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  • Essay / A Study on Child Labor Working on Farms

    Our Efforts and Experiences - In all civilized societies around the world, the system of child labor is condemned as a social evil, but the fact is that the system is present on a large scale. in a country like India. We see that, in recent times, our society is showing signs of awareness of this social scourge. This is the first part of the article giving details of the efforts undertaken in and around Ahmedpur for the eradication of this system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay For 12 years, I have been working on various issues related to rural areas through the People's Institute of Rural Development and Rachanatmac Sangharsha Samiti (Maharashtra). Creating jobs for agricultural labor through the employment guarantee system is our sustained and major activity. While working on a farm between 1988 and 1990, I was exposed to the problem of child labor. When I saw children working as children or as boneless laborers in agriculture, I was able to realize the intensity of this problem. Agriculture is a major source of employment for labor in rural areas. Child labor working on farms, in debt bondage or as herders has a negative impact on adult employment. When dialogue was initiated with agricultural workers on this issue. They shared that when a child works in child labor, they are actually supporting the family. They believe that the child gives food to a family. This is a general feeling among the rural masses about child labor. The common opinion among this working class is that more workers means more income for a family. But these appeals have still not made it possible to decide, whose hands should belong to? They don't understand that small hands deprive big hands of jobs. The difficult life they lead and the ignorance of these agricultural workers are responsible for this type of attitude towards their own children. This made us realize the need for structural changes in society and we decided to work towards structural changes. In society, we have decided to work for structural changes. At the beginning, we had no plan or concrete strategy to deal with the situation. We decide to have a dialogue with agricultural workers on this issue. We were already discussing with them the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, agricultural labor protection laws, etc. When discussing these issues, we have always had a positive attitude and approach. They were told that sending children to work meant depriving them of the opportunity to go to school. If a child does not want to go to school, he will become illiterate. Valid for all kinds of exploitation, please send them to school. It would be better if they remained unemployed after studying. We have always insisted that they send their children to school. Our perception was that if children were going to school, then automatically not. child labor will be reduced, leading to the creation of jobs for adults. After a while, we realized that no matter how hard we try, it will never be possible to get all the children in this class to school. This awareness led us to design a program called the “Child Labor Education Program”. Its implementation began immediately. In the process of implementing this non-formal education program on the work ofchildren, in-depth reflection was underway on this question. At this point, TDH and YUVA took the initiative and launched a "Campaign Against Child Labor" on November 14, 1992. Since the first meeting, we have been associated with this campaign and working for it. Although we have the ambition to work towards the eradication of a system of child labor, we are aware of the scope and scale of the problem as well as our own limitations. SO; based on our own assessment of our capabilities, we have decided to implement the following programs: Educationprogram for child labor. Daycare program for children of agricultural work; andCampaign against child labor.Child Labor Education Program:This program aims to provide the opportunity for children under the age of 14 to receive an education, who have not been able to go to school or who dropped out of school. And for this reason, they work like children. This program will enable them to learn the 3 Rs. And can make them capable of appearing for Std II or Std VII exams. They could become part of the main education system. In three years, 20 educational centers were created in 20 villages. Around 600 to 800 children were enrolled in these centers. The selected children were prepared for the Std IV exam. They were motivated and supported in this adventure. During the period 1992-93 --- 1994-95, 183 children appeared for the Std IV examination. Of these, 122 passed the same test and of those who passed, 68% were girls. In addition to those who sat for the exam, 139 other children joined the main education stream. This is our success. This could be possible through targeted effort. Village level program: A: 1,100% enrollment in schools. In the 20 villages, a list of children in the age group of 5.5 years to 7 years is prepared every year. The goal is for them to be enrolled in schools. The coordinator of the non-formal education center and the village education committee are fully involved in this endeavor. Control the dropout rate in primary school. For various reasons, children enrolled in primary school leave school. These school dropouts work as child laborers. To stop this process, dropouts are interviewed, their list is prepared and efforts are made to send them to school. But our efforts were unsuccessful. Children's Education Committee. Children's education committees are formed at the village level. The committee is made up of the coordinator of the non-formal education center. Principal/teacher of a school. Some young people and some eminent personalities of a village. This committee is responsible for enrolling 100% of children in schools, controlling the dropout rate, sending child labor to a non-formal education center and implementing a campaign against child labor at the village level. It appears that 60 to 70% of committees do not function effectively. Village Campaign Against Child Labor: Under this programme, village meetings are organized to raise awareness about the issue of child labour. At the meeting, the issue is discussed and solutions are proposed to remove this system. And people are invited to join the campaign. This program has generated a certain awareness in the village. People started discussing this issue. Wall writings are also made, so that people read the slogan and think about it. Day care program for children of agricultural workers: Initially to care for the children of working women, day care centers were opened in four villages. With.