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Annual Report2005

Bachpan Bachao Andolan

Annual Report2005

Annual Report2005

L-6, Kalkaji, New Delhi-110 019, IndiaPh: +91 11 26224899, 26475481 Fax: +91 11 26236818Email: [email protected] Website: www.bba.org.in

Bachpan Bachao Andolan

BBA Programs And Activities -2005

* Map not to Scale

Bihar

Uttar Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Bihar

Jharkhand

Andhra P

rades

h

Rajasthan

Uttaranchal

Gujarat

Punjab

Chat

tisgar

h

Tamil N

adu

Orissa

Karn

ata

ka

Maharashtra

Delhi

Intensive Areas of Action

Bal Mitra Gram

Transit Rehabilitation

Raid & Rescue

Partnership

Rehabilitation

INDEX

A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 5

Foreword

1

2005 is the silver jubilee year of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA). We can raise our heads with humility and pride for being the first non-government initiative to challenge the ugliest social evil, i.e., human slavery. We know 25 years is not a long period in the human history, but for each single child, her parents, siblings, brothers and sisters, even a day of slavery is a curse, a hell.

While I write down these lines, I can still recall the innocent face and sacred voice of Sabo, the 14 year old girl, her parents and all other 36 children, women and men, whom we first freed in early days of 1981 from a brick kiln. I can very well match the purity and beauty of her face with that of Ankita, whom we liberated from the clutches of domestic slavery in November 2005. Both were traumatized when released. I was so thrilled and happy that only after 2-3 hours of passionate chatting with them, I could deeply

feel the gradual restoration of their childhood minute by minute. How Ankita, with innumerable wounds on her body, smiled. How she uttered her first words of joy, which went up to singing a song of happiness, and finally bursting into loud laughter, expressing the victory of liberty over slavery with her body and soul. BBA has successfully brought back beautiful smiles on the faces of more than 69,000 children and adults from Sabo to Ankita.

Our biggest pride goes in bringing the issue of child servitude on national and global agenda. We are thankful to all those who joined us as helping hands, those who marched with us for 25 years, or even for a day, even those who criticized, assaulted and attacked us and made our resolve stronger.

When we started the movement against slavery, it was a non-issue and there were hardly any contemporary experiences available to learn and follow. We had to invent and reinvent our strategies and actions, examine and re-examine their effectiveness and impact. We had to believe in ourselves, and then to multiply this belief among those, who were unknown to us and to the issues. Now we are happy and proud that a number of worthy and impressive non-government organizations are working to liberate child slaves. We have also seen phases from complete denial to partial recognition, to strong and violent reaction from the vested interests, as well as, jealousy from those who posed to be friends, to encouraging and positive court verdicts, to participation of millions of people in India and across the world in our support.

We have also seen the replication and multiplication of most of our approaches and strategies like direct actions of raid and rescue to free the enslaved, rehabilitation and leadership building of freed bonded labourers, mass mobilization, consumer sensitization and action in holding the corporate accountable, inter- linking the issue of child labour and education, by non-government and even government actors. We are also encouraged with the paradigm shift in ideology and thinking of many groups, who first advocated the necessity of employment for children as a harsh reality and now supporting total elimination of child labour in all its forms.

I also have deepest respect for each of my sisters and brothers in the movement, who contributed their most at the cost of their comforts and careers.

Martyrs Dhoomdas and Adarsh Kishore will always be remembered in our struggle as they made their supreme sacrifice.

We feel that we have achieved only partial success. We are marching, and with every step we near our ultimte goal, ultimate victory- the end of slavery and all kinds of exploitation of children in our lifetime.

Kailash SatyarthiChairperson

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servitude and create child friendly societies for quality and equity based education for all children. BBA organises projects, activities and programmes under the legal entity of Association of Voluntary Action (AVA).

All the states have highly dedicated and committed BBA activists to oversee and implement the programmes carefully selected by the policy makers. Majority of the workers are volunteers with a missionary zeal to eradicate the child labour through direct and indirect actions. Maximum concentration of membership is from the two poorest states of the country that is Bihar/Jharkhand and Rajasthan, which also have a high concentration of child labour.

