CHILD LABOUR

Radha peered from behind the wall, her eyes like two brown orbs, filled with wonder. Today was her day. A day she awaited all the 7 years of her existence. Today, Maa won’t tell her to wash dishes and Bapa won’t ask her to help him in the garage. Today, she will not have to stoically bear the drudgery of working in a parlous factory to earn a meagre wage. Looking at the mirror, Radha admired her reflection with awe—red ribbons adorned her glossy pigtails and a blue bag, filled with books, sat on her shoulders. She straightened her crisp uniform one last time before running off to school. Today, she would receive the greatest gift of education.

Scared, lonely, hungry, hands set to work, waiting for a ray of hope to come. But, maybe it’s not coming…

33 million children (aged 5-18) around India face this problem.

33 million.

That is the number of children who have tasted the worst kind of prejudice: 33 million children have their rights trampled and stowed away; 33 million children may never be able to get an education; 33 million children may never be able to take full advantage of opportunities.

This is a problem that has taken India by storm. Whether it is the Chotu at the chai-stall or the 12-year-old Aarti that sweeps floors in Ms Kapoor’s flat; they are all victims of this social evil.

Child Labour.

These words connote a veritable monster that seems to take everything away from children—their books, their toys, their innocence—as though devouring childhood bit by bit.

It pains me to see that when we, fortunate children, moan for waking up for school in the morning, other children have been up hours before and are working in unhealthy environments to support their family.

Wages to labourers cover a large part of a firm’s costs and so in order to lower their costs, firms employ children as they are cheaper! Firms proudly reach the top of the charts by offering low prices and high quality, but extinguish the light in the heart of humankind’s most vulnerable resource—children—as they gallop their way up the mountain of success. Poverty stricken children, on the other hand, want to work as they are drawn by the dreams of a better life, thus falling prey to the firms’ well mapped plans.

However, just like all problems, this problem also has solutions. Firstly, I believe all citizens must be vigilant and if they notice any child labourer, quickly report the employer. Secondly, stringent rules must be set and exercised efficiently by government, against firms employing child labourers. The government must also ensure that poor children are supported and given free education and meals, however, these procedures must also be monitored strictly as the subsidy should reach the beneficiaries only. NGO’s also play a key role in eradicating such problems, for instance, Child Rights and You (CRY) is a striking example and has worked endlessly for the welfare of children.

Children are the pillars of our country and if the pillars remain weak, then the edifice of the country cannot be held strongly. We must all join hands and take an oath to make India a better, safer and more beautiful place for children to live in.

Ria Malhotra, (15 years), student of Podar International School, Mumbai.

Winter Camp at Airoli, 2016

CRY in its initiative to provide an opportunity for the young and the less privileged children to develop and know the world that surrounds them, brought the winter camp to one of its promised school in Navi Mumbai.  For that going beyond academics, beyond the books and the classrooms was important, and therefore believing in what CRY stands for and the zest of those children, a winter camp for two days was organized for these kids with fun filled activities and short engaging films. This camp aimed at bringing the most in the children, that they could grab from the global perspective oriented videos and quizzes to the personality development and career counseling sessions.

The very first day began with the most refreshing of all, the YOGA session that involved them and the fellow volunteers into meditation and basic morning stretching asanas. Post this quick refreshment the children were engaged in the motivational short films that involved a brief interaction after every film. This was in itself an achievement, that although the films were in other languages, the children could relate and reciprocate the moral values towards the end very well. After giving them a practical awareness of the values that should govern an individual, what better time can there be to discuss the personality development. 

This was followed by a fun filled music and dance session that put these young kids on their feet and showcase their moves on the beats. The smiles on their faces was a moment, a moment to cherish. Later there took place a serious discussion on the career prospects these children can take pertaining their interests post grade 10. Knowing that the kids do not have much idea that there exists an array of professions, the highlight of this winter camp was directing the youth to first know themselves, understand their interests and know the careers  they can potentially take. The day ended with some yummy cakes along with some notebooks given to the school children.

