Rehabilitation of 360 Trafficked Child Laborers
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Bal Ashram- Leadership through rehabilitation
By Sandhya - Project Coordinator, February 25, 2008 01:14 PM
The year 2008 began on a high note for Bal Ashram. Three of its children made the world proud by participating in important programmes related to child rights and education and emerged as leaders and changemakers. All the three children Bunty, Om Prakash and Amarlal emerged leaders at three different fora in carrying the message 'from exploitation to empowerment' is indeed the journey 'from slavery to leadership'.
14 year old Bunty won the Pogo Amazing Kids leadership award 2007, which was awarded to him by Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan. This former child labourer had worked in a brick kiln in Tirasi village, Madhepura district, Bihar and was rescued in 2001 by BBA activists at the tender age of 7. After having been rehabilitated in Bal Ashram he went back to his village and helped enrol 60 children in Government school Madhepura. For this and other work, he was awarded the Pogo Amazing Kids leadership award. The award carries a citation and an award money of Rs 500,000. During the award ceremony, he won the hearts of the children, audience and the celebrities present with his innocent yet precocious words "parents give birth, but it is each one of us who carves our space in this world with our deeds; the fruits of good work are always good".
Om Prakash Gurjar, another 15 year old from Bal Ashram was the Indian pride at the International Children's Peace Prize this year. He had won the prominent award, also called as the 'Children's Nobel' in 2006. Instituted last year, the award is given to a child with exceptional contribution to children's rights. Om Prakash was instrumental in 500 children of his and adjacent villages' children obtaining their Universal Birth Registration through birth certificate which is the first identity of a child. He also raised voice against the practice of fees taken by the Principal and teachers of his school though education is free and is their fundamental right. The case was referred to the Rajasthan State Human rights commission which took unprecedented action and said that action would be taken against any school official who charges invisible costs like building cost etc from any child. This made education truly free, due to the efforts of Om Prakash. He is now in his Class X. This year he went to Amsterdam to hand over the prize to this year's winner, Thandiwe Chama, a brave girl from Lusaka, Zambia who helped provide education for 60 children in her community in Lusaka when their own school was closed. The award was handed over by Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the erstwhile USSR and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Amarlal's voice is the voice of children of the world. Chosen as a child representative to speak alongside world leaders in the High Level Group on Education, a UNESCO initiative, Amarlal was a 'young advocate' representing the voice of child labourers across the world and highlighted their need of education to the assembled world policy makers on education. The High Level Group (HLG) on Education is a forum of education ministers of the countries of the world besides Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, the sole civil society representative. Amarlal joined hands with 3 other children from Liberia, Senegal and Columbia each representing his own country and the needs of children's right to education. Amarlal reminded the delegates "Keep your promises to world's children by allocating more budget for education for the poor countries and to abolish child labour."
These children are just a few examples of the many children whose lives are being shaped by the Bal Ashram, run at Viratnagar, Jaipur, India. To give a brief introduction to Bal Ashram; it is a rehabilitation centre for rescued victims of child slavery and trafficking for forced labour. In their initial days at the Ashram, all boys undergo some training in the basics of literacy and numeracy. Then, those of a younger age who are found to be sufficiently intelligent or interested are put in the non-formal education section. Children aged 14 years and above are given vocational training in crafts such as screen painting, tailoring, carpentry, electrical trade, welding etc.
The distribution of the children at the Ashram by each quarter and activities is given in the following table
There are 65 children in the current quarter. About 7 children stood top in their respective classes in their school. Besides, education, they are good at their extra-curricular activities and are at the fore front of social change in the vicinity and their villages.
The children celebrated festivals like Dusehhra, Diwali and birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi - Father of Nation, Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Sikh Guru Govind Singh, etc. A debate and essay and competition were also held. Id-Ul-Fitr was also celebrated in the Ashram and sweets were distributed amongst the kids.
On 21st October 2007 Dussehra was celebrated in the ashram in which people from the nearby village also participated. On this occasion Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Viratnagar (the highest administrative official in the area) Mr. Baldev Singh Hada, Chief Medical Officer, Village Head and some people from the child friendly villages were also present. The children presented a colourful play based on the epic Ramayana and burnt the effigy of Ravana. On the eve of Dussehra a painting competition was also organised for the children.