Editorial Team

Layout & Design

Photographs

Sheetal Raina, Rakesh Senger, Umesh Gupta

Vijay Singh

Vinay Singh, Kumar Gandharva

Sandhya Chellapilla,


Achievements At A Glance 2005

A series of raid and rescue operations conducted in Delhi on hazardous industries like zari (embroidery) units

School enrolment drive

ndThe 2 Children's World Congress on child labor and education hosted by BBA

Continued efforts in building a child friendly society

Transit rehabilitation for released bonded children

1098 children were released. It was for the first time that children released from zari industry had been issued release certif icates for their statutory rehabilitation through BBA efforts.

4360 former child laborers enrolled in Government schools.

Delhi Declaration drafted and adopted by children demanding elimination of child labor, provision of free quality education for all with a thrust on reduction of expenditure on weapons and wars to ensure peace in the world.

30 child friendly villages completed and handed over to community. Most of the children's parliaments are headed by girls. Another 70 villages are in the making.

1059 released bonded children were rehabilitated during 2002-2005.

OutcomesActions

BBA Convention

Refresher Courses at Mukti Ashram

Organisational Building

The national convention of BBA was held from 17-19 March 2005 marking its 25 years of struggle in ending child labour. The convention was held at Mukti Ashram in Delhi. Activists and senior leaders participated in it. The good blend of activists who had been involved since the inception of the movement and the new genre of activists had a rich experience of sharing, learning and getting inspired during the two days. The activists presented their key achievements and also prepares their plan of action for the coming year. The major action that was unanimously approved by all was to have a campaign to stop child and human trafficking for forced labour. This will be the theme campaign for the year 2005-2006.

Mukti Ashram since 2005 has emerged in a new role as a center to provide refresher courses and capacity building workshops for former child labourers who have been rehabilitated by BBA's transit rehabitation centers. It also provides training to enterprising youth from the Bal Mitra Grams. The 10 day refresher courses provide training on child rights and other development issues, legal awareness, leadership qualities, community mobilisation, media sensitisation, documentation and reporting. Training is interactive with the use of audio-visuals, games and field-visit

BBA has a total individual membership of 58,930 persons committed to achieve the mission and objectives of the organization. BBA membership covers 11 states of India. The BBA members elect their district/State/ national office bearers (Presidents, Vice-President and District Coordinator) every two years. BBA has a mission to identify, liberate and rehabilitate children in

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Research studies & Publication:

! Report on Children Missing an Education

! Public Lecture on Children Missing an Education

! Newsletters, Booklets and IEC materials

! A book on Globlisation, Developments & Child Rights


B

Vision

Mission

achpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) has a legacy of 25 years of crusade against child labour. Founded as a group of few individuals, BBA has emerged as an organization of thousands of individual supporters under the banner of

'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' as well as network of over 750 NGOs, Trade Unions, Human Rights Organization etc. dedicated towards the total elimination of child labor and quality education for all in India.

To create a child friendly society where all children are free from exploitation and receive free and quality education.

To identify, liberate, rehabilitate and educate the children in servitude through direct intervention, child and community participation, coalition building, consumer action, promoting ethical trade practices and mass mobilisation.

Rescue and release of child/ bondedlaborers.

Rehabilitation,

Education and

reintegrationChild

parti

cipat

ion

Networking and

coalition building

Mas

s Se

nsitiza

tion

and

awar

enes

s

Legal Awareness

Creating Child Friendly villages

Consumer Action

and Promotion of

ethical trade

BBA Strategies

Commemorating World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, 2005

Documentation

On the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 2005 BBA marked the occasion by a concert by the ghazal maestro, Pankaj Udhas. As a goodwill ambassador of BBA, he dedicated an evening to childhood. An audience of more than 3 0 0 0 p e o p l e h a d gathered for the show.

It was a platform to take the issue of child labour in to the corporate working class that has not been targeted at such a large scale. Reaching out to this untapped segment of the society as well as the corporate sector, was among the first of its kind of awareness campaigns on the issue of child rights in India.

