Bal sabha
Topic: Panchayati Raj: Rural Local Government · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 11 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 2: Local Government in Rural Areas"
Meaning
A bal sabha is a children's assembly in a village. Children meet in it to talk about problems that affect them, such as school, safety and health. The panchayat then acts on these concerns. It gives children a voice in local government even though they cannot vote.
Example
Children in a bal sabha might report that the road to school is unsafe or that a classmate is about to be married off. The panchayat can then repair the road or step in to stop the child marriage.
Don't confuse with
- Gram sabha: this is an assembly of all the adult registered voters of a panchayat area, set up under Article 243A. A bal sabha is for children and has no legal powers under the Constitution.
Related concepts
- Gram panchayat
- Sarpanch
- Panchayat secretary
- Patwari
- Panchayat samiti
- Zila parishad
- Child-friendly panchayat
- Women-friendly panchayat