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CHAPTER IV
CHILD LABOUR - THE STRENGTH
AND WEAKNESS OF
REHABILITA TION MEASURES
Child Labour has been allowed to practice without any question in many parts of
the world till now though limitation of child labour has to be viewed as a global concern.
Most children in all societies work in one way or another. The types of work they do vary
within societies and over time. Work can be an essential part of children's education. It
can be a means of transmitting vital skills from parent to offspring. In some countries,
children are often involved in small-scale industries and workshop finally graduating into
full-fledged workers in later life. In other countries, teenagers work for a few hours a
week to earn pocket money. The United Nations Children's Fund maintains that such
work is beneficial, promoting an enhancing a child physical, mental, spiritual, moral or
social development with interfering with schooling, recreations and rest. Child Labour on
the other hand, is about children who work long hours for low wages, often under
condition harmfiil to their health.
The great interest is roused in realization of child labour as a practice against
human rights and las a factor causing injury to the social health and economic. Various
agencies of United Nations Organizations, such as ILO, UNESCO and UNICEF have
listed this problem to their agenda to be tackled on global basis. In recent times some
initiatives has been taken, for whatever power dynamics it may be attributed, to ban
international trade in goods which are produced by child labour.
Abolition of child labour in one of the top priority programmes for the Nations. It
is occupying the attention of one and specially policy makers, frames of the law at the
national level, administrators, trade unions, educationists, social workers and others. The
Government of India and the State Governments have enacted various laws for the
release of these children from hazardous work and for their rehabilitation (physical,
emotional and economic) through education with a project approach. Implementation is
the main task. One of the first measure attempt on the abolition of child labour was the
Act of 1986 in which children employed in hazardous occupation have to be taken away
and rehabilitated.
132
The most important Government intervention against child labour has been
through National Child Labour Project under by the Ministry of Labour, Government of
India (GOI). The National Policy on Child Labour was formulated on 14* August, 1987
and the National Child Labour Projects were conceptualised and launched around the
same time. There initiatives which were rather on a small scale in the beginning were
subsequently reinforced and strengthened. The main focus is to reduce the incidence of
child labour in project areas through rehabilitating child labourers into non-formal
schools thereby encouraging the elimination of child labour and also to raise public
awareness.
The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) were implemented since 1988 for the
rehabilitation of child labour. A major activity undertaken under the National Child
Labour Project is the establishment of special schools to provide non-formal education,
vocational training, supplementary nutrition, stipend, health care etc., to children
withdrawn from employment under the policy a project-based plan of action was
envisaged. Accordingly nine projects were started in areas of child labour concentration.
The schemes under the project-based plan of actions have been continuing since then.
"The NCLPs have grown from nine projects in the beginning to 76 by 1995-96 with
about 1800 special schools, 2500 teachers and 1.05 lakh children enrolled in them'^" The
policy consists of these main ingredients: -
a) Legal Action Plan: Emphasis will be laid on strict and effective enforcement of Legal
provisions relating to child labour under various labour laws.
b) Focusing of general development programmes: Utilization of various on-going
development programmes to other ministries / Development for the benefit of Child
Labour whenever is possible.
'̂ V.V. Giri National Labour Institute: Policy and Programmes for the Rehabilitation of working children and Manual for the Implementation of National Child Labour Project. Government of India, Ministry of Labour - New Delhi, 1998, Page 2.
133
c) Project Plan of Action: Launching of project for the welfare of working children in
areas of high concentration of child labour. The main thrust of a National Child
Labour Project is to release the incidence of child labour in the project areas thereby
encouraging elimination of child labour progressively.
THE ILO's CONSTITUTION AND MEANS OF ACTION
The protection of children in the part of the preamble to the constitution of the
International Labour Organization as an essential element of social justice. The ILO since
its foundation in 1919 has made the question of child labour one of its special concerns.
The principal way in which the ILO has sought to strive against child labour is through
the adoption and application of international labour standards, which are expressed in
terms of conventions and recommendations.
Convention defines acceptable standards of national behaviour and, when ratified
by member states, have the force of an International Treaty. Recommendations
complement conventions and are intended to serve as guidelines for national policy.
Since the early 1980s, the ILO has been supplementing its standard-setting work on child
labour at the national and community level. International Programme on this elimination
of Child Labour (IPEC) is a response to this challenge.
THE ILOs POLICY: MEASURES TOWARDS THE ABOLITION OF CHILD
LABOUR
One of the fimdamental objectives of ILO policy is the abolition of Child Labour.
The International Labour Organization set this as a goal in the very year of its creation in
1919, by adopting convention No. 5, prohibiting work done by children of less than 14
years of age in industrial undertakings. The International Labour Conference, in the
preamble of Convention No. 138 considered that "the time has come to establish a
general instrument on the subject which would gradually replace the existing areas
134
applicable to limited economic sectors, with a view to achieving the total abolition of
Child Labour.'^"
The emphasis given by International Labour on the abolition of Child Labour
confirm^ the conviction of the ILO's constituents that
1. Childhood is a period of life, which should be dedicated not to work but to
education and development
2. Child Labour, by its nature or because of the conditions in which it is undertaken,
often jeopardizes children's possibilities of becoming productive adults, able to
take their place in the community.
3. Child labour is not inevitable and progresses towards its reduction and even its
elimination is possible when the political will to fight exists.
This conviction is especially reflected in convention No. 138 which requires
member states.
4. To pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child
labour.
5. To set a minimum age for admission to employment or work.
6. To raise progressively to a level consistent with the fullest physical and mental
development of young people.
This minimum age must not be less than the age of completion of compulsory
schooling and in any case, no less than 15 years. Convention No. 138 applies to
work done by children both for another person (wage employment) and on their
behalf (self-employment).
'̂ IPEC: Action for the Elimination of Child Labour. Overview of he Problem and Response, 1994, Page 4.
135
7. Convention No. 138 is a flexible instrument. This flexibility illustrated by
provision which permits employment on work by children in light work from 13
years of age.
8. All for lower minimum ages (14 years in general and 12 years for light work) in
the case of countries where economy and educational facilities are sufficiently
developed (for as long as this situation exists).
9. Permit exclusive from the convention application of employment or work in
respect of which special and substantial problems of application arise (for as long
as these problems exist).
10. Authorize member states where economy and administrative facilities are
insufficiently developed to initially limit the scope of application of the
convention, provided that it should be applicable as a minimum to:
a. Mining and Quarrying
b. Manufacturing
c. Construction
d. Electricity, gas and water
e. Sanitary Services
f. Transport, Storage and Communication
g. Plantation and other agricultural 'undertakings mainly producing for
commercial purposes.
h. All hazardous employment or work.
Convention No. 138 and especially Recommendation No. 146 also contain some
provisions concerning protection of working children.
These provisions apply only in these cases, which are provided for in the
convention.
136
11. Light work, limited categories of employment or work excluded because
application of the convention would give rise to special and substantial problems,
branches of activity and types of enterprise excluded pursuant to the option
granted to member states to initially limit the scope of application of the
convention.
12. Protection basically concerns conditions of work (remuneration, hours of work,
rest and leave, social security and occupational safety and health).
There are other major international pronouncements which have a bearing on
child labour.
a. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
b. The convention for the suppression of the traffic in persons and of the
exploitation of the Prostitution of others, 1949.
c. The supplementary convention on the Abolition of Slavery, 1956.
d. The International Convention on Human Rights, 1966.
e. The UNICEF Resolution on children in Especially Difficult
Circumstances, 1986.
f The European Community Resolution on Child Labour, 1987.
g. The UN Convention in the Rights of the Child, 1989.
The complete abolition of child labour will take a long time, in view of the deep
rooted causes of such work, such as family poverty resulting from parents
unemployment, from their limited access to training and from weakness in the system of
social protection, quantitative and qualitative deficiencies in the education system in
developing countries.
The role of ILO is thus:
1. To ensure that a real start is made towards abolition and in particular.
2. That the intolerable is no longer treated.
137
The principal objective of ILO action is to abolish child labour for these children
who have not yet reached a specified age or who are doing work which is liable to
endanger their health, safety on moral standards.