Best Director Award to “Ropes in their Hands”

“Ropes in their Hands” won the Best Director Award at the prestigious New York International independent Film and Video Festival. This documentary film produced by BBA unearths the plight of victims of child trafficking into limelight. It brought to light the grim reality behind the façade of glamour and glitz of the circus world. The documentary was conceived after the major raid and rescue operation that saw the release of 12 Nepali girls from the Great Roman Circus. This film is used as an awareness generating tool by BBA at national and international level on the issue of human trafficking for forced labour.

The other visual documents used by BBA to generate awareness on different issues are:

Mukti the Liberation

Childhood Now!

All that Glitters is not Gold- A short film on Children in Mica Mining

th

!

!

!

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The New Heroes: Featuring Kailash Satyarthi, Hosted by Robert Redford

The New Heroes tells the 12 dramatic stories of daring people from all corners of the globe who, against all odds, are successfully alleviating poverty and illness, combating unemployment and violence, and bringing education, light, opportunity and freedom to poor and marginalised people around the world. Kailash Satyarthi is one of these 12 heroes.


Activities under the BBA may be classified as under:

Child Participation in decision making process and creation of Bal Mitra Gram ( Child Friendly Villages)

Identification, raid, rescue and release of children from hazardous occupations.

Providing transitory rehabilitation and training

Intensive Action Area programs for releasing children from worst forms of occupation and enrolling them into schools.

Organisational building and release of children from work and their subsequent enrolment in schools.

Public awareness and mass sensitization campaign

o Education campaign

o Millennium Development Goals campaign

o Universal Birth Registration Campaign

Corporate Social Responsibility and ethical trading in Zari, Mica and Footwear

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

BBA Program Activities

4

their own experience of exploitation, abuse and denial of education, we, the children, made the following key conclusions:

25

"Eradication of child labour is not a utopian dream: It is hundred percent

possible, feasible and achievable with the help of grassroots organisation

like BBA."

Dr. Lakshmidhar MishraFormer Labour Secretary,

Govt. of India


The Ministry of Labour, Government of India has identified several hazardous occupations, where children are banned to work in accordance with the Child Labor Act -1986. The BBA has targeted several of these hazardous occupations and areas for Intensive Action programs . Effective and appropriate networking is established with all stakeholders to persuade them to release children from work and enroll them in schools for quality education programs. Majority of children are enrolled in government schools, while some children are also enrolled in National Child Labour Project (NCLP) schools funded by the Ministry of Labour. The BBA activists are constantly monitoring the action programs in these intensive areas. During 2005 a total of 2646 children (1648 boys and 998 girls) from different districts were released from work and enrolled in the government/ NCLP schools.

BBA in Task Force on Child LabourFor the first time in Delhi, on the issue of child/bonded labour, a task force under the chairmanship of the divisional commissioner (revenue) was constituted in July 2005. Shri R. S. Chaurasia, General Secretary BBA is a member of this task force. To survey, identify and rehabilitate children is its prime objective. It would also ensure minimum wages to those working in the unorganized sector besides clamping down on placement agencies which procure and supply children especially girls for domestic help and thus abet trafficking.

Released from work and Enrolled in Schools in the Intensive Action Areas

2002-052004-Dec 052003-042002-03Area

Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Total

Intensive Action Area (IAA)

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The 2nd Children's World Congress on Child Labour and Education

The Second Children's World Congress, a four-day event was attended by a r o u n d 2 0 0 - c h i l d par t i c ipants f rom 30 countries. These child leaders and child activists had travelled from across the world to demand action- action to eliminate child labor and ensure education for all.

Mr Arjun Singh, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India Chief Guest of the Inaugural Ceremony announced that in the next Parliament session he would be introducing a Bill for constitution of a Commission at national and state level which will exclusively deal with all issues pertaining to children and see that existing programs are implemented properly and also to suggest measures for their improvement. Further, he added that the Children's Declaration prepared by the delegates of the Children's Congress would be seriously considered by him and his ministry.

After a series of discussions and brainstorming sessions, the children came up with a Delhi Declaration.

