By Chandan Singh | New Delhi
Patna: UNICEF on Saturday convened a high-level legislative dialogue on child rights in Patna, bringing together lawmakers, committee heads and policy experts to deliberate on strengthening legislative oversight and improving outcomes for children across Bihar.
The consultation, held at Hotel Chanakya, was chaired by the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Shri (Dr.) Prem Kumar. Discussions focused on key issues affecting children, including health and nutrition, education and learning outcomes, sanitation, child protection, adolescent development and inclusion of marginalised communities.
Addressing the gathering, the Speaker said that in collaboration with UNICEF, the Government of India and the Government of Bihar have made significant strides in improving school enrolment, immunisation coverage and child nutrition across the state. He, however, acknowledged that challenges persist. Emphasising that children are the state’s greatest asset, he called for coordinated efforts by government, communities and families to ensure a safe, healthy and equitable future for every child in Bihar.
Artashes Mirzoyan, Chief of UNICEF Bihar, urged legislators to act as champions of children. “You have extraordinary power to shape the lives of children — power that no NGO, no UN agency and no government department can replicate. You make laws. You approve budgets. You are the voice of the people in the highest councils of the State and you must place children at the centre of Bihar’s development agenda,” he said. He added that strengthening legislative oversight would help ensure policies deliver real results, especially for the most vulnerable.
Minority Committee Chairperson and MLA Akhtarul Iman said children’s welfare must remain a top priority for policymakers. Appreciating UNICEF for organising the event, he noted that such platforms help in understanding the real issues faced by children and adolescents. He urged lawmakers to take these concerns seriously and work towards meaningful policy interventions to safeguard children’s rights and well-being.
SC/ST Welfare Committee member and MLA Jyoti Devi said she began her career as an Anganwadi worker and had earlier worked with UNICEF in immunisation initiatives. Thanking the organisation for its contribution to child welfare, she called on fellow legislators to take proactive steps for the betterment of children, emphasising that investing in them is key to securing the future of the state and the nation.
Khyati Singh, Secretary of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, urged legislators to view themselves as guardians of every child in the state. She asked MLAs to reflect on how they would feel if their own children were deprived of schooling and to extend the same sense of responsibility to all children across Bihar.
A technical presentation by Abhay Kumar, Social Policy and Social Protection Specialist at UNICEF Bihar, highlighted persistent challenges including malnutrition, learning gaps, limited access to sanitation, child marriage and child labour, along with the need for stronger adolescent participation and protection systems. Public spending on child-focused programmes and expected outcomes were also discussed.
Experts noted that while Bihar has made progress through social protection, education and nutrition initiatives, significant gaps remain, particularly among vulnerable populations. The dialogue concluded with a commitment to strengthen coordination between legislators, government departments and development partners to ensure children remain central to the state’s development agenda.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Prabhakar Sinha, WASH Specialist, UNICEF Bihar.
