Our Efforts and Experiences – Part - II “In previous issue, information was given about study of system of child labour in amedpur area and remedies for eradication of system, in first part of article. In this second part, of Article our direct experiences and difficulties encountered by us are highlighted.”

To develop proper understanding of system of child labour of our region a survey of 15 villages from ahmedpur tahsil was conducted in oct. 1994. As per asessment of P.H.C. total population of 15 villages was 19014. Survey revealed that there were 466 children who were working as child Labour, out of which 64 % were girl children. Though survey provided information of various aspects of system, here we would like to highlight earnings of child labour and how their soci-educational backwardness is responsible for promotion and perpetuation of system. Survey revealed that out 466, 252 children were working in family occupation was child Labour, majority of remaining child labour were daily wage earners, earning average Rs. 10/- as their daily wage. Employment was available for them for 6 to 8 month a year. It means their average annual income was rs. 1750/- only. Only 36 children were working on monthly basis, whose average annual income was around Rs. 2000/- only. Few of them were employed on yearly contract basis and their earnings were around Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 2500/- per year. It also revealed that, contribution of a child Labour to family income was around 5 to 10% only. It means, whatever child labour earned was quite issufficiant for meating his/her own basis needs. As per price index of Aug. 1992, a person needed minimum Rs. 11.75 only per day for meating his/her basic needs. It means a person wanted Rs. 4288/- per annum for his/her survival. It is a general fealing among people that parents send their children to work to meet family needs. But in reality earnings of child labour employed in any occupation are not enought to support family financially. But child labour may supporting either employer to earn more or national economy to gain strength. The naked truth is in this unholy alliance of employer and parents child pays heavy price and loose his/her childhood.

Long back, we had submitted a proposal, under a scheme of ILO, to work for eradication of system of Child Labour. Corrospondance was going on for around two years with State and Central Governments about proposal. In mean time scheme changed and we could not implement it.

It always happens like this, with proposals submitted by voluntary organisations. But as per policy of Government, Labour Officer, Latur freed 20 Child Labours and put them with Savitribai Fuley Servicy Centre, Udgir, for their care and maintainance. The same Government officer repeatedly requested Government did not sanction any amount for it and organisation is in difficulties now of how to take care of these children.

Our experience is, it is easy to get financial support form other funding agencies than Government for such programmes. We could implement some concrete programmes for child labour with a financial support from Tdh and Himos. It might be experience of other organisations also. Again it is a common experience that, general public takes more interest in such programmes than Govt. officials.

For running 30 child Labour education centres and 10 creches in Chakur Tahsil, last year people contribute 17 to 18 thousands as their share. For donations 700 letters were sent to individual for their contribution for child labour education programme form Rs. 25 to Rs. 300/- were received from individuals contacted.

While organising Marathwada level march against system of child labour, any people contacted us and expressed their satisfaction about our efforts and also expressed their desire to participats actively in campaign. After march, still we receive letters from individuals and organisation. They want to participate in campaign and expart our support and guidence in this matter. But we are aware of our own limitations. Even we could not do effective follow up of programme.

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.