As heads of state prepared to met in New York for the UN Summit to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals, in New Delhi, child delegates from around the world, most former

child labourers, have agreed a declarat ion placing key demands on their governments and the international community a n d p l a c i n g p e a c e , elimination of child labour, universal education and poverty elimination and decent work for adults as the key i n te r l i nk ing priorities. After four days of discussions on the urgent need to eliminate child labour in which 246 million children worldwide are presently engaged - and p r o v i d e u n i v e r s a l education, and exchanging


Impact of Intensive Action Area on Community

A New Beginning for 60 Children 60 children were rescued from carpet industry from various regions of Uttar Pradesh (UP). After rigorous attempts for several years by BBA, these children who were rescued over a time period from 1999 to 2005, finally received rehabilitation package of Rs. 20000 cash bes ides f ree accommodation under Indira Awas Yojana worth Rs. 20000 and Rs. 150 per month life long as a social security pension.

Most of these children had undergone transit rehabilitation in Bal Ashram and Mukti Ashram

The shine in the eyes of Gopal Rishidev was evident when he received the package after so long a wait. While working in carpet factory for years, he had never dreamt of owning his cattle and house. With the money, he bought 2 cows and is earning enough to support his family. He is also teaching the children of the village during free hours.

O sen i tC ino umm

23

Initiatives Towards Free Compulsory and Quality Education

4360 Child Labourers Start Formal Education

An impressive figure of 4360 child laborers entered school in the academic year 2005-2006. This feat was achieved under the banner of School Chalo Abhiyan (school enrollment campaign) during July-September 2005 by BBA.

The BBA activists as the first step carried out an exhaustive survey in 45 villages of 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. The survey found that 5300 children between the age of 6-14 years did not go to school. The activists met the parents of the children; they informed them about the need for education and convinced them to send their wards to school. Awareness was also generated through rallies and local meetings to get the children enroled in government school. Regular interaction with the teachers is maintained to ensure that children do not drop-out of school. One remarkable achievement is the enrolment of 201 girls out of 250 children in a primary school in Saharsa district of Bihar.

The school enrolment and retention drive also puts a stop to many of the children being trafficked and ending up in the cities as child labourers specially the girls who may land in a brothel or be hidden as a domestic servant.

BBA Leads Global Action Week (GAW) 2005 Activities in India Global Action Week 2005 activities in India witnessed the active participation of BBA and received wide support from the media and public. The focus of the weeklong activities was the “Send My Friend to School” campaign, which was successful in mass mobilisation and sensitisation to the cancerous problem of growing illiteracy in the country.

To kick off the week-long activities in the right spirit, on April 24 a nationwide “Run Towards Education” was organized in 12 states across India. The “Knock the Door” campaign took place on April 27 and 29, 2005. The organisers of GAW 2005 include National Coalition for Education (NCE), All India Primary Teacher's Federation, All India Federation of Teacher's Organisation, All India Association of Christian Higher Education and various other NGOs.


MDG CampaignBBA is working on the two major goals under Millenium Development Goals Campaign in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Madhya Pradesh (MP). These goals includes Education for All and Gender Parity. In 4 districts of UP & MP, BBA is working with district administration specially education department to achieve these goals. BBA is ensuring that all the children (specially girls) in these areas should be in the school. BBA is also coordinating with other networks working on thses issues at state and national level.

7

BBA has a major mission to identify bonded adults/ children, children in servitude and seek their release through persuasion or rescue them through legal intervention and raids. A total of 1098 bonded child labourers were rescued in 2005 by BBA and other partner agencies of BBA in the country.

129 Child Laborers Rescued from Zari Units in New Delhi

In a massive raid and rescue operation on

thOctober 7 2005, by BBA, 129 child laborers working in zari (embroidery) unit were rescued from Kotla Mubarakpur, New Delhi. Boys, aged between 8-14 years were found working in small dingy rooms, with no light or ventilation. These small rooms were h o m e s a s w e l l a s workplaces for children trafficked from the states of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. Zari making and work has been

classified as hazardous form of child labor in the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 in India.

The raid, supported by the police, administration and judiciary, was conducted as part of an ongoing drive to by BBA to make New Delhi a child labor free city. Working more between 12-14hrs a day without break for a meagre Rs. 200 per month (food, etc, is deducted from this amount by the owner), these children have lost their sense of freedom and liberty.