On the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights, a rally was taken out by the Bal Ashram children in the near by village. The rally was organised to sensitise the community on the child labour in the fire-cracker industry. Om Prakash, winner of International Children’s Peace Prize 2006 and other children called upon the people to boycott fire crackers.
Bal Ashram children also sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the SDM of Viratnagar, requesting him to look into the gravity of the situation of the children working in the hazardous industry and demanding a tougher law for it.
On the occasion of the National Children’s Day (14 November) an essay and debate competition was also organized for the children.
Tree Plantation drive was organised in 23 villages around the Bal Ashram. Some of the Bal Ashram children also went to Delhi to participate in the Regional Consultation on the Good Practices in the Elimination of Child Labour and Trafficking of Children for Forced Labour, organised by the BBA on 26 September 2007 in New Delhi. About 4 children from the ashram put forth their views in this consultation before the audiences
A team of 20 children and three teachers of Toorak College, Australia visited Bal Ashram and got to know more about the child labour and the functioning of Bal Ashram.
Bal Ashram is a centre where children rescued from situations of grave exploitation turn into leaders in their own right. It is the belief of Bal Ashram that until the victims themselves become change makers, true and sustainable change is not possible. The journey of recovery for every child at Bal Ashram starts with peer-to-peer counselling and formalisation into education and continues till he becomes a healed, smiling, confident and empowered child. Therein lies the true spirit of Bal Ashram.
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Rehabilitation Centre Mukti Ashram in Delhi Attacked
By Chandni Tandon - Bal Ashram staffer, June 04, 2007 05:00 PM
June 1, 2007, Ibrahimpur, New Delhi: In a shocking incident in the afternoon on 31 May 2007, an armed mob of over 100 employers, contractors and others attacked Bachpan Bachao Andolan's transit rehabilitation centre for rescued child labourers at the outskirt of New Delhi. Majority of the children at the rehabilitation centre were rescued from gold jewellery workshops from Karol Bagh area a fortnight back.
The irate mob of gold jewellery employers and their goons armed with iron rods, sticks and bricks came in buses and forcibly entered the Mukti Ashram. The mob yielded their arms liberally on the staff caring for the rescued children. In the ensuing chaos and panic, the children were very scared and traumatised, as the employers and their men tried to abduct the children forcibly. With great difficulty and presence of mind, the staff protected the children. Frantic calls were made to the nearby police station (Alipur), which came an hour later to disburse the mob. Unfortunately, neither the police registered a FIR (First Information Report) nor arrested any of the instigators.
Kailash Satyarthi, founder of BBA and international child rights activist, denounced this trespass and fears for the safety and well being of the rescued child labourers and the staff of BBA. He lamented, "This is happening in the capital - Delhi. I am outraged at the audacity and lawlessness of the situation. Even during the rescue operation for the release of these children, violent mobs of employers, contractor and traffickers gheroed the children and us. The special reserve police had to be called for protection on 19 May. Again at the police station, these people verbally abused us and threatened with dire consequences. However, not a single one of the employers or miscreants has been arrested till date despite our FIR and repeated complaints."
Mukti Ashram (BBA Transit Rehabilitation Centre) is sheltering 92 bonded child labourers rescued from gold jewellery workshops of some of the top jewellery makers in New Delhi by BBA, District Administration, Labour Department and Police on 19 May 2007. Children were found living and working in appalling conditions in the Raigarpura and Beidanpura areas in Karol Bagh. They worked in small rooms in 5 storey buildings. Each room had 8-10 people and more than half of the workers are children. They ate and slept in the same room in which they used dangerous chemicals like lead for making gold ornaments and gold polishing. Children were then handed over to BBA until the administrative formalities, medical examination and other formalities. It is notable that the action was taken under the Bonded Labour law, which is a cognisable offence and even empowers the Sub-Divisional Magistrate conduct a summary trial on the spot and sentence up to 3 years of imprisonment. They were given a release certificate under Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 by the District Magistrate entitling them to rehabilitation. More than 90 per cent of the children were trafficked from West Bengal and the rest were from Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Orissa.
