VCC

In Goa a special law, the Goa Children's Act(GCA) was passed in 2003 to protect the rights of children. Section 13 provides for the setting up one Village Child Committee (VCC) in every village and four or more City Child Committee (CCP) in each town or city to uphold the best interest of Children.
A scheme by the Department of Women &Child Development which entitles Village Child Committees to a grant of Rs 10,000: CRG organised an interface between VCCs, the DWCD and the Directorate of Panchayats, at which VCCs expressed their inability to function without any funds following which this scheme was introduced.
Areas which CRG Conducted VCC

1. Anjuna
2. Arambol
3. Assagao
4. Camurlim
5. Moira
6. Morjim
7. Salvador do Mundo
8. Sodiem
9. Verla Canca

Goa Children’s Act (GCA)

• Sec 13(8) provides for setting up of Village Child Comittees (VCCs) by each Panchayat
• Sec 13 (9) provides for setting up of 4 or more City Child Committees (CCCs) by each Muncipality / Corporation
• VCCs in the villages shall ensure best interests of each child
• VCC will interact with each government department to solve the problems of children in each village

Guidelines for VCCs

• VCC shall organise Bal Gram Sabhas once every six months
• VCCs shall invite all children in the village to attend the meeting and use the forum to enable children to voice their opinion
• VCC enables the formation of Bal Panchayat in the village and will encourage children to participate and voice their concern and offer suggestions

CRG Experience of Bal Sabhas

• CRG has facilitated Bal Sabhas for 7 Village Child Committees – Arambol, Morgim, Sodiem, Camurlim, Verla Canca, Anjuna & Assagao
• First VCC was started in Arambol in the year 2006
• From 2014-15 CRG has facilitated 14 Bal Sabha meetings organised by VCCs
• Some of the problems raised by the children are:- garbage, toilets, playground, drugs, pollution, noise, buses, electricity & water

Role of Bal Sabhas

• Provides children with platform to voice their concerns responsibly
• Gives them confidence to face authorities
• Helps improve the village and to make it child friendly
• Prepares them to be responsible citizens in the future

Balsaba -Morjim village child committee , Right to Environment.
Activity of planting of trees was taken up by the members of morgim village child committee and students of Vidyaprasarak High School and Peter Alvares High School. This activity was taken up as the children feel they should get good air to breath. Along with other rights they should get right to clean air and healthy environment.
1. Functioning Village and City Child Committees : CRG organised an interface between VCCs, the DWCD and the Directorate of Panchayats on 10 February 2014 at which VCCs expressed their inability to function without any funds. On 18 August 2014 the DWCD announced the 'Goa Village & Municipal Child Committee Grants and Awards Scheme 2014' enabling VCCs to apply for a grant of Rs 10,000. This is a welcome first step to encourage the setting up of Child Committees. But we have a long way to go as Goa has 190 villages and 14 municipalities/corporations and barely 20 functioning Village Child Committees.