Our Efforts and Experiences – Part - I

“In all civilized societies all over world system of child labour is condemned as a social evil but fact is system is prevelent on a large scale in a country like India. It is noticed that, in recent times our society is showing some signs of awareness about this social evil. This is first part of article giving details about efforts undertaken in and around Ahmedpur for eradication of this system.

Since past 12 years I am working on various issues related to rural areas through People’s Institute of Rural Development and Rachanatmac Sangharsha Samiti (Maharashtra). To generate employment for farm labour through “employment guarantee scheme”is our sustained and major activity. While working with farm labour during 1988-90 I was exposed to issue of Child Labour. When I saw children working as child or boned Labour in agriculture, I could realise intensity of this issue.

Agriculture is a main source of employment for labour in rural areas. Child Labour working in farms, or as a bonded labour or as a herdsman has an adverse impact on employment of adult people. When dialogue was initialed with farm labour on this issue. They narrated that when child works as a Child Labour he/she actually supports family. They feel that child provides something to eat to a family. This is a general feeling among rural masses about Child Labour. The common understanding among this labour class is more working hands means more income for a family. But this calls still could not decide, whose hands these should be? They are not understanding that small hands are depriving of big hands from employment.

The difficult life they are living and ignorance of these farm labour is responsible for such type of their attitude towards their own children. It made us realised that there is a need of structural changes in society and we resolved to work for structural changes. In society and we resolved to work for structural changes. In initial period neither we had any plan nor a concrete stralgy to deal with situation. We decide to have a dialogue with farm labour on this issue. Already we were discussing with them about employment minimum wages, equal wages for equal work, laws for profection of a farm labour etc. while discussing these issue we always had positive attitude and approach. We used to tell them sending children to work means depriving of them apportunity to go to school. If a child will not to go to school, he/she will grow as illiterate person. Valnerable for all sorts of exploitation please send them to school. It will be better if they remain unemployed after getting e ducation. We were always insisting that they should send their children to school. Our perception was if children will go to school then automatically no. of child labour will be reduced which will result in generating some employment for Addults. After sometime, we realised that, what ever efforts we may do, it will never be possible to aduilt all children from this class to school. This realisation directed us to conceive a programme called "Education programme for child Labour" Immediately its implementation was started. In process of implementation of this nonformal education programme for child Labour, in depth thinking was going on, on this issue. At this juncture, TDH and YUVA took initiative and started "Campaign against Child Labour" on 14th Nov. 1992. Since first meeting we are associated with this campaign and working for it. Though we have an ambition to work for eradication of a system of Child Labour we are aware of scope and magnitude of problem and our own limitations. Therefore; based on our own assessment of our capacities we have decided to implement following programmes;

1)Education programme for child Labour. 2)Creche Programme for children of farm Labour; and 3)Campaign against Child Labour.

1) Edcuation Programme for child Labour : This programme is initialed with an objective to provide opportunity to those Children of below 14 age to get education, who could not go to school or who are school dropouts. And due this reason they work as Child Labour. This programme will enable them to learn 3 Rs. And may be make them capable to appear for Std II or Std VII examinations. They may be become a part of main streme education. In a period of three years 20 education centres were of ended in 20 villages. Around 600 to 800 children were enrolled in these centres. Selected children were prepared for Std IV examination. They were motivated and supported in this venture. In period 1992-93 --- 1994-95 183 children appeared for Std IV examination. Out of which 122 passed same and from those who passed 68% were girls. Along with those who appeared for examination, 139 other children joined main streme of education this is our achievement. It could be possible due to purposeful effort.

An experience of people’s Institute of Rural Development for eradication of child labour. People’s Institute of Rural Development has implemented two major programmes till to date. One is Education Programme for Child Labour and second is campaign against child Labour. But, we were of scope and intensity of problem and also inadequate efforts of Government and voluntary organisation to mitigate problem. In mean time we could visit M.V. Foundation Hyadarabad(A.P.) and could see their programme of "Bridge Course Camp" which highly motivated us. To implement this concept T.D.H. agreed to make necessary financial arrangements. In month of April it was decided that five voluntary organisations will organise 60 days Bridge Course Camps for Child Labour from Latur and Osmanabad districts simultaneously. According all organisation initiated priliminary activities for implementation of course.

People’s Institute of Rural Development conducted a survey in 10 villages for enrolment of children in age group 7-15 for camp. It was proposed that minimum 100 children should attend camp. After assessing that 10% will be dropped out 126 children were enrolled for camp. After enrolment major problem was of accommodation and availability of water. Mr.Shrama, District Collector, Latur has allowed us to use premises of Mahila Kendra. A Building in Narangwadi was also available for this purpose. But problem was at one place water was not available and at second place conductive atmosphere for education was not available. Therefore; a new alternative was to find out. We could get a suitable place, that is anand margi’s Ashrams of Tawasigarh and Salegaon. But condition was girls will not be allowed to stay with boys. Because two separate Ashrams are there for male and female. Hence, we were compelled to conduct a separate camp for girl children. In this process, instead of starting a course on 1st May, we could start it on 7th May.

Before commencement of camp arrangements of enrolment of children, accommodation, water, foodgrains. Teacher, assistant and procurement of other required material were made. Still it took 5 to 6 days for stabilisation and regularisation of camp. In beginning children were in less number. Some of them were went back due to homesickness. But slowly and gradually no. of children was on rise. Finally there were total 126 children in camp. Out of which 44 were girl children. Analysis of attendance of children revealed that out of 126 children enrolled 47 attended camp for 5 to 15 days only. There were 44 girl children, they were more interested in attending camp. Out of 82 male children 47 attended camp for 5 to 15 days only. Girls were on fore frout for completing full term of course. Out of 44 girls 23 were present for 60 days while out of 82 boys only 12 were present for full term.

Children attended Bridge Camps TypesAttended CampEnrolled into school Boys8233 Girls4423 Total12656

Participant children were from landless labour and small farmers families. Analysis also reveled that out of total population 27% were from upper caste. This was a maximum number. While only 8% were from nomadic tribes. OBCs were 19%, SCs were 22%, ST 13% and 11% were from muslim community. But on basis of this statistics drawing a conclusion of caste wise incidence of child labour will be wrong. This statistics only given coastwise, Percentage of child Labour participate in camp. Out of total participants only few of them were literate otherwise majority of them were illiterate. Some of them disclosed that they had attended schools and wee studiad from 1st to VIIth stds. But majority of them were not able to identify even alphabets.