Hidden workforce in India

Meaning of workforce (Economics) the total number of people who could be employed the country's workforce. In India unemployment is very high 40 Million with an Unemployment Rate of 9.4%. It contrary children below the age 18 years are working as hidden workforce in India. These children are all around within households, outside street at traffic lights, eateries, railway platform, in agriculture farm with parents, in seed production industry without parents in vulnerable environment, in brick kilns, industry, mines, coastal areas, entertainment industry and brothel at any age when our own children are in school or in playground.

If this is the situation all around then who is accountable for child rights violations, parents, society, state, children themselves who because of the accident of where they are born. I believe no one will say children themselves assuming place of birth is not linked to karma in past life. Then come to parents who are struggling for survival trapped in hunger, unemployment, debt. They are not in position to help their own children. This section of society is large in India as per
census 2001 over 5 lakh children working below the age of 5 and 13 million children in various forms of work. Where as the actual figure is much higher every child who is not in school is a hidden child worker, rearing younger siblings, tending the home or helping parents earn. Then if we examine the society in large then most of them are contributing to it which is necessary but not sufficient either they are giving donations to civil society organizations, volunteering on the cause, some of them are doing for feel good factor like giving food and cloths. Every body is doing their bit as per the sensitivity towards children, time, and resources. Some of them are engaged in creating sensitivity towards underprivileged children. We also need to examine the market and media the percentage of patronage towards children. We all are sensitive but our investment is minimal we need to look it seriously. If we come to our state responsibility then Government is legally bound to ensure that every child under 14 years is in a mainstreamed school, then there must be a complete ban on child workers but in contrary government has banned on 13 occupations and 57 processes. Law in India permits most children of any age to work except prohibited hazardous area. Even these prohibited areas are rarely enforced. Country reports no more than a few thousands prosecutions every year and even fewer convictions.

I belief it is non negotiable child labour should be totally banned at any cost. There are arguments against banning child labour first Child labour is outcome of poverty but also its cause. Second banning child labour Indian export become uncompetitive because adults would have to be paid more and contribute in nations economy growth. But India’s economic growth can not be built on the thin shoulders of our working children. Life skill development enabling artisanal, farming, fishing community for next generation but stretched beyond a point is disguised rationalization of Caste system. Right to education for all children might be a ray of hope because it is in school that, a child is equipped and empowered to build her own identity.

One more case of violation of child protection

One more case of violation of child protection

Child is always become victim in the adult world. The form of victimization may be varied and always in the painful news. This time reported 10 years old girl child, Rameshwari Jadhev has faced brutality on 23 August 2009 in Mumbai. The person from the adult world allegedly was T.V actress Urvashi Dhanorker, doctorate in business management. Madam has beaten Rameshwari, how come human being can beat a child because of Srikhand, no……….no…………. srikhand can not be so much expensive. No there will be other reason for the same. I think there is some big politics involved in it. It may class struggle, caste struggle, degradation of morality of human being or may be something else. I need the answer of this conspiracy; I need to know the agents who have been doing such conspiracy against the humanity. I am getting the sense of class struggle. Rameshwari has come to Mumbai for education because her parents may be too poor to afford her education expense similar to other expensive commodity, but they understand the importance of education, and Rameshwari also wants to study and government has also advocating in favor of right to education for all and given status of elementary education as fundamental rights. All stakeholders want to do something for good. I wonder in this almighty world people are helpless, and then who has made this world great. I am surprised to think about Rameshwari, how her plight will be over. What can be the most favorable decision to her from the adult world? Under the law/act child labour prohibition and regulation act and Juvenile justice (care and protection of children act against cruelty to children) which suppose to protect the children, Urvashi will be imprisonment for 2-3 months if convicted. In any way Rameshwari will lose the opportunity for study because we do not have rehabilitation policy. We need to take up the incident in two ways with respective purpose. First, investigate the case in detail and give punishment to convict and create an environment with all stakeholders which makes it a case which considered as heinous crime and it won’t be repeated in future. Second, rehabilitate the Rameshwari and her family. Parents should get employment and ensure in a way that Rameshwari could continue her study and enjoy the family support.

Do we have reacted in the same way in case of it would have own child. We need to think and my sincere request to each one of you who are reading my blog please give a thought and write me yours reaction.

“Key challenges in elementary education and way forward”

“Key challenges in elementary education and way forward”

The public school system in India is not functioning; however government schools have a big responsibility in providing education to all. Broadly challenges in elementary education could be seen in five categories. first challenges within households and community, second within school education system third quality of education, fourth participation of children, community in system , and fifth parallel education system.

Historical marginalization of community in terms of social, political and economy creates discrimination based on caste, class and gender. It has created nuances on children also like dalit children do not have access to the school in upper caste area. Even some of them access to school they have been facing discrimination from the upper caste teacher; the class room sitting arrangement is also have reflection caste system of society. Parents do not send their children to school because they work in field or engage in income generation activities. There is also gender discrimination girl child are less prefer than male child to sending children to school. 200 million women can not read or write in India. 1991 census shows that 40 per cent women aged seven or above were literate, this figure goes up to 54 per cent in 2001 and if this is the speed of literacy growth then by when we will have 100 per cent women literacy India is big questions for all of us.

The challenges in schools are as follows: Comptroller and Auditor General of India reports found 40 per cent children 6 to 14 years out of school. It is one of repercussions that some of the remote areas of rural India do not have school, even some of the areas have school but it is too far (beyond 1 k.m.) for the children to go to school daily on time. There is no transportation facility to attend the school, hence children are denied from elementary education. Some of the schools are there, but there is no infrastructure, no class room, no water facility, toilet which some times are fatal for children. 75000 primary schools around the country have one teacher and nearly 7000 schools have no teacher. Many schools have teachers but they have not coming to teach children. Teachers are giving children corporal punishment and also some times children are physically and mentally abused by the teacher.

Third but very important quality of education, parents are fed up because even they send their children to school in adverse condition but after completing elementary education they are unable to write read alphabets which is very discouraging to community. Community also sees the education linked to employment, present education system takes away the youth from their culture and traditional way of livelihood. They do not left away with any option after secondary education. Children lose interest in education which also cause drop out because in their curriculum does not reflect their association with the study. Curriculum depicts different context and culture and same material is universal for all. The books material is also not attractive for children to study because it has been developed in perspective of elder ones.

Fourth participation of community and children in education system is abysmal. Concepts of village education committee came but it has value on paper only. Engagement of village communities in education reforms by involving parents in VEC has only notional value. Supposedly most villages have VEC with parents as members but many do not know about it.

Fifth, there has been parallel system developed, in the same village we can find government, trust/NGO, private teacher all have been running school separately. Private schools are mushrooming all over the country. There is dismal performance of our government school, in many states enrolment in government school has been declining. There is no synergy in their work and institution building is required to create synergy. Even there is lack of coordination between state and central government. It can be justified by the example of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), it is flagship elementary education programme introduced in 2001 to provide education to all children has been a colossal failure. Eleven states have diverted SSA fund worth 999 million to sectors and schemes.

Planning for Child rights blog

Welcome to my blog. I will keep update all of you on child rights status in India. From today (28 August09) onwards my blog will cover respective geographical regions of india in a time frame. The periority is as follows: Western India (August- March010), Eastern India- 6 months, North India-6 months and south India -6 MONTHS. You all are welcome to share your opinion and learning of child rights from all over the world.