Humara Bachpan child clubs present ‘Dream Map’ to Bhubaneswar Mayor

BHUBANESWAR: In an inspiring move, children from the OUAT Farmgatebasti here made an attempt to exemplify the ‘social maps’ of their slum highlighting various requirements of their locality.

Facilitated by the Humara Bachpan Child Clubs, around 45 children from the slum made a series of maps to demonstrate the needs and demands of their locality. After a week of enervating collection of data and careful analysis of issues in their basti, the child leaders were successful to create a roadmap in the form of a ‘Dream Map’ of the slum.

On Sunday, the child leaders of the club conducted an event at their Basti inviting Government representatives and presented their maps to BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena and Deputy Mayor K Shanti along with their respective demands.

Mayor Jena said “I will make sure that the children’s matter is taken into cognizance and will support the Humara Bachpan and the child leaders to give them all the necessities they seek”.

“We want individual toilets in our houses as children are defecating in open due to lack of toilet facilities. And, we can’t use the community toilet as it is locked,” said 13-year-old Narayan.

Humara Bachpan Campaign national head Preetiprada said that it is a remarkable change to see children planning their own neighbourhood and attempt to bring about policy level changes. Smart cities should not only be technologically advanced but must imbibe the aspirations of children to ensure more child-friendly cities, she added.