14 years old Saimul has been working for the last 6 years in one of the raided Zari units. Youngest among 4 siblings, Saimul was trafficked from West Bengal by an agent along with his brother to Delhi. In the last 6 years he has met his parents only once. For working tirelessly from 9 a.m. in the morning to 1 am past midnight, Saimul's earning was a paltry Rs.600 a year.

Raid and Rescue Operation

22

Mukti Caravan (Campaign on Wheels)A grassroots campaign to generate awareness on trafficking through vernacular and folk media. It establishes a networks of village youths, Panchayat members and other community stakeholders in the target villages and enhances the formation of Bal Mitra Grams

Over 30,000 children have been enrolled in schools through the Mukti Caravan Campaign during 2002-2005.

Universal Birth Registration CampaignTo accelerate rate of civil registration through awareness building, strengthening the information system, sensitizing of registration units and organizing and mobilizing the civil societies.

Birth certificate gives a child access to:! Social services: such as education

and healthcare ! Proof of age: helping to protect her

against child labour and child marriage ! National identity: making it easier

to defend against abuse and child trafficking

Strategies! Awareness Campaign through a mobile caravan by a troupe of activists performing theatre

and songs, plays etc.! Dissemination of IEC material including Audio-visual presentations! Meetings with government officials and village representatives for giving due importance

/priority to birth registration work.


When Can I Play?This is not a scripted copy, waiting for a Bollywood producer to pounce on and direct an Oscar winning entry. This is a reality byte that will haunt you for times to come.

When Akbar Ansari (9) was beaten up mercilessly by the owner of a zari (brocade work) factory in the Dabri locality of West Delhi, India, he was being punished for a small flaw that he inadvertently made while embroidering on a saree. But neither trauma nor violence was new to his life; working as a casual labourer for more than 16 hours a day at Rs. 40 per month. "We used to get only two meals a day, rice, dal (pulses) and potatoes", he says. Food might have been scarce but there was no lack of beatings, in fact these happened quite frequently.

His story came to light in wake of a massive crackdown on the industrial unit by BBA, on June

6, 2005. The crackdown was the result of a complaint lodged by one of the inmates, eight-year old Waib Ansari. A total of twenty nine children were rescued during this operation.

No. of children rescued through Raid and Rescue operations

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

124174 152

1098

Once a rich region due to its mica exports especially to the erstwhile USSR, this mica belt has had its fortunes reversed when mines closed in the early 90s leading to a rise in illegal mining and employment of child labour in the region.

With the aim of establishing an ethical trade model in the mica industry, BBA conducted the All India Mica Conference in September 2005 with the traders of mica and the mica workers to ensure removal of child labour from the industry. This initiative saw the active participation of the trade community, the media and the workers who took to the idea of child labour free mica industry and pledged support to BBA in its efforts to make the region child labour free.

Currently, BBA is working with the village community in mica mining regions of Bihar and Jharkhand to improve the education infrastructure besides being in talks with the traders for a child friendly mica mining industry.

Zari is essentially a kind of thread used for embroidery on clothes. The intricate work is done on clothes, shoes and other accessories with a heavy demand among the Indians especially for occasions like marriage. This beautiful zari work hides a cruel world- a world where children toil 18-20 hours a day in ill-lit, cramped rooms and are paid a paltry sum if any at all.

Most of the zari units are present in the by-lanes of metros like Delhi and Mumbai and are largely invisible to the eye. BBA conducted a research on the zari units in Delhi in 2005. The findings were startling. About 100,000 children are estimated to be trapped in several small zari units in Delhi alone. They are forced to work long hours, with little food and no freedom to move. Most of these children are victims of trafficking from the states of Bihar and Jharkhand who are sent to the big cities by their poverty ridden parents in the hope of earning some money.

Armed with this research information BBA rescued about 600 children in two different rescue operations with the help of the Labour Commissioner of Delhi. On the other hand, BBA is formulating a labeling initiative on the lines of Rugmark for zari products as well. It is in talks with the various players of the industry- the traders, exporters, textile manufacturers and also the Labour Department of Delhi to kick start such an initiative.

