Vulnerable Children and Pandemic

Press Note

Situation of Vulnerable Children during COVID-19 Pandemic

(Survey Report)

October 06, 2020

Closure of educational institutions carries an adverse impact on the children who are already facing numerous challenges in getting education or who are more likely to fall out of the main stream. These include children with special needs, students from remote areas, children of migrant workers, or children from families whose income has discontinued due to loss or uncertainty of employment. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted or discontinued education of many children, or they might lag behind other children in studies due to this situation. As a result, a large number of children might remain out of the main stream of education even after normalcy is restored. Most of these out-of-school children are likely to fall into the trap of child labour.

We need to take a stock of the situation in order to address the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. What exactly are the children from various age groups doing during this period? Are they still in the main stream of education or have they fallen out, for the time being or permanently? Are they mentally preparing themselves to stop education and start working in order to financially support their families facing severe economic challenges? The Government has initiated certain measures for retaining these children in the main stream of education. Are these efforts reaching out to them? Are these children or their parents aware of the Government policies being designed in this direction? A survey was conducted through an online questionnaire to understand all of this.

This survey was organised by ARC (Action for the Rights of the Children) Network, Pune. NGOs working in and around the city of Pune, such as - Swadhar, Door Step School, Tara Mobile Crèches, New Vision, Nirman, Green Tara Foundation, Bhartiya Samaj Seva Kendra, India Sponsorship Committee, Save The Children, Kagad Kach Patra Kashtkari Panchayat, Identity Foundation, etc. facilitated the survey by approaching the children and their parents at the community level, for collecting the necessary information.

This survey was aimed at understanding whether the vulnerable children in the city are aware of COVID-19 or not; understanding what type of work and situation they are into; knowing the problems and needs of these children during this period. Questions were framed around the types of jobs taken up by these children during the lockdown period, status of their education, communication within the family, fulfilment of basic needs, COVID-19 prevention tools, change in the behaviour of the parents after getting stuck at the home, expectations from the Government and NGOs regarding education, food and water, financial security of the parents, current employment status, awareness about the initiatives towards education of the children, awareness about latest educational tools, and preparedness to face the situation once the lockdown is lifted. A total of 156 boys and girls below 20 years of age participated in this survey.

While everybody everywhere is worried about the COVID-19 pandemic, the children were found to be somewhat aware of the ongoing fight against the Coronavirus and the precautionary measures to be taken, thanks to the awareness created by the media and the NGOs. However, 20 percent of the children responding to the survey expressed the fear of being contracted with the Coronavirus. The children were also found to be worried about when this Coronavirus threat would go away. It was observed that this Coronavirus and the subsequent situation are affecting the mental growth of the children. The children are stuck at home for a long time, unsure of when they will be able to meet their friends again, whether or not their parents will remain safe from the spread of the Coronavirus, whether or not they will be going to school again, etc.

It was observed that the girls had to face many problems regarding personal hygiene during their menstrual cycle. While answering the questions asked in this regard, 37 percent girls informed that they were not using sanitary pads during periods. Either they could not afford the sanitary pads or these pads were not easily available for them. Also, a substantial number of girls mentioned that they were using a piece of cloth as a substitute to the sanitary pad. This is a serious issue related to the personal hygiene of the girls, which needs to be addressed by ensuring widespread availability of the sanitary pads at an affordable price.

Responding to the survey, 68 percent children informed that they were working at home or outside during the lockdown period. A substantial number of girls were found to be helping in the household chores during this period.

22 percent children mentioned that they did not study during the lockdown period. The reasons were told as no time for study, unavailability of smartphones, lack of guidance about what to study, and feeling bored to study since the schools are closed. In this regard, the response to the Government initiatives for education was not very positive. Almost 67 percent children informed that they did not receive any educational support from their schools. Similar response was recorded for the Government policy about online education. Almost 69 percent children responded that they were not aware of the educational app launched by the Government. 54 percent of the children who knew about such an app mentioned that they could not use this app on their own and needed support from someone else. 55 percent of them informed that they did not understand the content delivered through this educational app. Around 72 percent children reported that they did not watch the educational programmes on the television. 46 percent of the children who watched these programmes mentioned that they did not understand the content of the programmes.

