#InternationalChildren’sDay Child Labour Free Zone – a CASA initiative

In today’s time and age, many children are forced to engage in labour works to support their families, and in the process their – right to life, to health, to education, to play, to be protected from violence and to not be discriminated – are lost.

International Children’s Day on November 20th

 

“This year, I wish to emphasize the importance of ensuring that the commitments made by the international community to the world’s children are extended to a group of children who are often forgotten or overlooked: those deprived of their liberty.”  – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

 

Living by the spirit of the United Nations on promoting the well being, protection and promotion of children, CASA has Child Labour Free Zones (CLFZ) in the country which gives a new lease of life to children engaged in labour activities.

Chatrai Mandal in one such town in Andhra Pradesh which is one of the most backward areas. Illiteracy rate is very high in this region and a majority of Backward Class (BC) community people depend on agricultural labour.

The school dropout rate is very high among the community because parents here think that sending children to work would earn more income for the families. At the same time, many farmers hire children to work as field labourers as the minors are hired on low or minimal wages.

This is Sindhu, Now a FREE BIRD

CASA started a Bridge School in the Vadrigudem village of Chatrai Mandal region to help the school dropouts. Out of the many children from this school, Sindhu at the age of 12 discontinued her education while she was studying in 6^th standard.

Every day Sindhu used to pack her food and leave for work while her younger brother would get ready for school. Her misery continued for almost 3 years when she was forced to work as agricultural labour.

Sindhu was trapped in the clutches of child labour which forced the childhood out of her along with her right to receive education.

Sindhu’s right to have education was restored when CASA opened a Bridge School in her village but the journey ahead was erratic because her brother continued to go to a government school unlike Sindhu who was irregular to the bridge course center.

As she was found absent for most of the times, CLFZ project staff and the women groups requested her parents to send her regularly to the Bridge Course Centre (BCC). Struggling initially for some time, CLFZ officials finally succeeded in motivating Sindhu’s parents to send her to BCC.

CASA also decided to extend financial support of Rs 10,000 to the family and motivated them to start a shop in the village. Sindhu’s mother Lakshmi, started a petty shop and now she earns at least Rs 500 every day from this business. Sindhu’s parents are very happy with the additional income and they have started sending her to the BCC regularly.

Now, Sindhu has decided to continue her education by appearing in 10^th standard exams next year.