Child labour result of poverty, says Udaipur NGO

Lack of work, complete lockdown, and prolonged period of closed schools are some of the reasons why parents are taking children back to the villages but without striking their name off the school

New Delhi: FINANCIAL destitution remains the leading cause of children dropping out of schools, says local NGO Ahead of 'World Day Against Child Labour'. Udaipur-based NGO, Jatan Sansthan is aiming to engage with over 3 lakh people across India to spread awareness and prevent children and adolescents from unlawful practices of child labour.

Speaking to Bizz Buzz, Kailash Brijwasi, Executive Director, Jatan Sansthan, said that the NGO has roped in more than 350 full-time staff, 650 Anganwadi workers and over 1,000 volunteers working on the campaign ahead of 'World Day Against Child Labour,' which is observed on June 12. The child-trafficking initiative, initiated on May 20, will continue for 24 days through virtual platforms with the objective of increasing awareness among communities against child labour during Covid-19 and post-Covid-19 era through various social media and digital platforms.

The awareness drive has been supported and funded by the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef). The NGO has received close to Rs 2 lakh from Unicef for campaigning activities. Under this digital campaign, the NGO is sensitising population on child labour via social media campaigns, posters and visiting lower income-group households.

"Owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the scale of migration has increased exponentially, around 49 per cent. What we have seen and observed is that before such a pandemic, only senior family members would migrate, leaving the children and elderly member behind. This time, parents are taking children with them back to their native places. Lack of work, complete lockdown, and prolonged period of closed schools are some of the reasons why parents are taking children back to the villages but without striking their name off the school," Kailash told Bizz Buzz.

According to Kailash, owing to the pressure of financial constraints, children between the age group of 10 to 15 years are vulnerable to fall prey to trafficking. "Girls, who fall prey to human trafficking, can be found doing MNREGA work or household work. We haven't come across handicapped children being forced into manual labour," he said. Kailash said that due to low demand in the business and mounting debt on the EWS has further forced families to engage into child labour.

The NGO is also operating two helplines on child trafficking, one in Rajsamand and the other at Udaipur railway station. Before Covid-19 pandemic, the NGO would receive 40 to 50 calls/day on child labour on their helpline. The numbers, however, have reduced over the past few months, with 10 to 15 calls/day regarding the same.