Overall, the educational future of the children seems to be in trouble during the lockdown period. It is challenging to provide educational support through mobile phones and television to all those children who are struggling to get two meals a day. Even if mobile phones and television sets are available, it must be checked whether or not the content on the educational app is designed considering comprehension capacity of every child, whether all the children are able to understand the content or not, whether the online learning process runs smoothly for every child or not. Looking at the responses to the survey questions in this regard, it appears that the Government needs to rethink about their online education policy.

Discontinuation of the supply of Mid-day Meal from the schools has resulted into nutrition related problems for the children. The survey has revealed that around 76 percent children did not receive the Mid-day Meal during this period.

The parents and their children are stuck at home for the entire day during the lockdown period, which seems to have increased the communication among family members. 99 percent children mentioned that the mode of communication had shifted from mobile phones to in person dialogue. The increased communication between children and their parents or among the siblings can be seen as a positive change for the entire family during this period.

All the family members were stuck at home during the lockdown period, which seems to have impacted the domestic environment. Around 72 percent children informed that they had a pleasant environment at home, while 22 percent mentioned that the situation at home was just okay. 6 percent of the respondents informed that they were living in a stressful domestic environment during this period.

96 percent of the children informed that they received two meals a day through various sources during the lockdown period. 61 percent children mentioned that they had to use the public toilets and common water sources, which added to the fear about Coronavirus infection. 36 percent children reported that the public toilets were not cleaned on a daily basis.

Adults as well as the children are expecting concrete support from the Government during these critical times of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown. The news stories delivered by the media seem to influence the thoughts of all of them. The children and their parents feel insecure about the health services, food and grain supply, Coronavirus vaccine, employment opportunities, future of their education and career, etc. Explicit expectations from the Government were voiced by all of them.

Overall, the children were found during this survey to be worried and scared about the lockdown and spread of the Coronavirus, due to the corresponding news stories being constantly delivered through the media as well as various messages being circulated through the social media, and the impact of the pandemic on people from all sections of the society. Serious efforts are necessary to bring children out of this notion of worry and fear. The member organizations of Action for the Rights of the Children - ARC - hope that effective measures can be implemented to secure the educational, mental, physical future of the vulnerable children, if the facts revealed through this survey are conveyed to the concerned Government agencies and general public immediately.

For more information, please contact -

Sushant 7066138138

About UNCRC

The ‘United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child’ known as UNCRC or CRC, is an important agreement by countries who have promised to protect children’s rights. UNCRC explains who should be called a child, what all are their rights, and what are the responsibilities of respective governments. All the rights are connected, they are all equally important and they cannot be taken away from children.

Exactly 30 years ago, on 20 November 1989, world leaders came together and made a historic commitment to the world’s children. They made a promise to every child. The promise of protecting and fulfilling their rights, by adopting an international legal framework – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

What does UNCRC tell us? That the children are not just objects who belong to their parents and for whom decisions are made. Also, the children cannot be considered just adults in training. Rather, they are human beings and individuals with their own rights. The Convention says childhood is separate from adulthood, and lasts until 18 years of age. Childhood is a special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity.

UNCRC Articles:

 

1. Definition of a child: any person under the age of 18.

2. No discrimination: on the basis of identity, location, language, religion, thoughts, looks, gender, disability, financial condition, family background, family beliefs and family occupation. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason.

3. Best interests of the child: While making decisions, adults and governments should think about how their decisions will affect children.

4. Making rights real: Governments must ensure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights in this Convention.

5. Family guidance as children develop: Governments should let families and communities guide their children about using their rights in the best way.

6. Life survival and development: Every child has the right to be alive. Governments must make sure that children survive and develop in the best possible way.

7. Name and nationality: Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which is officially recognized by the government. Children must have a nationality (belong to a country).

8. Identity: Children have the right to their own identity – an official record of who they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations.

9. Keeping families together: Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not being properly looked after.

10. Contact with parents across countries: For children and parents living in different countries, governments must let them travel to stay in contact and be together.

11. Protection from kidnapping: Governments must stop children being taken out of the country when this is against the law.

12. Respect for children's views: Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues affecting them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.

