Children from rural areas said, “We have been waiting desperately for the last one year for schools to open. In these two years of pandemic and lockdown, mental health of children has been badly impacted and we have no access to schools and other activities. Many of us are also engaged in labour work.”
Children raised their voice in a state-level webinar organized by the Labour Department (Government of Rajasthan), Save the Children and Work No Childs Business on the eve of World Day Against Child Labour and shared their experience during the lockdown.
Suman of Sasarpur village in Dungarpur district said, “My parents and I had gone to Gujarat for labour and came back to the village, Save the Children got me admitted in the school but since then the schools are closed. I am totally away from studies and afraid to get engaged in labour work again.”
Nikita, a student of class VIII from Kukda village in Rajsamand district said, “Children in villages are engaged in labour works and girls staying at home are getting married at an early age. Once girls are getting married at an early age, they cannot study further.” Another girl, Roshni Dodiyar from Tanda Ratna village in Banswara district said that the government should pay immediate attention to the problems of rural children.
Santosh from tribal district Dungarpur shared challenges to access education in rural villages in COVID 19 lockdown. He said that he does not have access to smart phones to attend online classes, and there is a lack of resources in the village.
Akansha from village Bhima (Rajsamand district) shared that her father was not able to meet household expenses and the poor economic condition makes her more vulnerable and sometimes her father in stress makes him consume alcohol. Ayush of Makwana, in Banswara district said that closure of schools makes children more engaged in labour work which hampers their studies. They demanded the Government to provide learning and study material to children.
Sanjay Sharma, Deputy Director, Save the Children said that the efforts were being made for the last 20 years to stop child labour, but during the last two years of COVID 19 pandemic, there is a major increase in livelihood crisis and financial insecurity has risen up. This has exposed many children to work as labourers in rural and urban areas. Children are away from schools for the last two years and it has impacted on their well-being. There is a need to do something to support children and provide social security benefits to children.
Dr Mahaveer Jain, Retired Senior Fellow, National Labour Institute said that the government will have to prepare road maps at village, block and district level. The government should connect the people and raise awareness on anti-Child labour through different programmes. There is a need for a robust plan to keep children at the centre of focus and ensure the development of children.
Save the Children’s child protection Manager Ramakant Satpati said, “We need a strong and comprehensive approach to stop child labour. There is a need to work closely with Government, Civil society and to pay special attention to children in the age group of 5 to 14 years.
Dr Shailendra Pandya, Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member said that arrangements for rehabilitation will have to be made after rescuing child labourers. There is need to work at both the source and destination of child labour, which needs interstate coordination to stop child labour. The Government should take strict action against people employing child labourers.
Harish Chandra Katara, Sasarpur Sarpanch said, “Together with Save the Children, we have empowered the Child Protection Committee and stopped the migration of children to Gujarat by monitoring them continuously. At the village level itself, through volunteers, the children were made to stay at home and create an environment for studies.”
Umesh Raika, Deputy Commissioner of Labor Department said that concerted efforts are necessary for the prevention of child labour. Children have been affected due to Covid. “We are trying to ensure that children do not go into child labor.” He appreciated Save the Children intervention on child labour and said that in joint collaboration with Save the Children, the anti-child labour campaign will be made successful.