The ILO policy focuses especially on encouraging and supporting action aimed at
eliminating child labour is specific.
a. Type of employment (forced labourers, bonded labourers for instance)
b. Industries (for instance, mines and glassware and
c. Occupations (such as prostitution or sugarcane cultivation which are
clearly dangerous that is detrimental to safety, health or moral standard
of the children concerned.
The principal criterion for evaluating these activities is the extent to which they
have enable progress, even if only in a particular sector of activity on region towards thee
abolition of child labour, by reducing the extent of it or by making less severe its
consequences for children's further development.
The primary aim of ILO cooperation is to help Government to define and
implement a national policy for the effective abolition of child labour. The three main
types of the measures are as follows:
In the first place, measures aiming to put a stop urgently to the intolerable, use of
children in dangerous types of employment, industry or occupation as well as the use of
very young and therefore particularly vulnerable children.
Secondly, measure aimed at changing attitudes and behaviors concerning child
labour.
Finally, measure which, without explicitly addressing child labour, attacks it
causes.
138
CHILD LABOUR RESPONDING THROUGH POLICIES, PROGRAMMES AND
PROJECTS
The terms "policies", "programmes" and "projects" closely linked strategic view
of actions needed to eliminate child labour.
A policy on child labour is a public commitment to work towards the elimination
of child labour, setting out objectives and priorities, coupled with the resource provision
to ensure implementation.
The Minimum Age Convention, 1973, (No. 138) along with its companion
Recommendation, 1973 (No. 146) provides guidance to Governments in framing national
policies and programmes. Both suggest as priorities for all countries:
a. The identification and prohibition of child work in hazardous activities.
b. The protection of the youngest and most vulnerable children, that is, those under
12 years of age.
Whatever the level of development of the country, the first and foremost priority
should be the identification and prohibition of forced labour and hazardous work, to be
found both in agriculture and in urban based industries. Allied to this public policy goal
should be an emphasis on the protection of the youngest and most vulnerable children
and among them, young girls, who are in practice more exposed to discrimination in most
societies. This could be accomplished by ensuring universal primary education to the age
of 12 or 13 years.
A coherent policy should aim to abolish as soon as possible the most hazardous
types of work, such as work in mines, quarries, building sites, glasswork and the handling
of explosives, pesticides and toxic products.
139
PROGRAMMES (NATIONAL PROGRAMMES)
1. Education and training;
2. Advocacy/Public-awareness raising
3. Welfare provision
4. Protected work schemes
5. Regulation and enforcement
A programme approach that the various social ministries (Labour, Education,
Health and Welfare) devise effective machinery for cooperation and coordination.
Indeed, such institutional arrangements- e.g., the setting up of child labour units - are
essential if child labour is to be placed on the public policy agenda. Here the Ministry of
Labour, gives its mandate, ought to take a leading role.
PROJECTS (ACTION PROGRAMMES)
Projects are the building blocks of programmes. They are more limited in scope
and time. A project may often work with one target group, in a particular sector, using
one on a limited range of interventions over a period of two to three years.
Projects address a wide variety of concerns. They usually focus on certain target
groups such as children engaged in rural work, match and fireworks, production, carpet-
making, construction, rag-picking, collection and recycling of assorted waste products
and work in quarries. They also include sexually abused children, migrant children,
shoeshine and packing boys, children in domestic service and self-employed boys and
girls. They vary in terms of objectives or types of activity undertaken. Some provide a
range of welfare services such as nutrition and health care to alleviate the hardships at
work. Others develop skills, carry out advocacy campaigns and support the strengthening
of organizational capacity. Still others promote schooling by providing special support
for children from poor families and some use public information campaigns and other
measures to combat child employment in highly exploitative and hazardous conditions.
140
Two of the most promising examples of efforts are those concerned with access to
education and training and those whose primary objective is the provision of protected
work and income-earning opportunities.
•Child labour a comprehensive approach would involve at least five types of
intervention, education and training, welfare services, protected work, advocacy, and
regulation and enforcement. These interventions would be applied at four principal levels
in society: the child; the family; the commimity and the Government.
India has always stood for the constitutional, statutory and developmental
measures that are required to eliminate child labour. The fi^mers of the Indian
constitution consciously incorporated relevant provisions in the constitution to secure
compulsory universal elementary education as well as labour protection for children.
Eradication of child labour is one of the important milestones in social sector policy and
India accordingly has followed a proactive in the matter of tackling the problem of child
labour.
India has ratified six ILO conventions relating to child labour, three of them as
early as the first quarter of the 20th century. The International Labour conference adopted
a resolution in 1979 on child labour.
The resolution of 1979 adapted in the International Laboxir Conference resulted in
a National Policy on Child Labour which was announced in 1987. the action plan under
the National Child Labour Policy comprises:
i) A legislative action plan
ii) Focusing of general development programmes for benefiting children
whenever possible and
iii) Project based action plans in areas of high concentration of child labour
engaged in wage / quasi-wage employment.
141
In pursuance of this policy, the Ministry of Labour has been implementing the
scheme of National Child Labour Projects (NCLPs) since 1988 for the rehabilitation of
child labour. The major activities undertaken under the NCLP are:
(i) The establishment of special schools to provide non-formal education.
(ii) Vocational Training
(iii) Supplementary nutrition.
(iv) Stipend
(v) Health care etc., to children withdrawn from employment.
Twelve National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) were started in Andhra Pradesh
(Jaggampet and Markapur), Bihar (Garwah), Madhya Pradesh (Mandswar), Maharasthra
(Thane), Orissa (Sambalpur), Rajasthan (Jaipur), Tamil Nadu (Sivakasi) and Uttar
Pradesh (Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Maradabad, Aligarh and Ferozabad).
By constitutional mandate, a major programme was launched on 15th August
1994 for withdrawing children working in hazardous occupations and rehabilitating them
through special schools. A series of steps have been taken by the government. A high
powered body, the National Authority for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAECL) was
constituted on 26th September, 1994 with a view to formulating policies and programmes
for elimination of child labour, monitor the progress of implementation of programmes,
projects and schemes for elimination of child labour and to coordinate the
implementation of child labour related projects of the various ministries of the
Government of India, (to ensure convergence of services for the benefit of the families of
child labour). To give effect to this annoimcement, 64 area-based projects were
sanctioned (in addition to 12 continuing projects) under the existing scheme of NCLP. As
of date, there are 76 National Child Labour Projects for rehabilitation of working
children.
Enforcement of child labour related laws is another measure for tackling the
problem of child labour. During the pre-independence days, the children (pledging of
142
labour) Act, 1933 which forbids pledging of children by their parents and guardians. This
was the first law followed by Employment of Children Act, 1938 the scope which was
rather restricted. This law has since been repealed and replaced by the Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 seeks to prohibit
employment of children below the age of 14 years.
Legislation in India currently only specifically out laws child labour in designated
hazardous industries and bounded child labour but both Article 24 of the Indian
Constitution and Section 67 of the Factories Act explicitly direct that children below the
age of 14 years are not to work in factories. The child labour (Prohibition and Regulation)
Act of 1986 forbids the employment of children in specified hazardous industries.
"The Supreme Court of India has also expressed its concern about the age old
evil. In its judgment dated 10th December, 1996 in Writ Petition (civil) No.465/1986 the
Hon'ble Court had given certain directions regarding the manner in which the children
working in the hazardous occupations are to be withdrawn fi"om work and rehabilitated as
also the manner in which the working conditions of children working in non-hazardous
occupations are to be regulated and improved upon. The important directions given in the
judgment are as under:
(i) Survey for identification of working children;
(ii) Withdrawal of children working in hazardous industries and ensuring their
education in appropriate institutions;
(iii) Contribution @ Rs.20,000/- per child to be paid by the offending employers
of children to a welfare fund to be established for this purpose;
143
(iv) Employment to one adult member of the family of the child so withdrawn
from work and if that is not possible, a contribution of Rs. 5,000/- to the
welfare fund to be made by the State Government;
(v) Financial assistance to the families of the children so withdrawn to be paid out.
of the interest earnings on the corpus of Rs.20,000/- 25,000/- deposited in the
welfare fund as long as the child is actually sent to school;
(vi) Regulating hours of work for children working in non-hazardous occupations
so that their working hours do not exceed six hours per day and education for
at least two hours is ensured. The entire expenditure on education is to borne
by the concerned employer. "
India also made irself subject to international law when in 1992 it chose to ratify
the UN convention on the rights of the child (CRC), which is a universal treaty and
legally binding. Yet India's current child labour situation does not reflect the international
law.