13. Sharing thoughts freely: Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel.

14. Freedom of thought and religion: Children can choose their own thoughts, opinions and religion.

15. Setting up or joining groups: Children can join or set up groups or organisations, and they can meet with others.

16. Protection of privacy: Every child has the right to privacy.

17. Access to information: Children have the right to get information from the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books and other sources.

18. Responsibility of parents: Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should help them.

19. Protection from violence: Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.

20. Children without families: Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly and with respect by other people.

21. Children who are adopted: The most important thing for adopted children is to do what is best for them.

22. Refugee children: Children moving to another country as refugees should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.

23. Children with disabilities: Governments should remove all obstacles to become independent and to participate actively in the community.

24. Health, water, food, environment: Children have the right to the best health care, clean water, healthy food and a clean and safe environment.

25. Review of a child's placement: Every child placed somewhere away from home, for care, protection or health, should have their situation checked regularly to see if this is still the best place for the child to be.

26. Social and economic help: Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families.

27. Food, clothing, a safe home: Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live.

28. Access to education: Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child.

29. Aims of education: Children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities.

30. Minority culture, language and religion: Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion, even if in a minority.

31. Rest, play, culture, arts: Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities.

32. Protection from harmful work: Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is dangerous or bad for their education, health or development.

33. Protection from harmful drugs: Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs.

34. Protection from sexual abuse: The government should protect children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

35. Prevention of sale and trafficking: Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped or sold.

36. Protection from exploitation: Children have the right to be protected from all kinds of exploitation.

37. Children in detention: Children accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults.

38. Protection in war: Children have the right to be protected during war. 

39. Recovery and reintegration: Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected, treated badly or affected by war, to get back their health and dignity.

40. Children who break the law: Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment.

41. Best law for children applies: If the laws of a country protect children’s rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used.

42. Everyone must know children's rights: Governments should actively tell all the children and adults about this Convention and children’s rights.

43. How the Convention works (43 to 54): These articles explain how governments, the United Nations – including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF - and other organisations work to make sure all children enjoy all their rights.

Looking back at last 30 years:

UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. It has inspired governments to change laws and policies and make investments towards best health care and nutrition for every child. The convention has caused stronger safeguards to protect children from violence and exploitation. It has also enabled more children to have their voices heard and participate in their societies.

Despite this progress, UNCRC is still not fully implemented or widely known and understood. Millions of children continue to suffer violations of their rights when they are denied adequate health care, nutrition, education and protection from violence. Childhoods continue to be cut short when children are forced to leave school, do hazardous work, get married, fight in wars or are locked up in adult prisons.

And global changes, like the rise of digital technology, environmental change, prolonged conflict and mass migration are completely changing childhood. Today’s children face new threats to their rights, but they also have new opportunities to realize their rights.

Over the past 30 years, children’s lives have been transformed globally in following ways:

• More than 50% reduction in deaths of children under 5 since 1990;

• Almost 50% reduction in the proportion of undernourished children since 1990;

• More people have cleaner drinking water today than in 1990.

At the same time, following threats are still affecting the childhood across the globe:

• 26.2 Crore children and youth are out of school;

• 65 Crore girls and women were married under 18 years of age;

• By 2040, around 25% of the children will live in areas with extremely limited water resources.

UNCRC and India:

India ratified UNCRC on 11 December 1992, agreeing in principles all articles except with certain reservations on issues relating to child labour.

In India, there is a law preventing children under the age of 18 from working, but there is no outright ban on child labour. The practice of employing children below 18 is generally permitted in most industries except those deemed "hazardous". Although a law in October 2006 banned child labour in hotels, restaurants, and as domestic servants, there continues to be high demand for children as hired help in the home. Current estimates of the number of child labourers in the country, even from the government's conservative estimate, indicate 40 Lakh children under 14 years of age.

In 2016, the Child and Adolescent Labour (Amendment) Act was introduced, which prohibited economic employment of children under the age of 14 years, and prohibited employment of adolescents (14-17 years of age) in hazardous occupations. Few exceptions exist in case of children under 14 years, such as helping in the family enterprise, and participating in the entertainment industry, provided that it doesn't harm their school education, and is not in between 7 pm to 8 am.