Intervention in Zari (Embroidery) Industry

21


A Childhood Saved11 years old child domestic laborer Ankita is a resident of Lipti village, a small hamlet in Chattisgarh. About a year ago, an agent brought her to Delhi from her village with the lure of a good future and better earning opportunity in the city. She ended up as a domestic help in Mr. Raju Gusia's house, an engineer with Muncipal Corporation of Delhi. Ankita worked here for year during which time she was subjected to physical and mental torture. She was beaten with iron rods, branded with iron and not even given enough clothing to protect from the harsh Delhi winter. She used to work 17 hours a day with no break.

ndOn 22 November, 2005, when her employer and his family had gone to the trade fair, Ankita was so desperate to escape that from the balcony she climbed on to the cooler and from there to the neighbouring terrace risking her life. The

neighbours informed the BBA activists and later on BBA coordinated with the local administration to secure her release. The BBA activist took Ankita to the nearby

.Government hospital for a medical checkup Ankita's body was badly battered due to the brutal beating's she was often subjected to. She was also produced before the magistrate where her statement was taken. The judge gave the custody of Ankita to BBA. When her family was contacted, her father came by to take her back home.

"Saharsa has a problem of huge child labour migration to other parts of the country. Due to BBA's efforts on child labour issue this has reduced."

Mr. K. P. SinghDistrict Magistrate, Saharsa (Bihar)

Corporate Social Responsiblity (CSR)Intervention in Shoe Industry

Intervention in Mica Mining Industry

In January 2006, BBA brought together var ious stakeholders of the shoe manufacturing industry in Agra to discuss a code of conduct for the removal of children engaged in the production of shoes in Agra.

It was highlighted that only a mass movement to bring awareness on the issue and change the mindset of all stakeholders can eliminate child labor from the face of shoe industry in Agra. The following suggestions were put forth to the industry for immediate adoption:

! The entire shoe industry in Agra should enter into an agreement to make their workplaces free of child labor.

! Generate awareness and ensure the elimination of child labor in the production chain of Shoe Industry. This will be done by face to face discussions on the possibility of adopting an industry-wide "Code of Conduct"

! Children should be withdrawn Voluntarily from factories and placed in schools; Systems of internal and external monitoring and verification have to be developed.

Mica is perhaps the one mineral which literally proves that all that glitters is not gold. A glittering substance abundantly available in the soil of the Eastern states of Bihar and Jharkhand of India, it is a mineral of many uses ranging from cosmetics to missiles. But it takes away the shine of children's lives there. Close to 5,000 children, some of them as young as four years old are engaged in the collection of mica. Braving the threat of naxalites, wild animals, they go on digging quietly.

Working in dangerous pits which are liable to cave in any time, these children expose themselves to the several other health risks like silicosis and tuberculosis, besides being deprived of education. This region is home to the world's largest production of mica. While the mica is exported to several countries and the country earns foreign exchange, children miss out on their fundamental rights.

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A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 510 19

Amazing Santosh!!!15 year old Santosh was a former child labourer working in a gem polishing industry in Rajasthan. She was rescued by BBA activists in 2003. Subsequent to her release her leadership qualities became evident when she was elected the head of Children's Parliament in Jagatpura ward in Jaipur. She helped in the enrollment of more than 200 girls in the nearby government school. She was the one who protested against child marriage in her community and participated in several campaigns on the issue of child labour, education and child marriage.

In January 2005, Bal Mitra ward Jagatpura was handed over to the working committee of which she was a member. She along with other 15 member working committee took over the

responsibility to run this programme by their collective resources.

"Not only does BBA work on child labour but integrates the issue of women and girls welfare in their campaigns."

Mala Sunekar, Programme Officer,Women and Child Welfare Department, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh


The underlying objective of the transit rehabilitation centers of BBA is to impart formal education along with vocational education. They inculcate in the children a deep sense of social justice, gender equity, environmental concern and an understanding of India's rich cultural heritage.

BBA has 3 transit rehabilitation centres, Bal Ashram for boys in Viratnagar, near Jaipur and Balika Ashram for girls in the outskirts of Delhi. Children are provided 6 months rehabilitation in the centres. Every 6 months, a new batch of 60 boys in Bal Ashram and 40 girls in Balika Ashram are enrolled while the older batch of children is reintegrated back with their parents. Another rehabilitation center, Mukti Ashram in Delhi also functions as a training center for former child labourers who have undergone rehabilitation at BBA transit rehabilitation centers and young adults from BMGs'.

