas needing intervention.
Complaint boxes to amplify children’s voices offline
To complement the digital effort, RDPR has mandated the installation of “Makkala Dhani” (voice of children) complaint and suggestion boxes across schools, anganwadi centres, ration shops, libraries and other public spaces. Inputs collected from these boxes will be discussed during the special children’s gram sabhas scheduled throughout the campaign period.
Officials said the complaint boxes will offer a safe and accessible offline mechanism for children who may not be able to use social media or are uncomfortable expressing concerns publicly.
State-level training to include children
Department sources revealed that RDPR plans to conduct a state-level online training session for executive officers of taluk panchayats and panchayat development officers. Notably, the circular states that two children from each gram panchayat may also participate in this training — an inclusive move seldom seen in governmental training exercises.
The training will focus on enhancing officers’ ability to conduct children’s engagement activities effectively, ensuring uniformity in implementation across districts.
Campaign focus areas: health, nutrition, documentation and education
Beyond facilitating conversations, the campaign aims to drive tangible child welfare outcomes. Gram panchayats have been directed to ensure 100% registration of births and timely issuance of birth certificates, promote nutritious diets and vaccination awareness, identify school dropouts and bring them back to school, and support skill development for adolescents aged 14 to 18.
Panchayats have also been encouraged to organise sports events, cultural programmes and educational activities for children, turning the campaign into a community-wide celebration of child participation. Officials say the combination of digital platforms, physical infrastructure and community events will help bridge accessibility gaps.
A shift towards child-sensitive rural governance
According to RDPR officials, the campaign marks a significant shift in how rural local bodies approach child welfare. By using both online and offline channels, the state hopes to embed children’s perspectives within everyday governance processes. The initiative, they said, recognises children not merely as beneficiaries of services but as stakeholders whose voices deserve space in local decision-making.
As gram panchayats begin rolling out their Facebook pages and setting up suggestion boxes, the campaign is expected to serve as a model for participatory child-centric governance in rural India.