Their enthusiasm that sprawled throughout kept the volunteers motivated and was in itself the least expression required to understand the mutual respect and understanding they had from an outsider’s observance.

-Frenny Patel, Intern (Mumbai)

It’s okay, I’m a girl…

It’s okay if I cry, I’m a girl for I can, it is my thing.

It’s not okay for me to go to school, I can’t, and there isn’t enough money for my dowry, what use is school to me? Says dear, father.

Its okay if I don’t get my milk, for my brother needs it more, he will take the family ahead, says mommy.

Its okay for me to not have a share of my childhood place, for, it was never mine,

Its okay for the males to take decisions on my behalf every time, for I never had a right over myself, says the society

It’s all okay, I will never be taught anything, I have been expected to know, to contain myself and be available for everyone, for I have to be selfless, do I have any other option than to keep other interests above mine?

It’s not okay for me to scream, for what kind of man will marry me; hence I must know how to cook,

So when my brother gets ready for school, I keep his Tiffin ready,

It’s all okay; I do not need to study, because all I am expected to do is what I’m told to do.

This is my responsibility, no one  wishes to take mine, nor does anyone wish to know my needs or desires, but it’s okay, they are saving for my dowry, and there cannot ever be anything more a big thing one can do for me, I’m thankful.

I don’t know why I’m not allowed to school, but I think I know everything, for I can cook and keep the house, that’s enough right?

There are times when I feel the world is pestering me, that my emptiness has deepened the hollow sphere where my voices echo,

These voices no one wishes to hear, for they are unheard of.

Even I wish to go around and play, wear the ironed uniform, smell those new pages of a book, sharp a pencil from both the ends. There’s a lot I want to say, I wish, but I know I cannot.

I know I cannot but I don’t really know why, nobody tells me,

Although granny says that I’m a girl and I must be this way, I cry but it is okay, because do boys cry?

I sigh the little world I am caged in, where the body is mine but not the soul, I cry.

It’s like a wrecked boat sank, but in my fancies I still kept sailing,

Should I accept or expect, I ask? Where faith lies hidden I believe,          

what I desire for is yet an unturned page, where my whims and fancies run alike,                                   the fatal truth that I am bound to, unleash my disguised self.

Deliberate I am, for what I long,

Patience is what I can wait with,

But ambiguity sweeps away even the rarest of hope.

All I would want is may be a pat on my back, daddy, a space to see myself, to see the world with my eyes.

The greatest courage I have is merely only to write ‘’I’’ here with no identity.  

-I

  

The stark reality speaks for itself, the discourse the upbringing of children that take place, decides on the future we shape. The history has been enough to say how wrong it is to undermine the strength that the known delicacies possess. It is merely making the future that we are limiting the potential of the world.

-Frenny Patel

THE SKY’S NOT THE LIMIT

Feminism has been getting a bad rap lately. Like a game of Chinese Whispers, the word takes upon a new layer of meaning each time it’s spoken, ranging all the way from witch­burning to bra­burning, until all we’re left with is yet another convoluted propaganda buzzword.

At its heart, all feminism is either a more exaggerated or underplayed version of the more nuanced school of equity feminism ­ a belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. Co­existing with the latest in evolutionary biology and psychology, equity feminism acknowledges that both sexes are not biologically identical ­ it recognizes these differences and calls for fair, impartial and equitable treatment of both sexes in all spheres of life.

This equity is a crucial ingredient for any society that aims to meaningfully contribute to sustainable economic growth, global peace and social justice. Unfortunately, it is an undeniable and morally reprehensible truth that the girl child, the young woman, the mother and the elderly lady, all have faced countless brutal forms of institutionalized discrimination for too long. Far too many women and girls are still denied an education, forced into early marriage or compensated at a much lower rate than their male colleagues. The rates of gender­ based violence against women are painfully staggering. There is also the issue of “gendered” sectors eg. STEM, which continue to restrict talent pools in certain job roles. Misogyny can creep into words, jokes and the media ­ both overt and benevolent sexism represent a significant problem that subtly but effectively undermine girls, and their self ­worth, from a young age.