The Govenmient of India has recently officially stated that it wants to eliminate
hazardous child labour by 2000 and all child labour by 2010 and provincial Governments
have been instructed to act.
MINIMUM STANDARDS OF CHILDCARE
Minimum standards in childcare are the basic prerequisites or norms - which must
be fulfilled in order to achieve the objective, for which a given child welfare programme
has been launched. The major objective of welfare services for children is Need of Care
and Protection is to rehabilitate them as normal citizens in the community. Therefore, it is
" V.V. Giri National Labour Institute: Policy and Programmes for the Reiiabilitation of Woricing Children and Manual for Implementation of National Child Labour Projects. Government of India, Ministry of Labour, New Delhi, 1998, Pages 3 and 4.
144
necessary to consider the minimum standards for these children in order to fiilfill their
objective.
THE NEED
The need for evolving minimum standards for the Homes for Children in need of
care and protection arise for varied reasons.
i) All action concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social
welfare institution in the best interest of the child has to be a primary
consideration.
ii) For the provision of adequate opportunities to meet developmental needs of
destitute children and to facilitate their successful rehabilitation through
residential care programme, certain minimum standards of child care need to be
observed.
iii) A considerably large number destitute children are covered under residential care
every year whose future prospects are likely to be affected by the standard of
services provided in these institutions.
iv) It is high time that the minimum standards for childcare institutions are reviewed,
modified are redefined in the light of changing socio-economic conditions in the
country and in view of the priority for child welfare in the national developmental
plans.
AREA OF STANDARDS
The standards of care in children's institutions should cover various aspects like
physical amenities, physical care and protection, education and training staff- child ratio,
rehabilitation, after care and follow-up.
145
Physical Amenities
Physical amenities include floor area for living accommodation, play facilities,
sanitary conditions, water supply, electricity, lighting, ventilation, sick room etc.
Floor Area
The scheme envisages the provision of the minimum living space of 40 sq. ft.
(8x5) per child. However, it is recommended that child should be provided with 60 sq.
meters (10 x 6) of space, so as to keep beds sufficiently apart.
Sanitary Conditions
There should ;be one latrine for 7 children and a bathroom for 10 children. An
adequate number of water tap should provided for washing hands. Water taps should be
fixed at a low level, considering the small age - group of children. Sufficient number of
sweepers should be engaged to clean latrines and bathrooms.
Other Amenities
There should have building with proper ventilation, fire protection, sufficient
light, adequate water supply for drinking, bathing, washing clothes and maintenance of
cleanliness on the premises and electricity arrangements. A separate room should be
available for sick children. A playground adequate open space in essential for healthy and
organized recreational activities for children.
The institution should have protection from mosquitoes and flies, a proper drains -
age system, arrangement for disposal of garbage.
146
PHYSICAL CARE AND PROTECTION
The services like bedding, clothing and food - health care and recreation are
included under physical care and protection.
Food
Children should be provided with nutritious food for their health and
development. An average child below that of fourteen years required about 2100 calories
and children above fourteen years need 2600 calories. The institution should prepare a
weekly menu of balanced diet as the children's diet, otherwise, they are likely to suffer
from malnutrition and under-nutrition.
In order to help children enjoy their food and acquire good eating habits meals
should be served in a homely and relaxed atmosphere. The diet scale for children's homes
should be prescribed for each state according to local condition and food habits.
Clothing
Each child should be provided with three sets of clothing for daily use, two sets of
towel and jersy/pullover for winter. In addition, school-going children should be provided
with three sets of school uniforms.
As far as possible, they should be allowed to choose their clothing from four or
five different colours and patterns bought wholesale at comparable prices as most of the
children are fond of colourful dress.
Bedding
Every child may be given a mattress, two bed sheets, one chaddar, one blanket,
one pillow and two pillow covers.
147
Health care
In health cares it includes regular health check-ups, immunization, medical
treatment for common illness among children and referred to general hospitals for serious
illnesses and accidents, if any.
The institution should have the services of an Honorary physician on part-time or
whole time basis with the arrangement of physical check-up at the time of admission and
periodical health check-up of children. Medical examination of children should be done
twice a year. Records of height and weight of children should be maintained to monitor
their physical growth.
Ancillary Services
Each child should be given two combs, tooth powder, washing soap and bathing
soap and hair oil of adequate quantity. Girls should be given more oil and soap. Facilities
for haircut for boys should be provided once a month. A mirror should be provided in
every living room.
Recreation
Recreation is the basic need of every child. The provisions of proper recreational
facilities is a pre-requisite for promoting physical, emotional and social development of
children. The recreation implies constructive use of leisure, release from tension and
affording relaxation.
Every institution should have a playgroimd for children and one common room
for indoor and outdoor activities should be provided in every institution. A minimum of
one hour in the daily life of a child should be devoted for group recreational activities.
148
Activities like group games, songs folk dances, drama, outings, picnics and summer
camps should be organized.
Educational and Training
Institution should have adequate facilities, formal education, vocational training,
citizenship and leadership training and moral education.
Formal Education
Both Governmental and Voluntary institutions bear the responsibility of enforcing
minimum standards in children's institutions. Every child in the institution must go to a
regular school. As far as possible, schools in the community should be utilised for
education for children. Arrangements should be made in the institution to offer special
coaching on remedial classes for children. Special attention needs to be given to gifted /
talented children and weak students as well. The institution should appoint suitably
trained experience teaching staff of this purpose. The institution catering to children
below the age of 6 years should set up a pre-primary class in the institution itself
A small library and reading room containing suitable books, magazines and
journals for children in different age groups from 6 to 18 is necessary for every children's
home.
Vocational Training
The children under residential care programme are supposed to leave the
institution as soon they complete the age of 18 years (20 years in case of girls). They are
expected to be at their own, once they are discharged from the institution. In view of the
present situation of widespread unemployment and underemployment even among the
educated youth, these children need special attention in terms of providing them with
adequate skills in different vocations so as to make them job worthy.
149
Some children may not be able to take advantage of the educational programme
for various reasons including scholastic backwardness. Besides this category of children,
it is necessary for the institution to provide vocational training for all children, mainly for
development of good work habits and certain elementary skills. This training should be
varied according to child's interest and aptitude.
Citizenship and Leadership Training
Finally, children have to go back to society as normal citizens. They are expected
to shoulder varied kinds of adult roles and responsibilities. Once they complete their
residential care programme. Facilitate for training in citizenship and leadership, therefore
assumes much significance in the institutional care programme.
Moral Education
Deliberate efforts for character building and inculcation of moral values among
children should be an integral part of residential care programme. Institutional authorities
should function as role models for the children to acquire appropriate moral values.
Morning and evening prayers and yoga may be included in daily routine of children.
Staff-Child Ratio
A good staff - child ratio is very important in children's homes. It is necessary to
have good ratio between certain kinds of personnel like the House Mother, Case Workers
and Teacher and Children. It helps to facilitate an individual attention to children and to
build up personal relationship between the staff and children.
Every children's home should have sympathetic and sincere staff, who are
genuinely interested in the welfare of children. They should have proper attitude towards
children and adequate understanding of various needs of children.
150
Rehabilitation. Follow-up and After Care
There should be sufficient avenues for rehabilitation of children, such as
apprenticeship job placement, higher education Jind technical education and restoration to
parents/relatives. Girls may be rehabilitated through marriage rehabilitation process
which should start as soon as the child is admitted in the institution. The staff at all levels
should contribute towards achieving the ultimate goal of rehabilitation of destitute and
neglected children. Follow-up and After-care should be integral part of a rehabilitation
programmes which is lacking at present.
Thus, these are the main observation and suggestion given by both Governmental
and voluntary institutions to bear the responsibility of enforcing minimum standards in
children's institutions.