Apart from disagreement on child labour, Indian government has also failed during last 30 years, on the part of ensuring that every child in the country enjoys the rights mentioned in UNCRC such as, no discrimination, life survival and development, respect for their views, freedom of thought and religion, protection of privacy, access to education and information, protection from violence, harmful work, sexual abuse, and exploitation, to name a few. It becomes the responsibility of the parents, guardians, and the conscious members of civil society to raise the voice on behalf of children, against non compliance to UNCRC rights of the children.

About ARC Network

Several Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and groups of aware citizens across the world have been raising the voice for children to get their globally accepted rights. Action for the Rights of the Child (ARC) is one such forum of NGOs from Pune, working to ensure that children get their right to education and care, and they are protected from violence, harmful work, sexual abuse, and exploitation.

A consultation on the UNCRC was held in Pune in March 1991. This resulted in the formation of ARC, which now consists of member organisations, including the agencies involved with the street child, the working child, the child in the city slums and the institutionalised child. ARC is trying to initiate change in the situation of children in especially difficult circumstances, migrant children, child beggars and other vulnerable children, through dialogue, workshops, petitions, and awareness campaigns.

History:

Action for the Rights of the Child (ARC) was set up in 1991 to bring together NGOs, funding agencies, government departments and citizens involved in working with children from the marginalised sections of society in the city of Pune. ARC was conceived as an advocacy network for child rights. The initial agenda of the network was to maintain pressure on the government of India for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The government ratified UNCRC in the year 1992. Since then, ARC has been actively providing voice to the issues related to child labour, child education, child protection, and child participation, for the children in Pune.

ARC was also one of the founding members of the nation-wide Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) which has had a large role to play in shaping policy and legislation around child labour.

ARC Focus Areas

    ARC is focused on issues related to child labour, child education, child protection, and child participation. ARC tries to resolve the issues through networking of NGOs in the city, advocacy with the concerned government departments, and facilitating research and documentation for assessment of the situation and finding solutions to the issues.

महाराष्ट्रातील मुलांच्या शिक्षणासाठी जाहीरनामा

महाराष्ट्रातील मुलांच्या शिक्षणासाठी जाहीरनामा

महाराष्ट्र राज्य विधानसभा निवडणुकीसाठी सर्व राजकीय पक्ष व उमेदवार यांचा प्रचार सुरू झालेला आहे. मतदारांना आकर्षित करून घेण्यासाठी प्रचारसभा आणि जाहीरनाम्यातून अनेक आश्वासनं आणि वचनं दिली जात आहेत, दिली जाणार आहेत. १८ वर्षांखालील मुला-मुलींना मतदानाचा हक्क नसल्यानं आणि 'मुलांना काय कळतंय' अशी मोठ्यांची मनोभूमिका असल्यानं, भावी सरकारकडून त्यांच्या काय अपेक्षा आहेत हे विचारायची आपल्याकडं पद्धत नाही. मुलांचं शिक्षण, संरक्षण आणि विकास यांचा विचार करून, महाराष्ट्रातल्या अनेक स्वयंसेवी संस्था प्रतिनिधींनी एकत्र येऊन एक जाहीरनामा तयार केला आहे. महाराष्ट्र शिक्षण हक्क मंच, बालमजुरी विरोधी अभियान, अलायन्स फॉर अर्ली चाइल्डहूड डेव्हलपमेंट, आणि बाल हक्क कृती समिती (आर्क) या नेटवर्ककडून मुलांच्या शिक्षणासंदर्भात खालील मागण्या प्रामुख्याने करण्यात आल्या आहेत.

१. शिक्षण हक्क कायद्याची व्याप्ती जन्मापासून अठरा वर्षे वयापर्यंत वाढवा.

२. विलिनीकरणाच्या नावाखाली चालू शाळा बंद करू नका व बंद केलेल्या शाळा पुन्हा सुरु करा.

३. शाळाबाह्य / गळती झालेल्या मुलांचा शोध घेऊन शाळेत दाखल करा व त्यांना शिक्षण देऊन शाळेत टिकवा. 

४. शिक्षण हक्क कायद्याची संपूर्ण अंमलबजावणी करा. उत्तरदायी यंत्रणा ठरवा.