In India, where the economy has been growing rapidly over the past 30 years, recent statistics appear to show that both, enrollment of female children in primary schools and women’s workforce participation rates have declined. A large portion of this can be attributed to successive governments not having given primacy to funding essentials like electricity, piped water and easily accessible and affordable cooking fuel, or the blatant corruption in the governing bodies. It’s always easy to point fingers, and yet, that does not show us the complete picture. A large part of the issue is our attitudes and biases (both conscious and unconscious) that systematically label girls as less valuable, inferior beings, which for years has gone unchecked.

More policy initiatives need to be rooted in this subtle understanding to singularly address these injustices to women. CRY’s School the Spark, for example, is a nationwide campaign that recognizes the value of a safe, educated girl child to break inter-generational cycles of poverty. It plans to ensure that 79,744 boys and girls continue going to school, are able to develop their abilities, complete their education and get an opportunity to turn their abilities into possibilities. When a young girl   is able to go to school, it sets off a cycle of positive change and is empowered to stand up against abuse and exploitation.

Consequently, reducing inequities, especially towards the female children and women, depends largely on a better understanding of how they are produced in each context, and on a commitment from policymakers to ensure that a country’s health system delivers acceptable, affordable and good quality care to all women, from early childhood throughout their entire reproductive lifespan. Men have a key role to play in demanding and supporting this societal shift.

Our education, health and legal systems are meant to give each of us a chance to succeed.. They should allow individuals, with a special focus on girls, to achieve their dreams while building a better future for our country. They not only hold up half the sky but also silently carry the world on their shoulders and still walk forward with an extraordinary resilience. Let’s listen to the  UN  when  they  say  that  girls  have  the  potential  to  change  the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.”

The time has come for the safety, economic security and political participation of women to be the norm, not the exception. We, as a nation and as a people, are making some progress, but let’s be honest, the situation is almost impossibly complex, and we need all hands on deck if we aim to truly change the lives of the girl child. At this inflection point, the possibilities are endless, the consequences, unthinkable. The sky’s not the limit. It’s time to get off our sofas and move from evidence to action.

So let’s get to it.

Nitisha Pande, CRY volunteer, Mumbai

CRY works towards creating a world where girl children are celebrated. Pledge your support to CRY at bit.ly/Pledge2CRY

A Tribute to Sagar Chand

I remember the first time I met Sagar and other volunteers of New Mumabi. There was something remarkable about Sagar that made him stand out in the group. His vision to work for children and leadership skills was exemplary and that’s what led me to make him the group leader.

We detailed out plans and started our work in ‘Turbhe’ community and school.  This was 4 years back, since then he has been the supporting pillar for all our volunteer initiative in Mumbai as well as Pune.  He has not  only been regularly working with community and children but also became a spokesperson for the volunteer work that he used to conduct and sessions to motivate youth to be a part of CRY.

He was one of those volunteers who would support CRY team for everything starting from campaigns, events, attending government official meetings to helping us with  Marathi and Hindi translations. It’s difficult for me to even count the times he has accompanied me to meetings and talked about CRY in Marathi as language barrier was issue for us. He also used his personal contacts, resources, spaces offered by his relatives for CRY work.  It is because of him that we got Thane Municipal Corporation partnership and we did enrollment rallies in 9 critical areas in Thane.

What was also unique about him was his positive spirit and never-say-no attitude.Whenever I had any idea, I would first discuss with him and he would always say “ “Abha don’t worry we would do it”. We all would tease him by calling him Sagar Sir and on how he got marriage proposal from government school teacher .

I am sure the work he has done for children would bring the change in the lives of many. He would be dearly missed in every step we take, every change we make for children.