These minimum standards are prescribed either in the reports of committees or in
the provisions of various Acts. However, there has been hardly any effort to review the
position relating to observance of these standards in the light of changes in the over all
socio-economic scenario and the priorities, programmes and approaches in the field of
care and welfare of children. The institute, therefore, organised a workshop on minimum
standards in childcare services at the premises in New Delhi from S'̂ to T"' March 1990.
In order to ensure necessary focus and in depths treatment to the theme of the workshop,
its scope was limited to childcare services in institutional setting.
COVERAGE UNDER NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR PROJECT (STATEWISE)
At present 76 Child Labour Projects are fiinctioning. All these Projects together
were expected to rehabilitate around 1.6 lakhs working children as per the state wise
details given below:
151
Coverage under National Child Labour Projects
Andhra Pradesh
Bihar
Gujarat
Kamataka
Madhya Pradesh
Maiharastra
Orissa
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Total (10 States)
Sanctioned Schools
852
194
0
70
137
74
450
60
377
150
219
2583
Number of Children
54950
12200
0
3500
9500
3700
31250
3000
19400
11500
1200
161000
Actual Schools
669
187
0
0
78
38
423
33
361
108
219
2116
Coverage Children
44257
11404
0
0
5230
2225
26764
1620
16005
7100
10933
125538
The district-wise coverage with in the above state in given below
Coverage under National Child Labour Projects
ANDHRA PRADESH
Anantapur
Chittoor
Cuddapah
East Godavari
(Jaggampet)
Guntur
Hyderabad
Karimnagar
Khammam
Kumool
Sanctioned Schools
20
40
40
40
20
70
40
17
200
Number of children
2000
2000
2000
2000
1500
12600
2000
850
10000
Actual School
36
37
27
40
29
95
40
17
56
Coverage Children
1627
1850
1328
2000
1500
14500
2000
809
2800
152
Medak
Nalgonda
Nellore
Nizamabad
Prakasam (Markapur)
Ranga Reddy
M.V.F
Srikakulam
Vijayanagaram
Visakhapatnam
Warangal
West Godavari
Sub Total A.P.
BIHAR
Dumka
Garhwa
Jamari
Nalanda
Pakur
Sahibgunj
Sharsa
West Singbum
Sub Total Bihar
GUJARAT
Panchmahal (Closed 20/1000)
Surat (Closed down 20/2000)
Sub Total
Gujarat
Sanctioned Schools
40
13
20
17
20
30
25
40
40
40
40
40
852
40
4
20
25
19
8
40
38
194
0
Number of children
2000
650
1500
850
1000
1500
1200
2000
2000
2000
2000 .
2000
54950
2000
450
2000
2500
950
400
2000
1900
12200
0
Actual School
37
13
22
17 •
20
30
25
5
25
40
40
18
669
40
4
20
18
19
8
40
38
187
0
Coverage Children
1850
650
1250
739
1100
1500
2500
250
1100
2000
2000
904
44257
2000
359
2000
1795
950
400
2000
1900
11404
0
153
KARNATAKA
Bijapur
Raichur
Dharwad (Closed down 40
/2000)
Gulbarga (Closed down 20
/lOO)
Sub total Karnataka
MADHYA PRADESH
Bilaspur
Durg
Mandsaur
Rajnadgaon
Surgaja
Raigarh
(New Vide Gulbarga)
Sub Total M.P.
MAHARASHTRA
Solapur
Thane
Sub Total Maharastra
ORISSA
Angul
Balgarh
Bolangir
Deogarh
Gajapathi (Udaigiri)
Ganjam
Jharsuguda
Sanctioned Schools
40
30
70
25
40
8
40
24
20
137
34
40
74
20
40
40
20
20
20
40
Number of children
2000
1500
1
3500
2500
2000
600
2000 1
2400
1000
9500
1700
2000
3700
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
Actual School
0
14
13
8
21
22
.78
22
16
38
20
20
38
27
31
15
38
Coverage Children
0
960
1530
456
888
1396
5230
1100
1125
2225
1670
2000
1900
1350
2000
1430
1865
154
Kalahandi
Koraput
Malkangiri
Mayurbhanj
Nabavangapur
Naupada
Rayagada
Sambalpur
Sonepur
Sub total Orissa
RAJASTHAN
Jaipur
Udaipur
Sub Total Rajasthan
TAMIL NADU
Chidambaram (Tutucorin)
Coimbatore
Dharmapuri
Kamaajai (Sivakasi)
By NGOs
North Arcot
Pudukottai
Salem
Tiruchirapalli
Sub Total (Tamil Nadu)
UTTAR PRADESH
Aligarh
DCCW, Aligarh
Ferozabad
Sanctioned Schools
40
20
20
20
20
20
20
50
40
450
20
40
60
40
40
40
61
26
60
40
40
30
377
20
10
60
Number of children
2000
1000
2000
2000
2000
1000
1000
4250
2000
31250
1000
2000 1
3000
2000
2000
2000
3050
1850
3000
2000
2000
1500
19400
2000
500
6000
Actual School
36
20
40
14
0
20
20
50
34
423
10
23
33
10
40
40
58
24
79
40
40
30
361
20
10
58
Coverage Children
1800
949
2000
1400
0
1000
1867
3833
1700
26764
500
1120
1620
500
1500
2000
2558
1750
2197
2000
2000
1500
16005
2000
500
3600
155
DCCW, Firozabad
Moradabad
DCCW, Moradabad
Varanasi (Mirzapur-
Bhadohi)
CREDA, Mirzapur
Mirzapur (New vide)
Bhocloher (New vide)
Sub Total U.P
WEST BENGAL
Burdanan
Dakshin Dinajpur
Midnapur
North 24-Pargana
South 24-Pargana
Uttar Dinajpur
Sub Total W.B
Total all India (10 States)
Sanctioned Schools
10
0
10
0
40
20
20
150
39
20
40
40
40
40
219
2583
Number of children
500
0
500
0
2000
1000
1000
11500
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
12000
161000
Actual School
10
0
10
0 '
0
108
39
27
40
38
35
40
219
2116
Coverage Children
500
0
500
0
0
7100
2000
1283
2000
1900
1750
2000
10933
125538"*
The following broad approach will be adopted for the child labour elimination
programme during the Ninth Plan:
Time Frame
The National Agenda for Government (NAG) seek to "take measures to eliminate
child labour". The National Agenda, however, has not indicate any definite time frame.
The clear implication is total elimination of the phenomenon of child labour. Considering
Background Notes and Agenda for the First Meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee for the Child Labour Projects 1998, Page 4
156
the magnitude of the problem, a gradual and sequential approach would be adopted
stretching over a long period.
Coverage
As per the 1991 census, the total number of working children in the country is
11.28 millions. The problem of this magnitude cannot be addressed at one go. Therefore,
it is proposed to rehabilitate the children working in hazardous occupations in the first
instance.
Awareness Generations
Apart from direct rehabilitation of working children, it is proposed to prevent
entry of children to work by arousing and awakening' the critical consciousness of public
against the ends of child labour. Some of the project areas like Andhra Pradesh where the
campaign has been successful, there has been less influence of children to work by way
of replacement.
Convergence of services
Poverty being one of the main cause of child labour, it is very necessary to raise
the economic status of the parents of working children at the district level. For members
of backward communities facility available under various residential schemes like the
mid day meal etc., and the provisions under these schemes could be utilized for the
benefit of children to be rehabilitated under the scheme.
Similarly, the parent of children under rehabilitation could also be covered under
various schemes like Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Jawahar
Rozagar Yojana (JRY) and Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP)
to improve their economic conditions. Government of Andhra Pradesh is aware of the
child labour problem in the State in its magnitude and diversity. In Andhra Pradesh
157
National Child Labour Projects were launched in the year 1994-95 and a 624 special
schools were opened enrolling about 39,935 children in 19 districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh was one of the first to implement the minimum wages. By this all
children employed were to receive pay as much as an adult̂ This was done in order to
reduce child workers by making them more expensive for an employer.
ANTI POVERTY AND RURAL UPLIFTMENT PROGRAMMES
Andhra Pradesh Government administers several anti poverty programmes
launched by Government of India aimed at uplifting the living standards of poor families
who are compelled to send their children to work to supplement family incomes.