५. शिक्षकांच्या रिक्त जागा भरा. सरकारी व खाजगी शिक्षकांच्या प्रशिक्षणावर भर द्या.

६. सातत्यपूर्ण सर्वंकष मूल्यमापन पद्धतीची खात्रीशीर अंमलबजावणी करा. ना-नापास धोरण सुरु ठेवा. 

७. शिक्षण हक्क कायद्याच्या अंमलबजावणीसाठी खाजगी शाळांचे उत्तरदायित्व ठरवा.

८. प्राथमिक शाळांच्या प्रमाणात माध्यमिक शाळांची उपलब्धता वाढवा.

९. शिक्षणाचा दर्जा उंचावण्यास व शाळांवर देखरेख ठेवण्यासाठी समाजाचा व पालकांचा सहभाग असणारी शाळा व्यवस्थापन समिती मजबूत करा. 

१०. शाळा व बाल संगोपन-शिक्षण केंद्रांमध्ये सुरक्षित वातावरणाची निश्चिती करा.

११. विशेष गरजा असणाऱ्या मुलांसाठी सुविधा व समावेशक शिक्षणाची निश्चिती करा.

१२. शिक्षणावर होणाऱ्या खर्चाची अर्थसंकल्पातील रक्कम दिवसेंदिवस कमी केली जात आहे, त्याविरोधात त्वरित पावलं उचलून जीडीपीच्या किमान ६ टक्के रक्कम शिक्षणावर खर्च केली जावी, यासाठी त्वरित पावलं उचला.

१३. बाल मजुरी प्रतिबंध कायद्यातील कलम ३ काढून टाका, ज्यामध्ये ‘कौटुंबिक व्यवसायातील’ बालकाच्या सहभागास कायदेशीर मानले गेले आहे.

बाल हक्क कृती समिती (आर्क) व महाराष्ट्र शिक्षण हक्क मंचच्या सदस्यांनी दिनांक १ ऑक्टोबर २०१९ रोजी मुंबई येथे प्रमुख राजकीय पक्षांच्या कार्यालयात प्रत्यक्ष जाऊन, मुलांच्या शिक्षणासाठीचा जाहीरनामा सादर केला. विधानसभा निवडणुकीसाठी तिकीट वाटप आणि प्रचाराची लगबग सुरू असूनदेखील सर्व राजकीय पक्षांच्या पदाधिकारी व प्रतिनिधींनी या मागण्या ऐकून घेतल्या, त्यावर चर्चा केली, आणि आपल्या पक्षाच्या निवडणूक जाहीरनाम्यामध्ये यातील मुद्द्यांचा समावेश करण्याचे आश्वासन दिलं. यावेळी श्री. शिवाजीराव गर्जे, राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पार्टी; श्री. अशोक सोनोने, भारिप बहुजन महासंघ; श्री. परवेज सिद्दीकी, समाजवादी पार्टी; श्री. प्रशांत इंगळे, बहुजन समाज पार्टी; श्री. शिरीष सावंत, महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना; शिवसेना पदाधिकारी, शिवसेना भवन; तसेच भारतीय राष्ट्रीय काँग्रेस व भारतीय शेतकरी कामगार पक्ष प्रतिनिधींची भेट घेण्यात आली.

- मंदार शिंदे ९८२२४०१२४६

 

World Day Against Child Labour

जागतिक बालमजुरी विरोधी दिनानिमित्त पुणे महानगरपालिका आणि बालहक्क कृती समिती (आर्क) यांनी १२ जूनला 'बाल जनमत' कार्यक्रम आयोजित केला. नेहमीच्या औपचारिक कार्यक्रमात बदल करत, यावेळी एक नवीन प्रयोग करण्यात आला. महापालिकेच्या जनरल बॉडी मिटींग जिथं होतात, त्याच हॉलमध्ये मुलांचा मनपा अधिकारी आणि पदाधिकाऱ्यांशी संवाद घडवून आणला. पुण्यातल्या वस्त्यांमध्ये, वसतीगृहांमध्ये राहणारी आणि वेगवेगळ्या संस्थांच्या मदतीनं मनपा शाळांमध्ये शिक्षण घेणारी जवळपास शंभर मुलं या हॉलमध्ये उपस्थित होती. पुण्याचे उपमहापौर डॉ. सिद्धार्थ धेंडे, माध्यमिक शिक्षण विभागाचे प्रशासकीय अधिकारी श्री. दीपक माळी, कामगार अधिकारी श्री. नितीन केंजळे, शिक्षण विभागाचे सहाय्यक प्रशासकीय अधिकारी, अशा सर्वांना मुलांनी न घाबरता आपल्या मनातले प्रश्न विचारले.

