Second important point is, people don’t feel that system of child labour is an important burning issue. Therefore, people are not deoply concerned about it, as they are concerned about other national issue. As people are not aware, it becomes extromely difficult to raise voice against this system. It means, first step is to generate awareness among masses on this issue. All national and state level political parties are quite indifferent on this issue. Except one or two none is interested in this issue. Casually they express their opinious or shout some slogaus or make some demands on this issue. But it doesnot mean that they are really interested in solving this problem.

It may be interesting to know, why these political parties are indiferent about this issue. The reasons may be child labour are not voters or vote banks for any political part, and as they are most unorganised, neither they are in a position to influence voting pattern.

As some awareness about issue is being generated on national level and people have started expressing their discontent and again international community is also discussing issue, government is compelled to take some measures for improving situation child labour. For this, Central labour ministry has formulated a scheme which will implemented in current plan itself. Under this scheme 100 districts are identified and 2000 child labour from each district will be rehabilitated. (17 districts from Maharashtra are included in this scheme). With this speed, even 100 years will not be enough to rehabilitate entire child labour of country. Available information reveals that, state Government does not have nay programme for improving situation of this lot. Previous Government had announced to add some more industries to list of hazardous industries. This government says that they will pas a comprehensive legistation on this issue. In our country thousands of voluntary organisations are working in field of education, social service, social welfare or social change, but only few of them are really involved in this campaign. It is difficult to say that whatever they are doing is important or not, but basic objective of all voluntary organisations is to build a happy and prosperous socity. But, if we want to have a happy and protection, employment generation, population control and eradication of system of child labour. In this perspective, a question may be asked that, what exactly we should do for eradication of this system. But we should keep in mind that, there are no short cuts to solve this problem. Liberation of child labour and prevention of system both carry equal importance. Measurs should be take to improvethe situation in both areas. There is a need to implement poverty alleviation programme. Perticularly guaranting employment to adults through out year, assuring minimum wages for them. Facilition for rehabilitation and education of child labour should be provided.

We must keep in mind that, system of child labour is universally existing sytem. It is existing in developed countries like America and Russia as well as in developing countries like India and Pakistan. It shows that this system is exploitation than to poverty and unemployment. More work and less pay is only possible in a system of Child Labour only. Child Labour could easily be exploited. Exploiters know this reality therefore; they promote and protect system. The point is whether we would offose this mentality of exploitation pf Child labour or not. It we donot all system then all remedias will prove to be useless and programme for improving situation will continue for ever.

Machhindra Gojame

A:2Controlling dropout rate from primary schools. Due to various reasons children enrolled in primary school leave school. These school dropouts work as Child Labour. To stop this process, school drop outs are surveyed, their list is prepared and efforts are made to send them school. But we could not succeed in our efforts.

A:3Child education committee. Child education committees are constituted at village level. The committee is comprised of Co-ordinator non-formal education centre. Headmaster/Teacher from a school. Some youth and some prominent individuals from a village. This committee is responsible for 100% enrollment of children in schools, controlling rate of school drop outs, sending Child Labour to non-formal education centre and implementation of campaign against Child Labour at village level. It is revealed that 60 to 70 % of committees are not functioning effectively.

A:4 Village level campaign against child Labour : Under this programme, village level meetings are organised to generate awareness on issue of child Labour. In meeting issue is discussed and remedies are suggested for removal of this system. And people are requested to join compaign. This programme has generated some awareness in village. People have started discussion on this issue. Wall writings are also done, so that people should read slogaus and should think about it.

2)Creche Programme for children of farm labour : Initially to take care of children of working women, creches were opened in four villages. With a support from social welfare Department. This creche programme helped in improving attendance of children in schools. This result made us realised that this programme. Can become a important to for controlling incidence of Child Labour. Since 1987-88 organisation is running creches in Wanjarwada and Malegaon villages of Ahmedpur tahsil. It followed by opening two more units in Thodga and Gagdal villages. A survey revealed that precentage of school going children is more in these villages as compare to other villages where there are no creches. Also it is revealed that percentage of child Labour is comparatively less in there village. As it is proved that this programme is a supportive one in controlling a system of child labour. In last year 10 units of creches are opened in Chakur Tahsil. Two child development workers are appointed in each unit and timing of creches is same timing of a school. Around 20-25 children are enrolled in each unit. Total 240 children are admitted in 10 units. It is a general practice that, elder child takes care of his/her siblings in family. Therefore; these elder children cannot attend schools. These children after some days work as child labour. The objective of this programme is freeing child from taking care of siblings from their family and they should get an opportunity to go to school. At present this programme is implemented on experimental level.

3)Campaign Against system of child labour : Right from beginning we are actively involved in this campaign from village to state to national level.

Under this campaign on village level 14th nov. is celebrated as Children’s Day (Balak Din) and 30th April Day against system of child labour. On these occasion, rallies, cycle rallies, seminars, camps and conference are organised. In these events along with child Labour adult male and female farm labours also participate. Tours, picnics, sports meats and awareness programmes are organised for child Labours as a part of celebration.

Child labour from our region had participated in state and national level events and expressed their feelings and concerus. In Jan 1996 People’s Institute of Rural Development was assigned to organise Marathwada level campaign against system of child Labour. We could organise same successfully. Through this campaign we could reach to 21 Tahsils of 7 districts. We endeavored to educate thousands of people about problem of child labour. One can ask a question of what is achievement of this campaign? We tried to educate those who donot recognise this as a burning issue. It is true that it will take some time to make these people aware of this issue. But due to this campaign, people have at least started thinking of this issue. And we can say that, when people start thinking about any issue, it becomes a first step for organising people’s movement on that issue.

Whatever programmes we have implement for eradication of system of child labour, they were of preventive nature. While implementing these proframme we encounter problems like; non-avilability of capable and active co-ordinator/child development workers, non-cooperation of people, lack of follow up strategy, indifference of government officials and their unsympathetic attitude and lack of training on various levels etc. But our plus point is, our sustained efforts and public contact definitely remulted in mobilising co-operation not only from voluntary organisation but from pleple from different strata of society also.

-Machhindra Gojame