A total of 200 children – corresponding to the number of assembly seats in the state – conducted Question Hour, Zero Hour and other proceedings of the House as the Speaker, Chief Minister, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, and those in power and opposition. Party MLA.
The proceedings of the session were conducted as per the rules of the House, during which the children acted confidently and received applause from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Janhvi Sharma, who played the role of Speaker, began the proceedings with Question Hour. Children who played the role of legislators of opposition parties asked questions and those who acted as ministers responded with facts and details.
The questions were mainly based on issues related to children and youth. An action plan to prevent child marriage and action against the availability of narcotics near educational institutions were among other issues raised.
From asking questions to dharna in the Well of the House, to a walk out and creating a ruckus, the children brought alive the mock session.
The nominated opposition MLAs staged a sit-in in the Well of the House demanding action against drug trafficking, after which the Leader of the House assured action.
During Zero Hour, a member demanded a debate on internet shutdown during competitive examinations, saying it caused inconvenience to common people and the government considered shutting down internet to hide its administrative failure.
The opposition members walked out of the house demanding a minister’s reply. In return the minister said that he was ready to answer.
The disadvantages of mobile phones for children, their adverse effects on mental health and the need to provide free resources for online education to students and teachers were among other issues discussed during the Zero Hour.
The girl, who played the role of Speaker, herself sat on the chair of the Assembly Secretary, while the rest of the children sat on the seats and benches allotted to the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs in the House.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria participated in the session.
Addressing the children before the start of the mock session, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of democracy and the role of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and others in strengthening democracy.
He asked the children to understand the importance of democracy.
Birla praised this initiative and said that active public participation is needed to strengthen democracy.
Chairman Joshi said that this is a first of its kind initiative in the country and out of 5,500 children from 15 states, 200 children were selected who had submitted their entries online.
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