Selected Programmes are listed below:
Programme
Integrated Rural
Development Programme
(IRDP)
Training of Rural Youth for
Self-employment
Programme (TRYSEM)
Development of women and
child in rural areas
(DWCRA)
Integrated Child
Development Services
(ICDS)
Area
All Blocks
All Blocks
All districts in phases
(present coverage 18
districts)
All Districts -
Aim
To provide assistance to
below poverty line people
to cross the poverty line
Training of rural poor for
self-employment
To provide women's
employment and income
generating activities
Help women in 15-45 age
group and all children
below 6 years of age
" Centre for Public Policy Studies: Ciiild Labour in Andiira Pradesh - A profile. UNICEF Collaboration, 1993, Page 50
158
National Policy for children has laid emphasis on integrated of delivery of early
childhood services and services expected for nursing women. Based on the
recommendations of the inter-ministerial study team set up by the Planning Commission,
the scheme of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was evolved to launch a
coordinated and integrated delivery of a package pf such services.
Indian Govenmient started the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme on
an experimental basis in 33 blocks in the country in the year 1975-76. In Andhra Pradesh
ICDS covers 141 blocks serving around 15 lakh beneficiaries. Government of India
assists 132 of these blocks and the remaining are fully funded by the State Government.
The objectives of Integrated Child Development Services are:
(a) To improve the nutrition and Status of children in the age group of 0 - '6 years.
(b) To lay the foundations for the proper psychological, physical and social
development of the child.
(c) To reduce the incidence of mentality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout.
(d) To achieve effective coordinated policy and its implementation amongst the
various departments to promote child development.
(e) To enhance the capability of the mothers to look after the normal health and
nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
Services package under ICDS are
a) Supplementary Nutrition
b) Immunization
c) Health check-up
159
d) Referral Services
e) Nutrition and Health Education
f) Non-formal Education
CONCEPTS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE PROPOSED INTEJIVENTION
Certain weak areas in the existing services under Integrated Child Development
Services have been identified as requiring strengthening. These interventions are
proposed m the following areas:
(a) Construction of Anganwadi / health sub-centre buildings including provisions of
sanitation facilities and assured drinking water supply
(b) Strengthening of pre-school education.
(c) Supplementary Nutrition Programmes for severely malnourished children.
(d) Strengthening the Mahila Mandals and organisation of Income Generating
Activities for women.
(e) Referring of severely mal-nourished children and critically ill-mothers to primary
health centres.
(f) Improved linkages with the primary health centre and sub-centre.
(g) Institutional development support to Integrated Child Development Services.
(h) Infrastructure support to ICDS.
Andhra Pradesh is one of the few states with a separate department for Women
and Child Development. This department implements all the State Government
160
Programmes for children. Among welfare progranmies for children the Government
provides for complete / total care through Sisuvihars Children's Homes and Homes for
collegiate girls. For children of poor working mothers, the state run creches, mobile
creches, balwadis and balvihars provide day care, impart pre-school education and
provide nutritious mid-day meals.
CHILDREN PROGRAMMES
The following gives details about the functioning of Integrated Child
Development Services Projects
SI. No
1
Schemes
Creches
No. of Units
183
Strength
5490
These creches are for the children below six years of women of low-income group
who are engaged in agriculture work and other labour. This children are taken care of in
these creches from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. These children are provided food, clothing and
impart non-formal education. Once teacher and ayahs are working in each.
SI. No
2
Schemes
Mobile Creches
No. of Units
46
Strength
2300
These are for the children below 6 years, of mothers at work spots like
constructions, agriculture fields, quarries road works etc. Food, preschool education and
other childcare facilities are provided in these centres. One teacher and one Ayah to take
care of them.
SI. No
3
Schemes
Sishu Vihars
No. of Units
3 •
Strength
90
161
In these centres abandoned infants and orphans below 6 years of age are admitted.
Strength of each is 30. The children are looked after by one Nurse-cum-Matron, two
Ayahs and a Watchman.
SI. No
4
Schemes
Balwadis
^0. of Units
166
Strength
4980
These are intended for 3 - 6 years of children belonging to urban slums and
backward rural areas. They are provided with mid-day meals £md snacks. Non-formal
education is imparted.
SI. No
5
Schemes
Balavihars
No. of Units
28
Strength
840
These are recreational centres for both school going and non-school going
children of low income group and socially backward class families who cannot afford to
provide such facilities at home-preschool classes are also run for the children 3 - 6 years
of age in the forenoon and in the afternoon school dropouts and school going children are
taught crafts, music, dance and other fine arts and provide library books to inculcate
reading habit and to improve their physical, mental and social abilities.
SI. No
6
Schemes
Women & Child
Welfare Centres
No. of Units
46
Strength
1380 Children
1380 women
These centres promotes childcare facilities including immunization, pre-school
education, mid-day rpeals and snacks and milk. To women and school dropouts training
is given in crafts, nutrition and child care education.
SI. No
7
Schemes
Children Homes
No. of Units
81
Strength
60-130 each
162
The homes are for orphan children in the age group of 6 - 10 years. These are
intended for total orphan children, partial orphans, children of disabled parents and ex-
servicemen. 6 - 1 0 years age group children are admitted and free boarding, lodging,
clothing, medical aid and education is provided till X class or 18 years of age whichever
is earlier. Total 81 homes are in the state with sanctioned strength of 60-130 each.
SI. No
8
Schemes
Homes for
Collegiate Girls
No. of Units
6
Strength
210
Inmates of children homes who pass 10*̂ class are admitted into these homes to
pursue higher studies of their choice.
Government of India, Development of Women & Children in Rural Areas
(DWCRA) which till 1992 covered 15 districts including Srikakulam, Cuddapah,
Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, Anantapur, Medak and Vizianagaram.
Basic childcare facilities are provided and DWCRA for the children of working
mothers. Beneficiaries are organized into groups of 15 to 20 women who opt for some
economic activity, each group gets Rs. 15,000 for developing infrastructural and
marketing services. In additional Rs. 50,000 is provided for purchasing equipment for
training-cum-production to each block centre on multi-purpose centres.^"
DWCRA scheme is only partly successful. In traditional activities the pattern of
work had not changed, that is, using family labour did not come down. However income
generation and uplifting of the most deprived strata of society was visible.
The TRYSEM Programme aims at uplifting those below the poverty line by
providing training for the rural youth with an objective of getting them self-employed.
"̂ Centre for Public Policy Studies: Ciiild Labour in Andhra PradesFi - A Profile. Government of Andhra Pradesh with UNICEF Collaboration. 1993, Page - 51
163
TRYSEM is initiated as a scheme with good objectives. But while implementing it the
scheme was has suffered due to lack of imaginations and due to absence of proper
backward ixnd forward linkages. Most beneficiaries, today therefore are looking for wage
employment, some remain unemployed or underemployed or are moving to the cities in
search of jobs.
Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) was introduced from April 1989. This scheme
actually emerged by merging a National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) and
Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) with an aim to have even
distribution of resources to all villages and intense employment in backward districts. For
the Eighth Plan period the areas of works identified are social forestry, soil and water
conservation works, minor irrigation works, improvement of drinking water tanks,
construction of rural roads and houses for individual members of scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes and for freed bonded labourers.
Poverty alleviation measures are the direct and assured ways of reducing child
labour in domestic and productive work. For the reason devetailing these measures to and
being supported by broader poverty alleviation and productive employment generation
programmes such as the IRDP, NREP, RLEGP, JRY, DWCRA are absolutely essential.
A major activity undertaken under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) is
the establishment of special schools to provide non-formal education, vocational training,
supplementary nutrition etc., to children withdrawn from employment. Under the project
based action plan of the policy, 12 NCLP were started in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
A major programme was launched on August 15, 1994 for withdrawing child
labour working in hazardous occupations and rehabilitating them through special schools.
Under the programme a total of two million children are sought to be brought out of work
and put in special schools where they will be provided with non-formal education,
vocational training, stipend nutrition and health check-up. As a follow-up a high-powered
164
body, the National Authority for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAECL) was
constituted on September 26,1994. The functions of the NAECL are:
1) To lay down policies and programmes for elimination of child labour, particularly in
hazardous employments
2) To monitor the progress of implementation of programmes projects and schemes for
the elimination of child labour.