In the press interviews post their release, numerous children gave testimonials against their employers abuse and bondage. Adding to non-payment of wages, appalling working conditions, health problems were physical and sexual abuse of the children. To add to the jewellery-makers ire the rescued child labourers had also named some of the largest and leading jewellery brands in New Delhi as using the jewellery made by these children.
The children in their testimonials in front of the Magistrate feared that they might be re-trafficked from their homes into the same situations again due to the pressure and influence from the employers and traffickers. The children sincerely expressed their desire for a better and safe future. "The children have voiced their fears and desires. This must not be ignored. The government has to protect their rights to childhood and freedom", expressed Satyarthi. He alleged, "It is shocking to know that employers organisations joined by politicians are pressurising the Delhi administration and Chief Minister to hand over these bonded child labourers to them. It seems that their ploy has worked. In this situation, we fear that the rehabilitation centre would be again attacked".
93 Children Rescued
By Chandni Tandon - Bal Ashram staffer, May 23, 2007 05:05 PM
Rescued child bonded labourers allege that they work for top jewelers in the capital
22 May 2007, New Delhi: Delhi's top jewelery brands are now under question for flourishing their business through employing children in slavery like conditions. The shine of their gold ornaments in the market counters belies the dark story of sweat and blood of thousands of children working to make them.
93 bonded children were rescued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), of Karol Bagh area along with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists, Labour Department and police. Children are now exposing these facts of who they worked for. They allege that they work for Krishna Jewellers, P.P. Jewellers, P.C Jewellers, Gandhi Jewellers, N.C. Jewellers, Cycle Jewellers and Champa Jewellers (list attached). Children have been rescued but the contractors and employers are still Scot free. "Until and unless the entire nexus of traffickers, middlemen, contractors and the principal employer i.e. the big brands are brought to book by the law, the inhuman practice of bondage and child labour cannot be stopped. There are at least 3000 children working in these horrifying conditions in Karol Bagh." alleged Kailash Satyarthi, the founder of BBA who lead his rescue team last Saturday, 19 May 2007.
12 year old Saurabh had been working for absolutely no wages for the past two years. Ask about his scars and he says- "I was burnt with acid on lips and arms as I didn't work as per the owner's expectations. I stopped telling anybody or crying, because, if I did, I would get beaten more. I am happy to be free now." Similar is the story with Rahim, Sukumar and Sahibuddin. None of them had seen their parents or family members for a long time. They were beaten up badly with sticks, iron rods and sharp objects. The elder children were even forced to take drugs. Ask Sahib and Rahim whether they are happy and they are all smiles- yes, we want to go home and go to school." Most of these children were trafficked from West Bengal.
"Children are living and working in appalling conditions in the Raigarpura and Beidanpura areas in Karol Bagh. They work in small rooms in 5 storeyed buildings. Each room has 8-10 people and more than half of the workers are children. They eat and sleep in the same room in which they use dangerous chemicals like lead used for making gold ornaments and gold polishing." said R.S.Chaurasia, the Chairperson of BBA.
Children are now at the Mukti Ashram, and their medical examination and other formalities would be completed soon. They will be given a release certificate under Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 by the magistrate and will be repatriated to their home state. According to the law, each child is entitled for the rehabilitation benefit under a special scheme where the children have to be enrolled in school and their parents would be given at least Rs. 20,000 worth earning assets.
Mr. Satyarthi said that BBA has written a letter to the jewelers mentioned above as well as to their Union. The letter asks them to prepare a code of conduct, monitoring system to assure that their gold is free from the stain of child labour. He added "if proper action is not taken, we will launch a consumer's campaign to demand a certification for child labour free jewelery." He also called upon that the government and BBA should form a task team and conduct repeated raids in this area to make the industry child labour free.
Click the links below to see news coverage of the rescue.
