Now,a newsletter on child rights

A tri-monthly to begin with,the first issue of Balwarta for the months November to January included the programmes conducted by the council for underprivileged children,the failures as well as successes of the programmes and so on. “The circulation of the first issue was over 2000 copies across Maharashtra,but looking at the response,we are planning to increase the number to 6000 for the January to March issue,” added Mehendale. Currently,the newsletter consists of eight pages and according to Mehendale,“Our target readers are orphanages,child relief organisations,commoners and all those agencies that have been dealing with issues related to children.”

Commenting on Balwarta,not to be misunderstood as a newsletter for children,Mehendale added,“This is not a magazine or an issue for children but for adults to understand the rights that children have. Though the current issues are not targeted to be read by children,we are planning to make the modifications so that even children can read the newsletter .” Handled completely by the administration team of the council,the authorities have in pipeline,the plans of inviting freelancers and citizen journalists for writing in the issues. “This however depends on the response that we get from the readers. On the basis of the response,we are also open to ideas such as cartoons,caricatures and illustrations that send across the message to the readers in a friendly and lighter manner. Gradually in fact we are looking forward to ideas from children as well,” added Mehendale.