Patna: Lawmakers and policy experts gathered in the state capital on Saturday for a dialogue on child rights aimed at improving oversight and development outcomes for young people across Bihar, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The consultation took place at Hotel Chanakya, Patna and brought together members of the legislature, committee heads and specialists to discuss gaps in health, education and protection systems.
The session was chaired by the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Prem Kumar, who highlighted progress in school enrolment, immunisation and nutrition initiatives carried out in partnership with the UNICEF, the Government of India and the Government of Bihar. He acknowledged continuing challenges and described children as the state’s most valuable asset, calling for coordinated action by authorities and communities to ensure equitable opportunities.
UNICEF Bihar chief Artashes Mirzoyan urged legislators to become champions for children, stressing that elected representatives possess unique powers to shape policy and budgets. “Legislators must place children at the centre of Bihar’s development agenda,” he said, adding that stronger oversight would help translate policies into tangible results for vulnerable communities.
Minority Committee chair and MLA Akhtarul Iman argued that child welfare should remain a policy priority and praised UNICEF for creating a platform to discuss pressing issues. SC/ST Welfare Committee member Jyoti Devi reflected on her earlier work as an Anganwadi worker and immunisation volunteer, thanking UNICEF for its contributions to child development and urging fellow legislators to invest in programmes that secure the state’s future.
In remarks to the gathering, Secretary of the Bihar legislature Khyati Singh encouraged lawmakers to view themselves as guardians of every child, asking them to consider how they would respond if their own children were denied education or safety.
A technical presentation by social policy specialist Abhay Kumar outlined persistent challenges including malnutrition, learning gaps, child marriage and labour, and weak adolescent participation systems. Participants also discussed public spending on child-focused programmes and mechanisms for improving results.
Experts noted that although Bihar has achieved progress through social protection and education initiatives, significant disparities remain, particularly among marginalised groups. The dialogue concluded with a commitment to enhance coordination between legislators, government departments and development partners so that children remain central to the state’s development agenda. A vote of thanks was delivered by UNICEF WASH specialist Prabhakar Sinha.
