KATHMANDU: Baglung Municipality has declared 14 of its wards as child-friendly after meeting 51 indicators of the National Child-Friendly Governance Strategy.
The municipality had invested nearly Rs 30 million in social development and child-friendly infrastructure over the past two years.
Before Baglung, Galkot Municipality in the district had already been declared child-friendly.
According to Baglung’s Mayor, Basant Kumar Shrestha, child-friendly infrastructure was built, interactive programs were conducted, and child-friendly facilitators were appointed at the ward level. Indicators related to child-friendly schools, infrastructure, and health have been fully met.
For the current fiscal year, the municipality has allocated Rs 12.5 million to declare and implement child-friendly governance programs.
The budget will be used for constructing child-friendly school buildings, drinking water facilities, toilets, and other infrastructure.
The municipality has also formed child clubs in every ward, engaging children in social programs and campaigns to end child marriage and child labor.
Last year, the municipality also spent Rs 4 million on community school toilets, drinking water, and other child-friendly infrastructure.
Looking ahead, the municipality plans to implement child-friendly practices in all future development projects. Child-Friendly Coordinator Tilak Acharya emphasized that this initiative will support social development.
The declaration follows the commitment made in May 2022, with the municipality formally signing to adopt child-friendly governance by the end of January 2025.
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