Telangana Children Parliament Gives 96 Girls a Voice in Democratic Decision-Making

Hyderabad, June 12, 2026: Ninety-six adolescent girls stepped into the role of lawmakers at the Telangana State Children Parliament, using debate, dialogue and consensus-building to address issues affecting children across the State and demonstrating the value of democratic participation in shaping solutions.

Held at the Old Legislative Council Hall on June 10–11, the Parliament was organised by SERP in partnership with Montfort Social Institute. Designed to cultivate democratic values while providing rural children with an opportunity to participate in parliamentary processes, the programme enabled girls aged 15–18 to discuss challenges and propose practical solutions.

The girl parliamentarians deliberated on a wide range of issues affecting children in Telangana, including education, health care, gender equality, cyber safety, tribal welfare, labour and migration, and social justice. Their discussions resulted in a set of recommendations that were adopted unanimously and will be submitted to the concerned government departments.

Divya Devarajan IAS, CEO of SERP, anchored the programme. Anasuya Seethakka, Minister for Women Development and Child Welfare, administered the oath to the members of the Parliament. She advised the children to use every opportunity to become better human beings and improve the situation of people in the State.

Addressing the gathering, Dana Kishore IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayath Raj, said that the new generation of children represented in the Parliament needed to be equipped to face the future with courage, commitment and humanising values of love, compassion and justice. He also advised them to be constant learners with a habit of reading good books.

The programme was curated by Montfort Social Institute under the guidance of Varghese Theckanath, Director. Joseph Rathinam, an internationally known Master Trainer, guided the children through the parliamentary process.

Through debate, representation and collective decision-making, the Telangana State Children Parliament provided a space for young girls to engage with democratic processes while contributing their perspectives on issues affecting children in the State.

By Catholic Connect Reporter