Part of our efforts and experiences - In all civil societies of the world the child labor system is condemned as a social evil, but the fact is that the system is prevalent on a large scale in a country like India. It is noticed that, in recent times, our society is showing some signs of awareness regarding this social evil. This is the first part of the article which provides details on the efforts being undertaken in and around Ahmedpur to eradicate this system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay I have been working on various issues related to rural areas through Peoples Institute of Rural Development and Rachanatmac Sangharsha Samiti (Maharashtra) for the past 12 years. Generating employment for agricultural labor through employment guarantee scheme is our core and sustained activity. While working in the agricultural sector in 1988-90 I was exposed to the problem of child labor. When I saw children working as child or bone labor in agriculture, I could see the intensity of this problem. Agriculture is a major source of employment for labor in rural areas. Child labor working on farms, or as bonded labor or as herders has a negative impact on adult employment. When the dialogue with agricultural workers on this issue was started. They said that when the child works as a child labourer, he actually supports the family. They feel that the child provides something to eat for a family. This is a general feeling among the rural masses regarding child labour. The common idea among this working class is that more working hands means more income for a family. But these calls have not yet managed to decide, whose hands should these be? They don't understand that small hands deprive big hands of work. The difficult life they live and the ignorance of agricultural work are responsible for this type of attitude towards their children. It made us realize that there is a need for structural changes in society and we decided to work for structural changes. In society and we have decided to work for structural changes. In the initial period we had neither a plan nor a concrete strategy to deal with the situation. We decide to dialogue with agricultural workers on this issue. We were already discussing with them the minimum occupational wage, equal pay for equal work, laws for the promotion of agricultural labor, etc. While discussing these issues we always had a positive attitude and approach. We told them that sending children to work means depriving them of the opportunity to go to school. If a child does not go to school, he will grow up illiterate. Valnerable for any sort of exploitation, please send them to school. It would be better if they remained unemployed after getting an education. We always insisted that they send their children to school. Our perception was that if children went to school they automatically wouldn't. Child labor will be reduced, which will result in the creation of jobs for adults. After some time, we realized that, despite the efforts we may make, it will never be possible to bring all the children in this class to school. This awareness led us to devise a program called "Child Labor Education Program". Its implementation began immediately. In the process of implementing this non-formal education program against child labor, in-depth reflection on this issue took place. At this juncture, TDH and YUVA took the initiative and started the "Campaignagainst child labour" on 14 November 1992. Since the first meeting we have been associated with this campaign and work for it. Even if we have the ambition to work for the eradication of a child labor system we are aware of the scope and extent of the problem and our limitations. Therefore, based on our assessment of our capabilities we have decided to implement the following programs: Child Labor Daycare Program and Anti-Child Labor Campaign. Child Labor Education Program: This program was initiated with the aim of providing an opportunity to receive education to children under the age of 14, who are unable to go to school or who have dropped out of school this reason they work as child labor. This program will enable them to learn the 3 R's. And it may make them able to appear for Std II or Std VII exams. They may become part of the mainstream education system. In a period of three years, 20 education centers were opened in 20 villages. Between 600 and 800 children were enrolled in these centers. The selected children were prepared for the Std IV examination. They were motivated and supported in this endeavor. During the period 1992-93 --- 1994-95, 183 children appeared for the Std IV examination. Of these 122 passed equally and among those who passed 68% were girls. Along with those who appeared for the exam, another 139 children joined the main course of education. This is our result. It may be possible with a focused effort. Village Level Programme: A:1 100% enrollment in schools. In all 20 villages, a list of children in the age group of 5.5 to 7 years is prepared every year. The aim is that they should be enrolled in schools. The coordinator of the non-formal education center and the village education committee participate fully in this effort. Check the dropout rate of primary schools. For various reasons, children enrolled in primary school drop out of school. These school dropouts constitute child labor. To stop this process, a survey of school dropouts is carried out, their list is prepared and efforts are made to send them to school. But our efforts were unsuccessful. Children's Education Committee. Child education committees are constituted at the village level. The committee is composed of the coordinator of the non-formal education center. Principal/teacher of a school. Some young people and some important people of a village. This committee is responsible for enrolling 100% of children in schools, controlling the dropout rate, sending child labor to non-formal education centers and implementing the anti-child labor campaign at the village level. It was found that 60 to 70% of committees do not function effectively. Village level campaign against child labour: Under this programme, village level meetings are organized to raise awareness on the issue of child labour. In the meeting the issue is discussed and remedies are suggested for the removal of this system. And people are invited to join the campaign. This program has generated some awareness in the village. People started arguing on this issue. Writings are also written on the walls, so that people read the slogans and think about them. Nursery program for children of agricultural workers: Initially to care for the children of working women, nurseries were opened in four villages. With the support of the Social Security Department. This daycare program has helped improve the.
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