International NGO Journal Vol. 1 (2), pp. 021-029, November 2006          
© 2006 Academic Journals

Article

Children as informed participants in governance

Lolichen P J

Assistant Director The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) 303/2, L B Shastri Nagar Bangalore – 560 017 India. E-Mail: loliblr@rediffmail.com;  cwc@pobox.com;  Web: www.workingchild.org      

Children have been the objects of research for centuries. Some of this research has been conducted perfunctorily in very short time spans. Their parameters are often determined by the funding agencies that do not allow for even the basic rigor to be followed arriving at erroneous results. Unfortunately, much of this research has informed the design of policy and action plans of governments and organisations. It is not surprising therefore that many of these policies have little or no effect on the ground realities of children. Some of them also result in programmes and interventions that actually harm children.