Bal Sansad Election 2024
Today, we are talking about the aspirational district of Aurangabad in Bihar, specifically the Daudnagar block, where I, as a Gandhi Fellow, visited the Government Girls Middle School in Daudnagar. During my visit, I noticed that the school did not have a Bal Sansad. It made me wonder, "Why can't our girls become leaders?"
I started a conversation with those young girls, asking them if they were aware of the Bal Sansad. The girls fell silent, leading me to believe that I was asking the wrong question. Then, one girl hesitantly replied, "Yes, there used to be girls from Class 8, but they've moved to another school." I then asked them if they wanted to become Prime Minister, to which they laughed and said, "Can we really? "I replied, "Yes, of course!" Hearing this, the girls started laughing loudly and began debating, saying, "I'll be the Prime Minister! No, I'll be the Prime Minister!"
Then we started preparing for the elections. At first, we raised awareness among the girls about the roles and responsibilities of the Bal Sansad. The candidates were given the opportunity to conduct campaigns in their respective classes. They shared their ideas and encouraged their classmates to vote for them. The entire process took about a week.
On election day, August 2, 2024, the whole school was filled with a democratic atmosphere where every girl participated by casting her vote. This process provided the girls with the opportunity to learn leadership skills, responsibility, and cooperation. We successfully held the Bal Sansad election, with positions such as Prime Minister, Education Minister, Health and Sanitation Minister, Sports and Culture Minister, Library Minister, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister, and Security and Supervision Minister up for election.
After the voting, the results were announced, and the school was filled with excitement. The joy on the faces of the elected Bal Sansad members was a sight to behold. It made me a bit emotional, seeing the young girls, at such a young age, adorned with garlands of triumph. Afterward, we organized an oath-taking ceremony where the students pledged to fulfil their roles, responsibility and integrity.
The elected members of the Bal Sansad not only started discussing school issues but also actively participated in maintaining discipline, cleanliness, and addressing their peers' problems. In the future, the Bal Sansad will take part in various activities and play an important role in the development of the school.
The school's principal said, "The Bal Sansad election has played a crucial role in developing leadership and responsibility among the students."
This story didn't stop here. Videos and photos of the election began circulating throughout the block and district, sparking curiosity among other fellows to organize Bal Sansad elections as well. I conducted another election in Government Middle School, Beladi on September 11, 2024. Following this, I proposed holding elections in Government Middle School, Tarari, where the headmaster invited me to organize elections after the half-yearly exams.
Along with the elections, we have inspired active participation of Bal Sansad members in nearly 15-20 schools in Daudnagar block. This story doesn't end here. We are continuously striving to implement this system in all schools, ensuring that students get the opportunity to lead and make meaningful contributions.
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