Students get books from Unicef. File picture

Ranchi, Aug. 18: Students from 100 state-run schools in the capital will soon discover the mighty powers of the pen.

Donning the mantle of young scribes, 300 students will be part of the Child Reporter Guild organised by Unicef’s Jharkhand chapter.

The guild functions in Kanke, Ranchi, Namkom, Angada and Ratu blocks in Ranchi district.

According to Unicef officials, the process of selecting students from Classes VI, VII and VIII started this month for the project gearing for a September launch. Students, in batches of 75 each, will be given a crash course in reporting and writing.

To fish out stories, students will co-ordinate with the local block development officer and district administration on issues concerning children, such as child labour, trafficking, alcohol-related violence and broken marriages.

They will also visit dhabas, hotels and households to speak to working-class children.

Cub scribes will display their reporting skills through newsletters in their respective schools.

The project is based on the UN convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children all over the world have social, economic, cultural, political and civil rights. “Through this project we will ensure maximum participation of children, who will address their concerns after picking up reporting skills,” said Sugata Roy, communications officer of Unicef in Jharkhand, adding that school teachers would be the children’s mentors.

He added that Jharkhand would be the 14th state to implement this project. “Other states to implement the project are Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. In all these states, the children’s wall newspaper has made an amazing impact,” said Roy.