3) To coordinate implementation of child labour related projects of the various
ministries of the Government of India.
"So far 76 child labour projects under the National Child Labour Project scheme
have been sanctioned for covering 1.5 lakh children. As per the available information,
around 1.05 lakh children are already enrolled in the special schools."
Common Minimum Programme
The Common Minimum Programme by the Government seeks to eliminate child
labour from all occupations and industries and making free and compulsory elementary
education a fundamental right.
It h ^ found difficult to improve the Child Labour Rehabilitation activities in the
entire state. This is because of
1) Some drawbacks in the maimer the National Child Labour Projects are functioning
and in the guidelines of National Child Labour Projects itself
2) Due to some difficulties in supervising the functioning of National Child Labour
Projects. The details are as follows:
'̂ Mahapatra, Sevashee: Step to check Child Labour. Yojana, July 1997, Page 25
165
i) In many districts the National Child Labour Project schools are allotted in Non-
Govemmental organisations where many of them had no proper understanding
towards the problem of child labour and more particularly towards the strategies
of child labour rehabilitation.
ii) Since the salaries paid to the teachers in the National Child Labour Projects is
less, in many places persons who are under trained and homeless orientation in
tackling the drop out students providing bridge courses were appointed.
iii) The most of the National Child Labour Projects, over children are admitted they
are continued in the project 3 to 4 years by sending them to new class or
continuing them in the same class. Thereby the process of sending / placing the
students of National Child Labour Projects into normal schools got effected.
Further the chances of taking new children ihto National Child Labour Project is
minimized. The inherent reasons of many National Child Labour Project School
is that the Non-Governmental Organization feel that sending children to normal
schools forces them to take fresh child labour and undertake the enormous
process of training / teaching them again. Hence the N.G.Os are continuing the
same bunch of children as far as possible every year. This clearly shows their
poor understanding of National Child Labour Projects main aim of normalizing
as many children as possible in short span.
iv) Only in Ranga Reddy District through camps run by M.V. Foundation,
placement of children in normal schools is high.
v) The role of Non-Governmental Organization schools towards prevention of
child labour in their region is minimum. No regular drives and awareness
generation programmes are undertaken by these schools.
166
vi) In many districts the projects are functioning in an isolated manner. Many State
and Central Government schemes are not made use of by the project
implementation authorities.
vii) Irregular release of budget by Government of India is one of the most important
reason for the average performance of these projects. The half-yearly budget
supposed to be released in the months of June and November are being released
in the month of March respectively.
viii) Neither the schools nor the projects are functioning in an isolated manner. Many
State and Central schemes are not made use of by the project implementation
authorities.
ix) At the State level, the Child Labour Rehabilitation activities are undertaken by
different departments and Non-Governmental Organisations simultaneously in
many places. But there is no proper coordination between all these activities.
Presently besides National Child Labour Projects, Social Welfare Department.
Women Finance Corporation, District Primary Education Programme, Police
Department, Shramik Vidyapet, UNICEF etc., are functioning in the field labour
rehabilitation.
Methods of Rehabilitation: Action Plan Recommendation
A) Special Schools
1. Qualified teachers with sufficient input in child psychology
1) Teachers 2. Candidates to trained in Bala Sainika with inter
qualification.
2) School Uniforms Should be provided free of cost by the Government to
generate interest both to'parents and students, which would
impress upon them. Textbooks, notes, pens to be provided
167
free of cost, school timings should be fixed such that child
may not go back for work.
3) The committee felt that there is no need for a clerk in special schools. Teacher may be
paid 100/- extra for work of a clerk, as remuneration.
4) The balance salary (700-100) of the clerk should be used for buying toys, sports
material etc.,
5) Children should be mainstreamed only after achieving the minimum levels of
learning.
6) The committee has drawn the attention to the various mal practices of NGOs
maintaining special school including false attendance and enrolment of Government
school children into special schools. '
7) The project society should form 'Mothers Committee' in special schools. Functions of
Mother's Committee, (i) To monitor and guide the performance of children (ii) Once
in a month at Gram Panchayat level a meeting should be held with the ward members,
youth club members, ICDS. (iii) This committee should supervise, strengthen and
bring the deficiencies to the notice of District Project Society.
8) Transfer Certificate: Issued by special schools have to be valid by the Government
schools to facilitate smooth mainstreaming of children from special schools to regular
Government schools.
B) Residential Schools
The committee has deserved that residential school method would be more
effective keeping in view the special education problems of these children into
consideration. The committee suggested to start a few residential schools. The
168
Residential schools can admit students after special schools before joining regular
schools as a transition stage or can directly admit most vulnerable child labour based on
the socio economic background of the families with child workers.
Advantages
1. In residential schools, the children will get more opportunities to concentrate and
learn than in day schools.
2. Vocational training can be imparted as a part of curriculum since there is sufficient
time and infrastructiu-e with the institution.
3. More discipline can be ensured.
4. Encouragement can be given adequately in the fields of sport and cultural activities.
5. Mandal Level "Mother's Committee" can supervise the activities of residential
schools.
C) Regular Schools
The conmiittee has observed that regular Government Schools require
simultaneous reforms
1. There should be atleast 2 teachers posted at present in all government primary
schools.
2. Teachers attendance has to be supervised to have a check on the absentism of teachers
by the officials / Village Education Committee.
3. Infrastructure and basic amenities should be provided in all the Government schools.
169
Stipend
1. The group recommended unanimously that they should not be any monthly stipend.
2. Providing monthly stipend is being misused by some of the special school organisers.
3. The provision of stipend encourage false enrolment and enrolment of regular schools
going into a special schools.
4. The group suggested that the stipend should be given as a lump-sum reward for the
successful students at the time of learning the special schools.
Curriculum
1. Class room activities should be attractive and creative
2. Literacy premises may be used in special schools as they are easy to comprehend.
3. Group has stressed on effective teachers training.
4. Vocational training should also be given some focus along with formal education.
5. Adequate encouragement should be given for sports and cultural activities as part of
curriculum.
6. There should be periodic study tours and excursions for the children admitted in the
special schools.
170
The group observed that there should be effective mechanisms for monitoring and
evaluation of rehabilitation programmes at District and Mandal levels, The progress of
students and teachers should be mentioned with special emphasis.
A PROGRAMME FOR REHABILITATION OF CHILD LABOpR FROM
HAZARDOUS OCCUPATION IN ANDHRA PRADESH
hi Andhra Pradesh child labour is a serious problem in a backward districts like
Kumool, Nizamabad, Prakasam etc.
A society known as Child Labour Rehabilitation project society has been
registered to effectively enforce child labour abolition and regulation act of 1989 and also
to plan and implement rehabilitation project where objectives are stated below:
1. To identify areas and activities in which child labour is concentrated.
2. To have a survey conducted to pinpoint the locations of families whose children are
working and sent them instead to school.
3. To motivate the parents not to send their children to work and send them instead to
school.
4. To motivate the children to leave the work to the elders and join the schools specially
established for them.
5. To build up awareness in the minds of employers about the legal provisions
pertaining to the child labour.
6. To create awareness in the minds of public representation regarding pathetic state of
working children and enlist their cooperation in the release and rehabilitation of child
workers.
171
7. To set up establishment of rehabilitation which will cater to the needs of providing
basic education and vocational skills to the children identified as child labour
8. To identify and position the required number of teachers, instructors and other staff
' members and give them suitable training to enable them to discharge their duties
effectively.
9. To ensure that the enrolled children get nutritious food so that their normal healthy
growth which might have received a set back can be resumed.
10. To provide for medical care to the children for treatment of diseases which might
have resulted due to hazardous occupation and also periodic health check-up
11. To make an attempt to put as many children who are enrolled in the institutions, as
possible in mainstream institutions be it for general education or vocational training.
12. To provide support for self-employment by tapping one of the ongoing self-
employment programmes of the Government.
13. To provide follow up and counseling services to the children who leave the institution
till they stabilise in their area of work on a sustainable basis.
14. To ensure that the children enrolled in the society receive benefits under all the
development programmes which are under implementations in the District.
