Background
One of the members of this India Vision Group Ms Pramila, working as Journalist in one of the leading National Newspapers at Chennai was mentally disturbed to see few children carrying bricks on their head in the construction sites daily. Being a journalist, she went further ahead to study the situation. She found out more than 125 families were staying in temporary huts in one of the parts of Chennai City and they were all brought from different places by construction labour contractors. Among them, nearly 100 children of age group between 12 and 17 were also going for work and earning around 150 to 200 rupees per day. All of them used to get up at 4 am daily and they would be picked up by the contractors to take them to the construction sites at different parts of the city. They used to return only after 7 pm daily.
She also found out many such children could not even read and write. Some of them have studied upto second or third standard in some schools. Due to their family movement, they are moving around with their parents. Since they are all migrant labours, they do not have any ration card or voting right.. When she spoke with some children, she found out that some of them were interested to know basic reading and writing.
Pramila is also the member of our India Vision Group and also Action 2020 Team. After making a preliminary study of these children, she circulated in the Action 2020 team group seeking the views for helping them. The members debated among themselves and consulted various experts. There were only two possible options to take it forward::
Option 1
Some of the Right Activists suggested that we can report to the Police and rescue the children. We can create media report, so that guilty persons are arrested.
Option 2
Some of the social workers who are working for this type of children and street children, suggested that if we inform the Police, there would be a big hype in the media and the Activists could get large media publicity. Past experience has shown, after the media hype, some of the contractors would be arrested and later released on bail, due to political connections. Ultimately, the poor families would be deprived of their income. Children also would lose the job and not taken to schools. They suggested that going to the Police would end up with one or two days publicity resulting in these families losing their job and income.
On further study, we also got the information from the social workers that large number of 'migrant labours' are moving around the country with their family members. They are extremely hard workers and they prefer to train their children even from the age of 12 for such hard work. They may not be good in education, but they would show their skills in construction works. Social workers felt that if we take these children out of their employment and put them in the school, they would not shine in the education and at the same time, not getting trained in hard work. They felt at the age of 17 or 18, neither they would have good education nor good skills for construction work. Finally, they would end up in small thefts and criminal activities. Presently, these workers and children are hard workers and do not involve themselves in thefts or any other criminal activities, as they are earning enough money.
How the issue was resolved?
Again, Action 2020 Team had to find the balance between the (a) Eradication of Child labour/ Children right and (2) Ground reality. Vinod and 8 volunteers from Aazraya Charitable Trust (group of students), Team Everest and Kodambakkam 2020 (partner groups of Action 2020 team) joined Pramila to help these children.
As this is a 'complex and sensitive issue' and need to be resolved with care without the families losing the job, the team approached the local Corporation Councillor for help. He happily offered to help to find a solution. He also visited the area along with Action 2020 Team. When the Team wanted to teach the willing children, as expected protest came from some of the contractors saying, "Are you going to make them District Collectors?". There was a resistance from some of the parents also.
Since Action 2020 Team involved the local City Corporation Councillor (who is also a politician), he resolved the issue by threatening the contractors that if they made any issue, it would go to the Police Commissioner resulting in their arrest. After this threatening, the contractors withdrew and permitted Action 2020 team take classes.
For time being, Action 2020 Team has firmed up with the Children to take classes on Saturday and Sunday evenings. They have so far conducted two sessions successfully. On the first day, only 10 children were present. On the second day, around 16 children participated. Interestingly, some of the parents of these children also started attending the classes.
Action 2020 Team is handling this in a matured manner with the guidance of many people. Mrs Lakshmi Rahakrishnan, a Special Educator is also giving guidance to handle them psychologically and carefully. Presently, the team is focussing only to create interest amongst the children and parents. Corporation Councillor has also promised all help, whenever required.
It is only a good beginning. Based on the need of these children, Action 2020 Team will plan and execute the projects.
On behalf of India Vision Group, I congratulate Pramila (journalist) and Vinod (Aazraya) for their wonderful initiative. and careful handling of such sensitive issue.
For every problem, there is a solution. If we decide to resolve the problem, lot of good people will join.
Srinivasan
Moderator
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