Date:11/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/11/stories/2006051108890300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

`Introduce children's rights in curriculum'

Staff Correspondent

`Makkala Dani' marks the end of month-long `Chinnara Mela'

MYSORE: A large number of children who participated in "Chinnara Mela" at various places, including Mysore, Sagar and Tiptur, on Wednesday urged the Government to introduce a chapter on children's rights in the curriculum.

They submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner here in this regard. Rangayana director Chidambara Rao Jambe said the children decided to submit the memorandum during the "Chinnara Mela" and resource persons helped them in drafting it.

In the memorandum, they said the system of homework should be abolished and school going made a pleasurable exercise. Children should not be coerced to study. Besides having a big playground, every school should have proper lighting, toilet and drinking water, they said.

Their other demands are creating awareness about the rights of children and punishment to those who violate such rights; exposure to extra-curricular activities such as theatre, dance, music, yoga and others, and exploring the possibility of using performing arts as a medium of instruction.

Earlier, they took out a procession as part of "Makkala Dani", a convention of children organised by Rangayana to mark the end of "Chinnara Mela". Arundhati Nag flagged off the procession.