15. To be in touch wdth similar projects in other Districts so that exchange of ideas taken
place for better implementation of the project.
16. To see that other children in the families of the children identified as child workers,
particularly those in the age group of 5 - 8 years are enrolled in schools. Neglect of
172
the segment can result in perpetuation of the problem, as these children could be the
child workers.
17. To take steps for stepping up enforcement of child labour laws.
18. To take up periodic evaluation of the efforts which have gone into rehabilitation
schemes.
19. To arrange periodic interaction of the children with their parents so that the parents
came to know about the pro years their children are making.
APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD LABOUR AND THE STRATEGY
FOR REHABILITATION IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Child labour is a result of complex socio-economic process where children have
to earn wages to enable their families to survive. The social values in the area get
conditioned to support this and find justification for its existence. Main roots of this
problem can be traced to poverty and lack of sufficient employment in the area.
Andhra Pradesh is one of the 25 states in India. It is known as one of the
backward states in Southern India with less industrial growth, low literacy rate and
frequent disasters and calamities. The State comprises of 23 districts geographically
divided as coastal, Rayalaseema (the land full of stones) and Telangana (the old Nizam
ruled area). Guntur and Prakasam Districts in the coastal region is one of the poorest parts
of Andhra Pradesh. The problem of cumulative poverty occurs that is poverty from all
angles - Social, Economic, Political and Cultural.
Efforts to eradicate poverty are being made for the past many years. There are
countless programmes and schemes under implementation. However, poverty in terms of
absolute mmiber has been growing ceaselessly and human development indications
centuries to be at a low movement. All the programmes and schemes have not been able
173
to make an appreciable affect on poverty and human development. Therefore, problem
like child labour exists.
Since poverty is the root cause of child labour there should be conscious attempt
to address to the poverty of these families who eire sending their children for child labour.
It is suggested to prepare a separate poverty eradication plan with the families of the child
labour as target groups. It is proposed to implement the special poverty eradication
programme by pooling the resources available under IRDP programmes of SC/ST
Corporation, DWCRA, Women and Child Welfare programmes.
AWARENESS BUILDING
At the level of women groups:
Women groups will focus on the problem of child labour. These groups of women
will be sensitised and motivated to send their children engaged in child labour to the
rehabilitation schools.
All the available means of communication will be made to cover these groups to
effectively sensitise them and sustain their motivation level.
Kalajat
This comprises organisation writers' workshop to produce the required software
like songs, ballets, skills, etc., and on various facts of the problem of child labour and its
solution. Organisation of a Directors' workshop to give physical action forms to the folk
art forms generated in the writers workshop, selection of artists from the project area,
who are usually talented local youth and giving them rigorous training about 10 days in
giving performances. This troupe consisting of 10 artists each will give a two-hour
performance in each of the habitations in the project area. Kalajatha have been given a
uniform, wearing which they will go around from habitation to habitation on a cycle
174
given to each one of them in batches of ten. It is proposed to organise a Kalajatha on
child labour with some set of artistes in the habitations of project area utilising the
uniforms, cycles and musical instrument already given to them.
Monthly Magazim
Particularly print media will be used for publicity and aware building in addition
to other mass media. Since majority of the target group to whom the message has to go
and reach are illiterate pictorial depiction will be used more than written matters. Posters,
pamphlets and banners will be suitably designed keeping the above aspects in mind. A
periodical called "Podupulaxmi" is being produced by a special talented group of persons
picked up from the District Administration. It is proposed to reserve some space
exclusively for child labour rehabilitation in this magazine. Proportionate cost of
publication will be charged to the project.
TRAINING OF THE WOMEN LEADERS AND PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES
It is proposed to organise 5 days training programme to the women leaders on the
issue relating to child labour. They will also be trained in the management of the special
schools. In addition, it is proposed to organise mandal level and district level workshops
to sensitize and educate the concerned elected representatives such as Zilla Parishad
Chairman, members of the Zilla Parishad, Mandal Parishad President, Sarpanchas. It is
also proposed to organise one-day workshop with the employers of the children in
hazardous occupations to educate them about the legislation.
INVOLVEMENT OF THE WOMEN GROUPS IN THE REHABILITATION
PROJECT
This communication convergence will create congenial atmosphere in the project
area for effective implementation of the rehabilitation programme. Taking advantage of
this the Podupulaxmi groups will be motivated to identify child workers who are engaged
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in hazardous occupations for taking up rehabilitations. Identification of the children and
motivation of the parents especially mothers to send their children to the special school
will be done. The groups themselves will also fix up locations for the schools and identify
suitable building for this purpose. The groups will also identify local educated youth who
are educated, enthusiastic apd committed with other suitable qualifications to work as
educational and vocational instructors.
It will be mostly child labourers in the age group of 9-14 who will be enrolled in
these special schools. Two other important age groups to be tackled are 5-8 and 15-18. It
is proposed to make full use of the District Primary Education Project (DPEP) funded by
overseas Development Agency, to deal with children in the two age groups. It has already
been decided to implement the DPEP through the Podupulaxmi groups in Kumool
district.
Podupulaxmi groups will ensure that all these children are systematically enrolled
in the existing schools. In habitations where there are no schools or in places where the
existing schools are insufficient the women groups can start new schools with assistance
under DPEP. They will identify local educated youth to function as teachers who will be
given proper training. Remuneration for these teachers will be paid under DPEP through
the Podupulaxmi group. These schools will thus be under the management of women's
groups. Children in the age group of 15-18 years can join the special schools and learn
vocational skills if they afford to do it. If these centres they can became functionally
literate and also learn vocational skills.
COVERAGE OF SERVICES
Under Podupulaxmi a committee has been formed at mandal level whose job is to
ensure convergence of various developmental programmes and podupulaxmi groups.
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The family specific plan among others will contain the following:
Tie up with one or more of the poverty alleviation programmes like I.R.D.P etc.
So that each adult member of the family has some source of incomes since poverty is the
root cause of child labour and therefore it is necessary to make efforts to increase their
family incomes.
a) Release of revolving fund under Development of Women and Children in Rural
Areas (DWCRA) programme to Podupulaxmi groups in which the mother of the child
labour are members to enable them to have access to revolving fund through groups.
b) Arrangements made for medical check up and follow up for both children and adults
to take care of the preventive and the creative aspects especially of the direness
caused due to hazardous occupation. Medical officer and the multipurpose health
workers will play an important role in this.
c) Arrangements to hand over the management of Anganwadi centre to the Podupulaxmi
group and strengthening of the Anganwadi centres particularly in the contexts of
schemes being implemented in the district under the World Bank Scheme.
d) To ensure that each family has a white card which will enable them to access
subsidised rations in the Fair Price Shop.
e) Arrange tie up of special schools with Mid-day meals scheme announced by the
Government of India.
Children rehabilitated by using one or more ways mentioned above to enter the
mainstream at one point or the other. It is proposed to use the teachers in specials schools
for this item of work by giving them suitable training. The process of follow up and
counseling will continue upto a stage where the child has totally gained confidence and
177
has become an integral part of the mainstream and the rehabilitation would have been
complete.
The strategy adopted has mobilisation of community especially women,
organising them and ensuring their participation as the foundation for the rehabilitation
project. The building built on this foundation reinforced by communication convergence
and converge of services is bound to be lasting and sustainable.
MONITORING MECHANISMS
The monitoring of the project takes place at various levels. Monitoring
mechanisms aimed at ensuring effective enforcement of the legislation and the
rehabilitation of the children admitted into the special school.
AT HABITATION LEVEL
The women groups in the selected pockets of the districts will be sensitized to
closely monitor the enforcement of the legislation as well as the functioning of the special
school. The women leaders who will be attending the monthly meeting at mandal level
will be encouraged to speak on the subject.
AT MANDAL LEVEL
The Mandal level committee on the convergence of services consisting of Mandal
Revenue Officer, Mandal Development Officer, Mandal Education Officer, ICDS
Supervisors, Medical Officer, who will be holding monthly meetings with the women
groups will be entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the enforcement of
legislation and fiinctioning of the special schools.