-Abha Duggal, Senior Manager Volunteer Action Team, CRY

The day I joined CRY, I was going through its blog and came across an article titled 'Superhero of CRY'. It was on Sagar Chand. 'Kya aadmi hai yaar ye'! I was motivated by his work. From being a techie to a teacher and an avid social worker he was a master of all. I remember the first day when I met him, It was the inception of CRY Bandra PAG, He had come to brief us on our approach and shared his experiences and you could see the amount of love he had for the work he does. Since then we worked together on various issues. He always had some beautiful and noble things to do, from celebrating Christmas with street kids to taking them to restaurants he did everything to make children happy. I have memories which would make me proud of the fact that I have worked with him. With all that I have learned from you I hope to work hard and make you proud Sagar .'Superhero of CRY'

-          Mohit, Ex-Bandra Vol unteer

 “ Perhaps they are not stars but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours though and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy “

      - Pratap Das, Thane Volunteer

Sagar was an excellent leader of Thane - PAG and a really nice guy, who would build plans and execute them along with the group smoothly. A man of both action and abstraction, you will be missed.

-          Manoshri, Thane Volunteer

Sagar was a wonderful person.  He is the one who started all the work in Thane PAG and motivated all of us to come for volunteering every week.  It was a good experience working with you.  We hope to keep the spirits high and continue working towards the betterment of society, we hope this will definitely give you happiness whenever you are.... Rest in peace!!

 - Harish, Thane Volunteer

Time to celebrate the Indian in us!!

The greatest gifts you can give your children is a root of responsibility and wings of independence.

-         Denis Waitley

August 15^th 1947 was the day the tri color was first raised and independent India was born. And even after 70 years the enthusiasm remains constant. On the occasion of Independence Day, our volunteers of the Kalyan PAG were invited by the school authority Jai Bai Prathmik Vidyalaya for the flag hoisting ceremony. Little did they know that the volunteers themselves had a little surprise planned for the kids as well as the teachers. Their day started way before the sun could hit us with its warm rays. Last minute work kept the volunteers busy throughout the morning. Though it drizzled in the morning but that didn’t dwindle the enthusiasm the kids and volunteers possessed.

The event began at 9 AM and commenced with students parading through the streets of Vitthalwadi, along with the volunteers and school teachers. Their voices echoed when they shouted with glee Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai..They marched towards their school where the national flag was hoisted by their senior most and lovable teacher. Later on the volunteers surprised the kids with a small skit which showcased the importance of respect towards the national flag.

The students too prepared a small speech emphasizing on India and the sacrifices made by the citizens to achieve Independence. Everybody was taken aback by the gravity of the understanding and thoughtfulness the children had about Independence Day. The volunteers appreciated the school authority that invited them to participate in this ceremony.

The event concluded with a senior teacher giving vote of thanks to the school officials, corporator, volunteers and students.

Volunteer Testimonials

Thane Enrolment Drive

It was an altogether new experience of volunteering. sloganeering on the streets for something, I had never done before.  It was fun and moreover if we could enrol even one child in school with this effort will give immense satisfaction. Looking forward to participate in the activities on coming weekends.

          - Harish Singla 

 I had an amazing experience during the Nukkad Natak and rally at Mumbra. We were basically there for spreading awareness regarding the children education in the nearby area. It seems like the school there is in a bad condition with just 3-4 kids per class. We hope the situation improves and more kids goes to school. I would like to thank CRY for giving this opportunity where I could be a part of the awareness. It was the first time ever for me performing a nukkad natak.

- Vishnu Nair

 I participated in the rally for encouraging children in Thane to go to TMC schools. I found that though our team was small our enthusiasm was enough to attract the attention of people. We found people asking us questions and requesting information. We also found them voluntarily providing information about children who do not go to school. People who have children already going to school also showed interest in the rally and heard us out. We found that people are invested in making a change and this may be a small but definite step towards that.

- Owi Wagh

July  16th, I participated in the  Rally  for education enrollment  drive along with my  co-volunteers of Thane  group.  Along with some enthusiastic  volunteers , some school  children also joined us and we managed to target  houses to find the reason for drop outs and  why children  were  not going to school. It was good  to see  that with our  Rally, we could create  awareness  about  TMC's new policies  And develop  rapport with the locals  to get a better understanding  regarding this problem. Great experience, overall..

- Khadija Chopda