• आम्ही पूर्वी बालमजूर होतो, आता काही संस्थांच्या मदतीनं शाळेत जातो, शिकतो. पण आमच्यासारखी कितीतरी मुलं अजून बालमजुरीत अडकलेली आहेत, त्यांच्यासाठी महानगरपालिका काय करणार?
• रस्त्यावर सिग्नलला अनेक मुलं भीक मागताना दिसतात. त्यांचे आईवडीलच त्यांना भीक मागायला लावतात. हा बालमजुरीचाच प्रकार नाही का? त्या मुलांना यातून बाहेर कसं काढणार?
• आमच्या वस्तीपासून शाळा दूर आहे. चालत शाळेत जावं लागतं. लहान मुलांना रस्ते ओलांडता येत नाहीत, मोठ्या बसमध्ये चढता येत नाही. यासाठी तुम्ही काय करणार?
• शाळा भरताना आणि सुटताना शाळेबाहेर खूप गर्दी होते. आम्हाला खूप भीती वाटते. यावर तुम्ही काय करणार?
• शाळेत दिल्या जाणाऱ्या खिचडीमध्ये किडे मिळाले. तक्रार केली तरी कुणी काहीच केलं नाही. यावर तुम्ही काय कारवाई करणार?
• शाळेत जाण्या-येण्याच्या रस्त्यावर मुलींची छेड काढण्याचे प्रकार घडतात. यावर तुम्ही काय उपाय करणार?
• आमच्या शाळेला खेळाचं मैदान नाही. आम्ही मुलांनी खेळायचं कुठं?
• आठवीपर्यंतच्या शाळा प्रत्येक वॉर्डात आहेत. पण नववी ते बारावी शाळा खूप कमी आहेत. त्या शाळांची संख्या कधी वाढणार?
• मागच्या वर्षी शाळेचे युनिफॉर्म, बूट, वह्या-पुस्तकं, शाळा सुरु झाल्यावर दोन-तीन महिन्यांनंतर मिळाले. यावर्षी कधी मिळणार?
• आमच्या शाळेत इंग्रजी नीट शिकवत नाहीत. आम्हाला चांगलं इंग्रजी कसं शिकायला मिळणार?
• शाळेतली इतर मुलं दादागिरी करतात, दिसण्यावरुन आणि जातीवरुन चिडवतात. मुख्याध्यापकांकडं तक्रार करुन काहीच झालं नाही. आम्ही अशा शाळेत कसं जाणार?
• शाळेतले टॉयलेट अस्वच्छ असतात, घाण वास येतो. आम्ही टॉयलेट कसं वापरणार?

आधी मुलं प्रश्न विचारायला थोडी लाजत होती, घाबरत होती. पण एकदा सुरुवात झाल्यावर एकामागून एक प्रश्नांची रांगच लागली. शिक्षण हक्क कायद्यामध्ये आठवीपर्यंतच नव्हे, तर बारावीपर्यंत शिक्षण मोफत मिळावं अशी मागणीही काही मुलांनी केली. दारुमुळं आमच्या घरचं आणि वस्तीतलं वातावरण खराब होतं, त्यामुळं दारुबंदी झालीच पाहिजे अशी एका मुलानं मागणी केली. एका मुलीनं तर, टिकटॉकवर बंदी घाला असं उपमहापौरांना विनवून सांगितलं.

