Viviid Emissions Reductions Universal Private Limited an avowed player in the field of Credible Global Carbon Portfolio Management is undoubtedly a strong sentinel of Environmental Sustainability, but when it comes to Social Sustainability it is no less agile. It has been very active in the communities of the geographies where its clients are generating clean energy or in those where its clients are running nature based solutions for that matter.
Concern for Environmental and Social Sustainability
Recently the company has initiated a Children’s Education and Empowerment Intervention in Chintalayapalle Village of Nandyal District in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with SAMATHA Society for Rural Education and Development – a grassroots NGO.
Education and Empowerment go hand in hand, therefore one of the key elements of the Intervention is to empower all children. When empowerment is reinforced with the tenets of democracy, changes that ensue are everlasting. This is precisely why a Bal Panchayat or Children’s Council has been formed in Chintalayapalle. Panchayat is a Hindi word that translates to ‘a council of five members’ in English. The Panchayat is headed by the Sarpanch (the candidate who gets the maximum number of votes).
Bal Panchayat or Children’s Council
All children between the age group 6 – 18 years were eligible for casting votes while the contestants were in the age group 10-18 years. Exactly on the lines of Adult Universal Suffrage, nominations were filed with the returning officer followed by scrutiny of nominations, creation of election manifestoes, canvassing, campaigning, polling, and declaration of results. 7 children contested the elections in Chintalayapalle Village, out of which 4 are girls.
Awareness building sessions on democratic processes
An exuberant poll bound Chintalayapalle over the last fortnight has witnessed several awareness building sessions on democratic processes; electoral roll compilation; nomination filing with Children’s Election Commission; multiple rallies steered by children; manifesto designing; a strong door to door campaigning drive by candidates; vibrant poll graffiti and active participation by school and assistive education teachers as poll officers. A total of 410 children in the age group 6 to 18 years were enrolled in the voters’ list, however the turnout was 72.68 % in this Bal Panchayat election held at Chintalayapalle Village earlier today. 131 girls exercised their franchise while 166 boys turned out to vote on Friday. One vote was declared invalid.
First ever Bal Panchayat in Nandyal District of AP
The youngest candidate Miss S. Indu who is a seventh class student has been voted to power as the Bal Sarpanch (President of the Children’s Council) while Master M Prem Chand, Miss K. Pravallika, Miss G Sindhu and Miss D. Siva Nandini have been voted in as the remaining four members of what constitutes the first ever Bal Panchayat in Nandyal District of Andhra Pradesh. Notably all the 4 girls who contested the election have been voted to power while only 1 out of the 3 boys who contested could make it to the Bal Panchayat at Chintalayapalle Village.
Chintalayapalle a child friendly village
The idea is straight forward! Since Chintalayapalle is on its journey to become a child friendly village, it is imperative to include children in the decision making process. The Children’s Council comes with unfettered rights in terms of participatory governance. The elected child representatives from the village will regularly keep meeting other children to understand the issues that they face in their communities or school. Children find it easy to open up among their peers and voice out their concerns. The elected child representatives thereafter will carefully note down these issues and prepare a charter of demands for the village. This charter of demands will be presented to the Constitutional Body, i.e. the Sarpanch of Village Panchayat and the Intervention Manager. Bal Panchayat will thereafter follow up with the Sarpanch and the Intervention Manager about the progress towards fulfillment of their demands. SAMATHA Society for Rural Education and Development as the Implementation Agency will steer the policy advocacy drive for reaching out to various Government Departments to ensure that the demands put up by the Children are fulfilled.
Participatory Governance is the cornerstone of Democracy: Puneet Katyal
Congratulating the newly formed Bal Panchayat, Puneet Katyal- Chief Executive Officer, Viviid Emissions Reductions Universal Private Limited in an official statement said, “Participatory Governance is the cornerstone of Democracy and I am happy that we have been able to catch them young at Chintalayapalle which is well on the trajectory to become a child friendly village. All the four girl candidates being voted to power is a credible indicator of how positive change has begun to set in.”
“We as an organization stand committed to both People and Planet in our endeavor to assist businesses to credibly navigate to a Carbon Neutral World. Our climate change mitigation strategy is impeccably pivoted around social sustainability for making the transformation more wholesome and inclusive. While we are incessantly doing our bit towards carbon neutrality, bringing a tangible and meaningful difference in the lives of the people in the geographies where our clients operate, is one of the most prominent differentiators.”, he added.
Related: CSR: Chintalayapalle on track to become a Child Friendly Village
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