Smile Foundation along with two well known development organizations Swasthya and Chetna, successfully organized a National Consultation of Civil Society Organizations on ‘Adolescents’ Constituency for the 12th Five Year Plan’. As many as 50 organizations from 15 states of India participated in the consultation and the entire proceedings took place in the presence of the Planning Commission’s representatives.
Mr. Pabitra Banerjee, General Manager Programmes, of Smile Foundation chaired the entire session of the consultation, while representatives from Planning Commission, Population Foundation of India, ICRW, CEDPA, Solution Exchange, Mc Arthur Foundation and Ford Foundation were few of the other panelists.
The Planning Commission has initiated the process towards the preparation of 12th Five Year Plan through such consultations, the Commission has opened up the process for consultancy and inputs from the civil society. This is also the first step of the Commission to include the civil society in developing an approach paper for the planning of the 12th Five Year Plan
This is a huge opportunity for Smile Foundation to work closely with the Government of India ensuring the inclusion of the voices of the socially excluded groups.