New initiative by Cyberabad Municipal Corporation to take children's views in urban planning

The Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) is now planning to make children partners in the city's planning. To understand how children want to see their neighbourhood and the city in which they are growing up, the Corporation will invite them to present their concerns and suggest improvements. For this purpose, the 'Child-Friendly CMC' initiative has been undertaken in collaboration with UNICEF.

According to a report by The Hindu, under this initiative, the Corporation is planning to reach out to children living in government schools, youth schools, Anganwadis, and orphanages. Through this consultation, an attempt will be made to understand what the needs of the children are, what matters concern them, and what kind of changes they wish to see in their neighbourhood.

To hear the voice of children across the entire city, CMC aims to identify at least 152 resource persons in its 76 wards, which will include two to three persons in each ward. The Corporation plans to run a 'Listening to Children' campaign from 20 to 23 November in reference to Child Rights Day.

The timeline of this process includes an orientation programme for CMC officials in the first week of November and training for the selected resource persons in the second week. Discussions regarding this initiative were held in a meeting organised to review the functioning of the Urban Community Development (UCD) and Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) departments. This meeting was chaired by CMC Commissioner G. Srijana.

The meeting also focused on increasing livelihood opportunities for women. The Corporation has directed officials to prepare a target-based plan to form 10,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) within their jurisdiction. The Commissioner instructed officials to set circle-wise targets for SHG formation and to prepare a five-month action plan to strengthen bank linkages.

Furthermore, a deadline of 31 December has been set for establishing Indira Mahila Shakti Canteens at all circle and zonal offices as well as the main office. Commissioner Srijana also instructed officials that shelter facilities should be available in every circle and that the scope of night-shelter facilities for the city's homeless should be expanded.