"Issues of children are not being talked about in election manifestos. Is it because we do not have votes? We do not have basic amenities in schools. There are no subject teachers, no toilets. As girls, we face numerous problems. This is forcing us to drop out of the school," voiced Jyothi, a Class IX student of Vijayawada, at a Unicef programme in the city on Monday. Free and compulsory basic education, elimination of child labour, addressing issues of migrant children, protection of every child from violence, exploitation and abuse, monitoring of missing children database, ensuring basic amenities at schools were some of the demands put forth by the children and NGOs working for child rights, at the programme.
A Uma Devi, from Golconda High School, said there is no proper bus facility to the school. "One toilet is being shared by 500 students in the school. Corporate schools have several amenities but we are asking only for the basic," said Uma, who was one among 30 children from various parts of AP representing children and NGOs working for children's issues in AP.
