The key staff at the Diocesan Social Service Societies (DSSSs) of Karnataka getting the grip on Caritas India strategic pillars to achieve greater relevance in the lives of the poor and nation-building.

DSSs Staff in Karnataka State has attended a day-long refresher on ‘mainstreaming key strategic pillars and children parliament’ conducted by Karnataka Regional Organization for Social Service (KROSS) on April 1, 2022.

Since 2018, Caritas India has started its Strategic Plan implementation across the country through the Regional Forums and Diocesan Social Service Societies. The strategy was based on the development philosophy and Caritas India’s theory of Change which was manifested through its four strategic pillars i.e. Empowering Animation, Dialogue, Volunteering and Sharing Communities.

“To develop leadership qualities among children, child parliament is one of the platforms,” shared Dr. Y. Mariswamy, Member of Karnataka State Child Labour Eradication Project Society Labour Department, Former Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) and Former Member of Justice N. K. Patil Committee on Child Malnutrition, who was one of the resource persons for the day. He was emphasizing on the importance of children’s parliament and child development, which is one of the focus communities of Caritas India.

KROSS after must introspection and dialogue identified Children and smallholder farmers as their priority communities to implement their strategic plan in their development programs.

“In children’s parliament, children learn to identify the social issues, bring them to the notice of concerned persons or departments. These exercises enhance not only the knowledge of children but also children develop confidence and leadership qualities,” explained Dr. Mariswamy. He also shared about different child rights wings such as the District Children Protection Unit (DCPU), Women & Child Welfare Department (WCWD), Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), etc.

Mr. Robert D Souza, Caritas State Associate helped the participants to understand Caritas India’s strategic actions points and indicators of Empowering Animation, Dialogue, Volunteering and Sharing Communities.

Fr. Richard Pais, Director, KROSS, Bengaluru, reiterated the Catholic Social Teaching Values which helped in working with a positive attitude. KROSS Regional Perspective plan was presented and deliberated during this meeting.

As part of the action plan, the participants decided to Identify existing children’s clubs/children’s parliament in the Diocese, facilitate the formation of children’s clubs and promote network and alliance building of these clubs with the purpose of children becoming aware and are encouraged to dwell on the issues that affect children against the four Pillars of Child Rights- (Right to Survival, Development, Protection and Participation). They also decided to create awareness in parishes and SHGs on children’s gram sabha and child rights. The need for a collective monthly discussion on the progress was shared by all the partners at the end.