Transit Rehabilitation Centers

1118

Jaipur Declaration

"BBA's activities are true example of children's participation."

Dr.Satish Kumar, State Representative,UNICEF Rajasthan


Babli in a Free WorldA mother-daughter duo of Chandni and Shammi had entrapped a child named Babli as a domestic child labourer. Babli is only 12. She was not given any salary or remuneration. Instead she was made to work 18 hours a day and was abused by both mother and daughter on every small pretext. She was not even allowed to meet her parents. Her mother sought the help of BBA in this matter. A joint rescue operation by BBA and local police was conducted and Babli was rescued.

Now she is undergoing rehabilitation in the Balika Ashram. She has grown into a confident leader in her own right taking active participation in the Balika Ashram activities.

Well Done Suman!Suman, an ex-child labourer freed by BBA and residing in Bal Ashram passed his 8th grade Rajasthan Board exam with flying colours receiving 77 per cent in aggregate. His highest achievement was 89 out of 100 in sciences, a feat that takes him closer to his dream of becoming a scientist.

Suman represented the children's reference group of the Children's World Congress at the Child Labour & MDG summit in New York from 12-13 September 2005.

"Personally it was a great exposure and experience to see and know about children and their life, their agony and sorrow and their forgotten childhood. The efforts of BBA and Bal Ashram in bringing the smile back on these tiny faces is commendable. I wish them all the best in their efforts and future plan."

N. Vijaya Lakshmi IAS

(After visiting Bal Ashram and BMGs in Rajasthan, Mrs. N. Vijayalakshmi was so motivated that she pledged to make an entire block (district unit) child labour free. With her determination, she swung into action and successfully created the first ever child labour free block, Hisua, in a record 100 days with the help of BBA activists.)

12 17

Children Take Cudgels to Demand their Rights!

150 children demanded an end to child labour and protection of their right to get e d u c a t i o n a n d e q u a l opportunities. 50 villages of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were represented through these children who gathered at Bal Ashram to participate in the third Rashtriya Bal Mitra Mahapanchayat from 11-13 J anua r y 2006 . The se children, chosen by their peers who are mainly former child labourers, were the elected leaders of respective bal panchayats of their village.

The main focus of the Mahapanchayat was the election of the new national executive of their unique Children's Assembly by casting votes in the presence of ''election observers''. They also discussed and shared their experiences, achievements and challenges to learn from each other during the three-day event. Priyanka, a 13-year-old girl from Rajasthan, was elected the national Sarpanch of the Bal Mitra Mahapanchayat. Shubham, Rajasthan was elected as the UP Sarpanch. The Secretary position was bagged by Rukhsana, Bihar.

BBA has constituted the Bal Mitra Mahapanchayat, comprising mostly the children rescued from child labour, as a forum to ensure children's participation in the process of decision making and policy formulations from the local to the national level. The novel Assembly has raised many developmental issues in their villages and seeks solutions in liaison with the adult panchayat and has generated awareness especially on the tools of advocacy.

The event was attended by various luminaries like Justice Anshuman Singh, former Governor of Rajasthan, the Rajasthan Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Kalulal Gujjar, the Rajasthan State Representative of UNICEF, Dr. Satish Kumar and two Members of Parliament, Girdharilal Bhargava (Jaipur) and Ravi Prakash Verma (Lakhimpur Khiri).

The National Executive Members of the Bal Mitra Mahapanchayat debated, discussed on and

drafted the Jaipur declaration that they wanted to send across to the adults. The thought

provoking discussion based on the common needs of the children turned into a clear directive for

the adults to ensure that all children get their rights, there is no child labour and every girl and boy

gets free, compulsory, equal and meaningful education.

Bal Mahapanchayat 2006

"BBA is doing commendable work in making the Block Child Labour Free. What is unique is their

inclusion of Panchayati Raj Institution in their work to ensure sustainability."

