Week 4 : Activity – Rights come with Responsibility

Type of Activity – School level activity, group activity

Contents

Week 4 : Activity – Rights come with Responsibility ........................................................................... 1

Type of Activity – School level activity, group activity ......................................................................... 1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1

Expected Outcomes ............................................................................................................................ 2

Estimated Time – 45-60 Minutes ....................................................................................................... 2

Note to the Facilitator (Desh Apnayen ACTIZEN Club President/Vice-President) ........................... 2

Steps for the activity – ....................................................................................................................... 2

Role Cards ........................................................................................................................................... 3

Statements – ....................................................................................................................................... 4

Debrief ................................................................................................................................................ 5

Introduction

The Indian constitution accords rights to children as citizens of the country, and in keeping with their

special status, the State has even enacted special laws. The Constitution, promulgated (to announce

something publicly, especially a new law) in 1950, encompasses most rights included in the UN

Convention on the Rights of the Child as Fundamental Rights.

Legal Rights of children in India

Constitutional Guarantees that are meant specifically for children include:

1. Right to free and compulsory elementary education for all children in the 6-14 year age

group (Article 21 A).

2. Right to be protected from any hazardous employment till the age of 14 years (Article

24).

3. Right to be protected from being abused and forced by economic necessity to enter

occupations unsuited to their age or strength (Article 39(e)).

4. Right to equal opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in

conditions of freedom and dignity and guaranteed protection of childhood and youth

against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment (Article 39 (f)).

Source - http://vikaspedia.in/education/child-rights/child-rights-and-protection

Expected Outcomes

Students will be able to -

1. Understand the concept of rights and duties they have as children or citizens of India

2. Understand the importance of rights and recognise their responsibilities.

3. Develop empathy for those people who are not empowered to make their own choices in the

society.

Estimated Time – 45-60 Minutes

Preparation and Materials

Adapted role cards, enough cards for one per pair.

Note to the Facilitator (Desh Apnayen ACTIZEN Club President/Vice-President)

Steps for the activity –

1. Divide the students into groups/make pairs of 2 students.

2. Distribute the role cards to each pair and ask them to think about the person for 5 minutes,

about him/her, lifestyle, daily routine, facilities available, home environment and discuss the

character sketch of the role with each other. (If Roles are not enough for the group,repeat

the character and distribute to the pairs)

3. 1 student from each team will become a participant in the activity after discussion. Other

students will observe the activity and become audience.

4. Ask the participants to stand in a line, side by side, and facing you.

5. Tell the participants, ‘I am about to read out a series of statements. If you think your

character displayed on the Role card would answer ‘yes’ to the statement, take a step

forward, if you think the answer is a ‘no,’ stay where you are.’

Besides, Children also have rights as equal citizens of India, just as any other adult male or female:

1. Right to equality (Article 14)

2. Right against discrimination (Article 15)

3. Right to personal liberty and due process of law (Article 21)

4. Right to being protected from being trafficked and forced into bonded labour (Article 23)

5. Right of minorities for protection of their interests (Article 29)

6. Right of weaker sections of the people to be protected from social (complete)

Role Cards

A student at your school

A student of Government school

A child working in the glass factory

An older child having 4 siblings at home, not going to school

Your Principal’s daughter

An orphan

A child selling flowers at a red light

Daughter of your housemaid

A politician’s son

Daughter of the watchman of your school, married at

the age of 14

Daughter of a Construction worker

Son of Businessman

Student of another country, who recently joined your

school

Sports captain of the school

Son of the Sweeper/cleaner of your street

Statements –

1. I feel safe in my community all the time

2. I have the spare time to watch movies and spend time with my friends and play games

3. I will be eligible for a vote at the age of 18

4. I can practice my religion and am not forced to follow others

5. I never sleep hungry

6. I can get admission in the most famous school in my city

7. I am eligible for reservation benefits for government schemes

8. I am confident that I can get a better job than my parents have

9. I get to see and talk to my parents as and when I want

10. I am getting consulted in family decisions

11. I am satisfied with my life and can do something for my community

12. I get a say in local decisions in the classroom/school

13. I can afford proper treatment in any hospital when get sick

14. I am not in danger of being beaten up at home

15. When I go to social gatherings, I can speak for myself and my family

16. I can afford to give expensive gifts to my friends

17. I can pay for the school picnic to a hill station

18. I can quit the job and seek admission in a school school

19. I can participate in National and International level competitions/championships and can

afford to travel anywhere for the same

20. I can support my parents by earn something

21. I can go for a family outing every Sunday

22. I have a passport, and I can go for foreign trips

23. I can attend late-night parties with friends

24. I can drive a motor vehicle

25. My parents are invited for school functions and PTAs regularly

After you have finished, ask the group to put their Role Cards on the floor and stand with their

partners so that they all can see the position of all of the role cards.

Debrief

Ask questions to the Students/Pairs -

1. Do you still think that we all have equal rights in society?

2. Why are some people left out even ifthey have equal rights?

3. Is there any difference in treatment of people with a difference in age, caste, gender,

religion, socio-economic status, etc.?

If you feel that we all should enjoy the equal rights, then always remember that “Rights come with

Responsibility.”

Now each pair will say 1 statement about their rights and responsibilities.

For e.g. . –

1. We have the right to education, but we should help someone with their studies who do not

have access to education.

2. We have the right to express our opinion in the family, but we should respect the idea of all

our family members.