178
AT DIVISIONAL LEVEL
There will be a divisional committees headed by Revenue Divisional Officer. The
members of the Committees will be Divisional Medical and Health Officer, ICDS Project
Officers, Mandal Education Officer? concerned, Mandal Revenue Officer and Mandal
Development Officer. The Committee will coordinate with various departments in
awareness building, conduct of the surveys, identification of child labour to be
rehabilitated, location of the special schools, involvement of the women groups in the
management of the special schools and convergence of services at the special school
level through various departments.
AT DISTRICT LEVEL
The district level committee will be plan and supervise the implementation of the
project. The Mandal level and Divisional Committees will submit monthly reports to the
District level committee. The District level committees is the decision making body for
the successfiil implementation of the project.
PROJECT ADVISORY BODY
The advisory body is expected to give overall guidance to the Child Labour
Rehabilitation society and to the District Level Committee for successful implementation
of the project. The advisory body will also review the programme implementation as well
as the utilisation of the funds.
NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR PROJECTS FOR DISTRICTS IN ANDHRA
PRADESH
Following are the Districts which are going to start new special schools based on
the demand in the district
179
1) Kurnool: 48 special schools were opened out of 200 sanctioned. The Project Director,
NCLP Kurnool stated that necessary proposals to open another 45 schools wall be
sent. The total requirement is 48+45=93. The remaining balance of 107 schools to be
surrendered to other districts where the need is greater.
2) Visakhapatnam: 40 special schools were sanctioned. 40 schools are functioning. The
State Government stand is that there is a need to open new schools in tribal areas in
Anaku Valley and Paderu. Special schools for girl children in tribal areas. 20 special
schools in tribal areas for girl children and 10 special schools for plain areas.
3) Khammam: 17 special schools were sanctioned. Project Director, NCLP has stated
that there is a need to open 10 more schools. Project Director, NCLP will send
proposal for 10 new special schools.
4) Medak: 37 special schools are functioning out of 40 special schools sanctioned.
Proposal for opening of 3 more schools will be sent and there is a need to open 10
more additional schools in Medak District.
5) Warangal: 40 Schools were sanctioned and 40 special schools are functioning. There
is a need to start 20 special schools to cover the Beedi Workers residential areas.
6) Nizamabad: Before 17 special school were sanctioned and all 17 are functioning.
There was a need to open 23 additional schools to cover Beedi Workers residential
areas in the district.
Recently 17 more schools in Nizamabad District for child workers have been
sanctioned under the National Child Labourers Project and they would be managed by
voluntary organization. 17 schools are proposed to be established in remote rural areas.
Each school, to be well equipped, will have an intake of 50 students
180
"Anganwadi schools will be set up all over the district and 995 women are being
trained as instructors and another 1410 would be trained in the end of May 1999. As part
of the Girl Child Protection Project, 220 girl will be extended financial assistance."
1) Karimnagar: 40 special schools sanctioned and 40 schools are functioning. There is a
need of 10 additional schools to be opened.
8) Srikakulam: 5 special schools were sanctioned. 5 schools are functioning. There is a
need to open 10 additional schools.
9) Nalgonda: 13 special schools were sanctioned and 13 schools are functioning. There
is a need to open 10 more schools.
70^ West Godavari: 22 special schools were sanctioned and 18 schools are functioning
there is a need to open 4 more schools.
BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMME
A large proportion of the child labour belong to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled
Tribe Community. Many of them are girls. A significant number are working in the
unorganized sector and some of them are working under bonded conditions. They are the
most unreached section of society unable to avail of existing opportunities. In order to
reach these deprived children the Government of Andhra Pradesh initiated a pilot
programme "Back to School" in all 23 districts of the State in April 1997. The objective
of the Programme was to identify children who had never been to school or had dropped
out and enroll them into schools. The target was 1000 children per district.
High dropout rate, low-retention, poor learning levels, low enrolment of girl child
are some of the problems hindering primary education. Andhra Pradesh is identified as
one of the states which has a high ratio of non-school going children. The Government of
• The New Indian Express, April 16, 1999 - Indian National Newspaper, Page 5
181
Andhra Pradesh launched a special programme Back to School to specially intervene to
bring the beyond reached sections such as children belonging to Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes, girls and other socially disadvantaged sections back into the schooling
system.
Two-month camps were organized in all the districts by the Social Welfare
Department in the Social Welfare Hostels, Boys and Girls belonging to SC, ST and BC
families who discontinued their schooling, or who have not been to school although of
school going age were brought into a residential camp, given orientation with the purpose
of sending them to mainstream schools for continuing their education.
Majority of the pupils are drawn from SC, ST and BC communities. Most of the
parents of the pupils belong to lower income group they are mostly illiterate with little or
no appreciation for the value of education. Therefore, they are provoking their children as
additional hands to supplement the family income or in the girl children's case as hands
to look after the younger siblings at home. Parents cited their poverty as the main reason
for discontinuing their children's education. Other reasons are children being used for
supplementing family, looking after the younger siblings, supporting families. Therefore,
free of cost board and lodge facilities along with notebooks acted as an incentive to the
parents to send their children to the camps.
On the whole parents were appreciative of the programme. Most of them said
their children were benefited from the programme. The exposure of the parents to the
camp experience of their children clearly encouraged their motivation. They wanted to
ensure that their children did not discontinue their schooling and that they would
certainly do something to encourage them for further studies. If the programme is further
strengthened, it will go a long way in getting substantial number of socially deprived
children back to school to continue their education.
182
INTEGRATED PROJECT FOR GIRL CHILD LABOUR IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Objective of the Project are as follows:
1) Withdraw girls from hazardous/non-hazardous industries and prepare ground for their
happy girlhood.
2) Organise special camps for such girls for a minimum period of six months on districts
basis.
3) Introduce suitable curriculum which would enable them to be main streamed in
Normal schools/ Residential Schools/ Social Welfare Hostels.
4) Introduce vocational inputs which also lays the platform for suitable self-employment
ventures. >
5) Dissemination of information through capsules on children's rights women's rights.
6) Finally to protect the girl children/adolescent girls from exploitation of different kinds
and lead them to empowerment.
All the Telugu Bala Mahila Pragathi Pranganams are spacious building on about
10 acres of land in each district.
Such infrastructure was created to impart training to 200-300 women at a given
time to start with.
The Project envisages running of special camps for maximum 100 girl children in
each Pranganam. Such girl will be taken from hazardous/non-hazardous industries,
establishments.
183
The existing staff of the Pranganams will be directly implementing the project.
In addition, it is proposed that 3 special teachers per Pranganam will be taken on
contract bases. State level Officers have been designated Supervisory Officers to be
incharge of 2 to 3 Programmes.
The rehabilitation programme is being implemented in all the Telugu Bala Mahila
Pragathi Pranganams in the State and at working Women's Hostel, Kushiguda,
Hyderabad.
Government of Andhra Pradesh Commitment by 2000 AD are as follows:
Eradication of Polio
Reduction of infant mortality
Elimination of poliomyelitis
Increase access to sanitary facilities.
Immunization coverage more than 85 percent.
Elimination of measles mortality and morbidity.
Achievement of universal awareness about HIV/AIDS
Improve status of girl child to achieve equal sex ratio
Expansion of early childhood care and education activities.
Create total awareness about convention on the Right of the Child
184
• A one-third reduction in iron deficiency anaemia among women
• Reduction incidence of low birth weight babies to less than 20 percent.
• Elimination of Vitamin-A deficiency and its consequences including blindness.
• A halving of severe and moderate malnutrition among under five age children.
• To cover 80 percent of adolescent girls by special health camps to improve health
status and awareness.
• Total elimination of bonded child labour and child labour in hazardous industries
for children imder 14 years.
• Special attention to urban "highrisk" groups of pavement dweller, street children,
rag pickers, migrant groups including construction workers.
• Universal enrolment, retention, achievement of minimum level of learning,
reduction of disparities and universalization of effective access to schooling.
• Complimentary tribal strategies and activities for this disadvantaged category of
population to come on equal status with the general population of the state.
Thus, it was suggested by the State Government that the committee should meet
periodically and also undertake visits to places in the districts where programmes of
different Government Agencies were under implementation, in order to focus them better
and to address the problem of child labour effectively.
185
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