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South Asian March catches trafficker and rescues 2 boys from slavery
By Sandhya - Global March Against Labour, March 08, 2007 05:56 PM
05 March 2007, Forbesgunge: After entering into the Indian mainland from Nepal through Forbesgunge border, the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking marched through the town of Forbesgunge shouting slogans against child trafficking and slavery. Then, at the Forbesgunge Railway station, a public meeting was held. While the meeting was going on at the station, Vinay Singh, National Secretary, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Neeraj Verma, activist saw a man with 2 boys, who did not look like their guardian. The man was acting suspicious and Mr. Singh and Mr. Verma went to talk to him and the boys. As they talked to the man and the boys, they found that the boys had been sold to work for a meagre amount of Rs. 500 in Kurukshetra in Haryana. On further questioning it was gleaned that although the trafficker said he was taking them to Kurukshetra, the tickets were in fact till Ludhiana in Punjab.
As Mr. Verma engaged the man in question in an argument, Mr. Singh went to alert the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The RPF arrested the trafficker and he was sent to police custody and booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code by the activists of BBA. The boys rescued were from Forbesgunge and aged 9 years and 10 years respectively. The boys have been handed over to their parents.
Further as a direct impact of the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking, on 4 March, 16 trafficked girls and boys were rescued from Siliguri. These children from Bihar were trafficked to Siliguri and from Siliguri were on route to the commercial centres of Kolkata and Mumbai. The children were rescued by the police. The police recognised the role of the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking in generating awareness for the tip-off that lead to the rescue of these children.
04 March 2007, Biratnagar, 10.00 am: Holi is one of the biggest festivals in both India and Nepal and obviously the children started playing Holi early in the morning. The celebrations continued amongst songs and dancing till 11.00 A.M. when the marchers were invited to play Holi by the Biratnagar Chief Development Officer Mr. Modraj Dotel, the administrative and judicial head of the district.
After traditional putting of colour, the local organizations Mahila Adhikar Sushasan Shantiko Laagi, Rajbanshi Samaj Vikas Samiti, ABC Nepal, CPC Nepal, Maiti Nepal, Jagaran Nepal, Nepal Aadiwaasi Janjati Samanvayak Samiti, Viratnagar and others welcomed the marchers. Local children sang welcome songs and initiated a small meeting by shouting slogans. Subol Khanal from CWIN started the meeting by introducing the purpose of the gathering and said that even on Holi we must all remember all the children that are not able to celebrate Holi as they are in slavery. Neera Kumari from BBA urged all the adults to work towards stopping trafficking of children.
Kailash Satyarthi, Chairpeson Global March Against Child Labour recounted the mythological story of Holika and Prahlad and why Holi is celebrated today. He emphasized upon the fight of good vs evil and trafficking and sale of children for slavery, prostitution, organ trade and other illegal trades as the biggest evil being faced by the world today.
The Chief Development Officer pledged his support in the fight against trafficking and thanked all the marchers for coming to his house and making it as one of his most memorable Holi celebration.
The children went back to the Atithi sadan to continue with their celebrations.
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The South Asian March Against Child Trafficking organised by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan in partnership with local NGOs, teachers association, UN agencies, is a 2,500 km physical march across Indo-Nepal-Bangladesh border starting from 25 February 2007 in Kolkata and culminate on 22 March 2007 in New Delhi. There will be about 100 core marchers joined by thousands of supporters along the way everyday for the duration of the March. Child trafficking is one of the worst forms of child labour and its elimination is a non-negotiable. Through the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking we aim to build peoples' movement, mobilise civil society efforts, to hold the authorities and states accountable and responsible, to expedite the enactment and enforcement of legal measures for withdrawal, repatriation and rehabilitation with dignity of the victims of trafficking, and generate political will through the genuine and active participation of child and adult victims of trafficking for forced labour.
For more information on the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking visit: www.globalmarch.org and www.bba.org.in
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Om Prakash from Bal Ashram wins the International Children's Peace Prize
By Chandni - Tandon, November 22, 2006 12:03 PM
Om Prakash from Bal Ashram won the International Children's Peace Prize , which is given to a child who has made himself- or herself exceptionally useful in his/her society. The Children's Peace Prize was warded to him on November 19th 2006, by Frederick William Deklierk former president of South Africa, and winner of Nobel Peace prize together with Nelson Mandela.Om Prakash represents 100's of children who have undergone rehabilitation from bal ashram and are now working for the development of the community.
Please find attached herewith the Press Release of Om Prakash winning the International Children's Peace Prize.
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