शाळेत खेळाचं मैदान नसेल तर जवळचं सार्वजनिक उद्यान मुलांना खेळण्यासाठी उपलब्ध करुन द्या, असं उपमहापौरांनी संबंधित अधिकाऱ्यांना सांगितलं. शाळेबाहेरच्या गर्दीवर आणि छेडछाडीवर नियंत्रण ठेवण्यासाठी शाळा परिसरात विशेष व्यक्ती नेमायच्या सूचनाही त्यांनी केल्या. खिचडीत किडे सापडणं, दादागिरीकडं दुर्लक्ष करणं, विषय व्यवस्थित न शिकवला जाणं, अशा तक्रारी आलेल्या शाळांची आणि मुख्याध्यापकांची नावं विचारुन घेतली आणि योग्य कारवाई करण्याचं मुलांना आश्वासन दिलं. दूरच्या वस्तीतून मुलांना शाळेत नेण्या-आणण्यासाठी योग्य व्यवस्था करायला संबंधित अधिकाऱ्यांना सांगितलं. शाळेतले टॉयलेट स्वच्छ ठेवण्यासाठी संबंधित आरोग्य कोठीला योग्य ते आदेश देऊ, असं सांगितलं. मुलांना भीक मागायला आणि मजुरीला लावणाऱ्या पालकांचं प्रबोधन करु आणि अशा मुलांना शाळेत दाखल करु, असंही सांगितलं.

मुलांना महापालिकेच्या सभागृहात आणून, अधिकाऱ्यांशी थेट संवाद घडवण्याच्या कल्पनेचं उपमहापौरांनी कौतुक केलं. ते मुलांना म्हणाले, "या हॉलमध्ये पुण्याचे लोकप्रतिनिधी - नगरसेवक आणि अधिकारी एकत्र येऊन शहरातल्या सर्व कामांचं नियोजन करतात. उद्या तुमच्यापैकी काहीजण त्या अधिकारानं इथं येऊन बसावेत, यासाठी आम्ही शक्य तेवढे प्रयत्न जरूर करु."

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Demand to Amend Child Labour Act - News

 

बाल मजुरी कायद्यात दुरुस्ती करण्याची मागणी
Maharashtra Times | 13 Jun 2018

बालमजुरी कायद्यामध्ये दुरुस्ती करून कोणत्याही प्रकारचे काम करणाऱ्या अठरा वर्षांखालील व्यक्तीला बाल कामगार म्हणून संबोधले जावे. तसेच कौटुंबिक व्यवसायामध्ये काम करणाऱ्या अठरा वर्षाखालील मुलांनाही बाल कामगार म्हटले पाहिजे, अशी मागणी बाल हक्क कृती समितीने (आर्क) केली आहे.

बालमजुरी विरोध दिनानिमित्त 'आर्क'च्या वतीने कामगार उपायुक्त व्ही. सी. पनवेलकर यांच्याकडे विविध मागण्यांचे निवेदन देण्यात आले. या वेळी सहायक कामगार आयुक्त भ. मा. आंधळे, समीर चव्हाण, चेतन जगताप, बाल हक्क कृती समितीचे मनीष श्रॉफ, कामगार नेते नितीन पवार, डॉ. विष्णू श्रीमंगले, त्याचबरोबर विविध संस्थामधील पदाधिकारी आणि विद्यार्थी उपस्थित होते.

गेल्या महिन्यापासून बाल हक्क कृती समितीतर्फे बालमजुरी विरोधात मोहीम राबविण्यात येते आहे. या मोहिमेअंतर्गत विविध भागांतील मुलांचे सर्वेक्षण करण्यात आले होते. या सर्वेक्षणाचा अहवालदेखील 'आर्क' व्यासपीठाच्या मुलांनी उपायुक्त पनवेलकर यांच्याकडे सादर केला.

या वेळी समितीने सर्व कायद्यामध्ये अठरा वर्षांपर्यंतच्या व्यक्तीला मूल म्हणून संबोधले जावे, अशी मागणी केली. परंपरागत चालत आलेल्या कामांमध्ये आई-वडील, नातेवाइकांकडून मुलांचा कामांसाठी वापर होत आहे. यामुळे जातव्यवस्था घट्ट बनत आहे. कौटुंबिक व्यवसायामध्येही मुलांचा वापर होणे गैर आहे, असे बाल हक्क कृती समितीचे मनीष श्रॉफ यांनी सांगितले. न्यू व्हिजन, कागद काच पत्रा कष्टकरी पंचायत संघटना, ग्रीन तारा, होप, आयएससी, स्त्रीमुक्ती संघटना, ग्रीन तारा, रेनबो फाउंडेशन, सेव्ह द चिल्ड्रन, माहेर, चाइल्ड लाइन या संस्थांचे प्रतिनिधी आणि मुले या वेळी उपस्थित होते.

