:: Bala Sanghams

While addressing the issues of concern the Sangham women realized the need for a forum for adolescent girls, thus evolved Cheli Sanghams. Building awareness, accessing information and sensitization towards child rights, reproductive health and various forms of gender discrimination was the focus of these Cheli Sanghams. In the course of action it was felt that boys also should be part of this process for a sensitized second generation. It led to the transformation of Cheli Sanghams to Bala Sanghams. The Balasanghams are strongly articulating child rights issues and are working towards reducing gender disparities. With their initial successes, they are forging ahead towards a stronger forum - Balapanchayat. Bringing child rights into reality is not the responsibility of children alone but the elders should play a pro-active role towards this. Keeping this in view Child Rights Protection Committees are formed at cluster level with representation from Sangham, parents, youth, Sarpanch and members of local bodies. There has been a lot of thrust on capacity building of the members with a view to facilitating positive change and strategic shift in gender roles. There have also been attempts to facilitate forum of adolescents at district and state level to voice their concerns and enable easy access to child rights. At present there are 1633 Bala Sanghms across all the APMSS project districts and the membership is 44,718 boys and girls. » Read more about Bala Sanghams