Sunita Devi, Block Chairperson, Jani Khurd, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)


Transitory Rehabilitation/ Training2002-2005

S.No.Rehabilitation

Agency and Natureof Rehabilitation

Sex % (Age)

Boys Girls <10 10-14 >14

Bal Ashram Children performing theatre for awareness generation on the issue of child labour

Girls in Balika Ashram learning Screen Printing

"Your contribution to the society is incredible. I pray to God to give strength, good health and courage to pursue what you are doing. The most touching and memorable experience of my life was the visit to the Bal Ashram."

Pankaj Udhas,

A Ghazal Exponent

A Moving Experience

16

Activities2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

Level at which Interventions Achieved

2002-05

DA: District Authority, LA: Local authority, LC: Local Community, NC: Networking Committee

Programmes and Activities Undertaken in BMGs2002-2005

Q According to you, how important is education for the girls in your village?Yashodhara ji Education for girls is very vital. My education was a big factor in my getting elected as the Gram Pradhan. I take personal interest in checking on the enrollment and retention of girls in school.

Q What kind of support do you need from Bachpan Bachao Andolan?Yashodhra ji I would like that the Andolan starts working in the under-developed and backward areas under this Panchayat and make them Bal Mitra Grams too. I assure complete cooperation in this effort.

Bravo!!!!The children, especially girls in Mirzapur after completion of primary school either had to drop out or travel at least 5 km to attend middle school. The Bal Panchayat with support from the adult's assembly demanded the district magistrate (DM) for a middle school in their village. When the DM failed to respond despite 3-4 appeals, the children of the village surrounded the office of the DM till he ultimately agreed to a positive action. Within 6 days, the village had a middle school. The same children who had left school earlier had now joined back school!

"has been declared child friendly village. This is a proud moment for all of us. I pledge to carry forward BBA's mission henceforth."

Usha DeviVillage HeadGangole, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)

My village


Bal Mitra Gram (BMG) or child friendly village

is a novel concept that was initiated by BBA in 2001 to make villages and wards in India child labor free where every school-going child will be in schools. This is in

conformity with the broad objective of BBA, which stands for total elimination of child labour and ensuring education to all children.

This is done successfully through involving the local community and participation of children themselves by forming Bal Panchayat (children's assembly) which will serve as an effective tool to influence the decision making process and ensures the participation of children at the micro level. BMG has been triumphant in making sure that the issue of gender inequality is addressed through this process. In the process of formation of Bal panchayat primacy is given to girls in the election process of child leaders.

Children's parliament addresses the issues related to quality of education and loopholes of education system and by highlighting these pitfalls; BMG has been blooming in a number of villages to improve the quality of education.

Child Friendly Villages

BMG Declared / On-going, 2002-2005

29

24

3335

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

On

go

ing

BM

Gs

"My parliament was successful in making separate toilet for girls in my school. Now, we have fans in all the classrooms. Our village parliament takes the children's issues seriously and implement our recommendations."

Dholi Yadav, Head, Children's Parliament, Roopkawas, Rajasthan

15

Impact of BMG on Community

Women Empowerment in True SenseBelwa village in Captanganj block of Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh has been declared a model Child Friendly Village (Bal Mitra Gram). We had an in-depth discussion with the Gram Pradhan (Village Head) of the village Smt. Yashodra Devi. Some excerpts from the interview:

Q What changes have come in your village since the Bal Mitra Gram (BMG) program started?Yashodhra ji In our village the BMG program started in November 2004. Today every child in the village goes to school. The biggest achievement is that the girls are not just attending school but are also achieving high ranks in their class. I sit with the Bal Panchayat often and have discussion with them. Many a time listening to their suggestions, I

am amazed at their understanding. It was on the suggestion of the Bal Panchayat that today the school in the village has improved a lot. To empower the women we have helped the formation of two self-help groups namely Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Jeevan Jyoti under Swarn Jayanti Swarozgar Yojna. Also, in the primary health centre under the supervision of Dr. Rajendra Prasad free health check-up camps are organised regularly.

Q What development work did the Panchayat do in this BMG?Yashodhra ji For Bal Mitra Gram Belwa my panchayat has worked on a priority to ensure building of houses for the villagers through the Indira Awas Yojna, construction of roads, supply of safe drinking water, electrification and the opening of Aganwadi centre.

annual report 2005 - bachpan bachao andolan report 2005.pdf · bachpan bachao andolan annual report...

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