 

Children Unaware of Child Labour Laws - Survey Findings

 

बालमजुरी कायद्याची ६४ टक्के बालकांना नाही माहिती

लोकमत | June 12, 2018

    बालकांच्या विकासासाठी त्यांना कामाला जुंपणे हा कायद्याने गुन्हा आहे. मात्र, पुण्यातील १३ ते १७ वयोगटातील ६४ टक्के मुलांना असा काही बालकामगार कायदा अस्तित्वात आहे, याची काहीही माहिती नसल्याचे एका सर्वेक्षणातून पुढे आले आहे. जागतिक बालमजुरी विरोधी दिनानिमित्त बालहक्क कृती गट (आर्क) यांच्या वतीने पुणे शहरातील येरवडा, विश्रांतवाडी, औंध, बिबवेवाडी व इतर विविध वस्त्यांमधील मुलांसमवेत बाल कामगार विषयावर गट केंद्रित चर्चा करून त्यांच्या सदस्य संस्थेच्या सहकार्याने एक सर्व्हे केला. त्यात बालकांसाठी असलेल्या अनेक बाबींची मुलांनाच कल्पना नसल्याचे दिसून आले.

    आंतरराष्ट्रीय कामगार संघाने १२ जून हा जागतिक बालमजुरीविरोधी दिवस म्हणून २००२पासून पाळण्यास सुरुवात केली आहे.

    बालसंरक्षण हक्क म्हणजे काय हे सांगता येईल का? असे विचारल्यावर केवळ ३७ टक्के बालसंरक्षण म्हणजे काय या बद्दल माहिती होती. ६३ टक्के मुलांना बालकांना स्वत:च्या संरक्षणासंबंधी कायदेशीर तरतुदीबद्दल माहिती नसल्याचे निदर्शनास आले.

    ७१ टक्के बालकांनी बालमजूर किंवा मजुरी करताना पाहिले आहे. तसेच ८४ टक्के मुलांनी बालमजुरी अयोग्य आहे, असे सांगितले. १२ टक्के मुलांना बालमजुरी योग्य वाटते. बालकामगार कायद्याविषयी माहिती आहे का? असे विचारल्यावर ६४ टक्के मुलांना बालमजुरी कायदा अस्तित्वात आहे, हे माहिती नव्हते. २२ टक्के मुलांना बालमजुरी कायद्याबद्दल माहिती होती तर, १४ टक्के मुले काहीच सांगू शकली नाहीत.

    ७३ टक्के बालकांना बालमजुरीमुळे बालकांच्या विकासावर परिणाम होऊन त्यांना खेळ, झोप आणि आराम यापासून वंचित राहावे लागते. ४६ टक्के मुलांना आईवडिल जे काम करतात, ते आपण करण्यात काही चूक वाटत नाही.

    नातलग किंवा पालक बालमजुरीचे समर्थन करत असतील तर त्यांना दंड लागणे योग्य आहे का?, असे विचारल्यावर ८८ टक्के मुलांनी असा दंड करणे योग्य वाटते, असे उत्तर दिले.

    एकूण ७८ टक्के मुलांना बालहक्क कायद्याबद्दल जाणीव जागृती होण्याची गरज पुन्हा अधोरेखित होत आहे. आर्कतर्फे करण्यात आलेले हे सर्वेक्षण कामगार उपायुक्तांना मंगळवारी सर्व बालकांसह जाऊन देण्यात येणार असल्याचे आर्कचे समन्वयक सुशांत सोनोने यांनी सांगितले. यामध्ये न्यू व्हिजन, आयएससी, होप, केकेपीकेपी, निर्माण, स्वाधार आणि आयडेंटी फौंडेशन यांनी सहभाग घेतला होता. त्यात १३ ते १७ वयोगटातील १७१ मुलांनी भाग घेतला.