Empowerment of parents and community against the Misery of Mica Working Children

AID - Jharkhand (Giridih Chapter )

 

Child labour is a hot and much debated global and local issue.However, each passing period, new forms of child labour is emerging in this era of globalisation and privatisation. Child labour in mica mining and scrap mica collection is one such issue, which is least known to many, though it has been existing for years. Like the hidden mica beneath the ground, the issue of working children has been invisible to the public eye. Rough estimate in Bihar indicated that about 18000 children have been engaged in mica
related work in Giridih and Koderma districts of Jharkhand.

In Tisri block in Giridih district alone, 3018 working children in mica related work was detected.Child labour in mica mining and scrap mica collection is the worst form of child labour. Many children including girls have been engaged in mining operations. They even go below the ground of more than 20 feet to dig and search for mica. Working in loose soil is part of the operation. Many instances of deaths as a result of collapse of ground while mining and caving in of soil were found.

In the last five years, more than 45 known deaths were recorded. Accidents and snake bites were other occupational health hazards of mica mining and scrap mica collection. Occupational diseases such as silicosis, asthma and bronchitis were common among children and adults. Other poverty related diseases such as T.B. and malnutrition was very high. This makes the life of mica working children
miserable and mind-boggling. Keeping in view of this, Tribal Research and Training Centre (TRACE) a unit of AID, first piloted a project in 20 villages in Tisiri block of Giridih district. Later, it reoriented its work by setting up 20 Mica Working Children’s Centres. These centres are functioning in convenient places and timings to make the working children to have access to basic education and health services. Through these centres, 624 mica-working children are being helped. The special feature was the focus on parents and villagers through their involvement through formation of self-help groups and village
forums. Mobilisation of regular savings among women in the form of women’s and village fund was the key component of the work to prevent and reduce child labour. Training of key village leaders and grassroots forums and engaging them in all campaign was part of the package deal in a bid to make a difference in the life of working children and their parents.

The work of the project resulted in raised awareness with increased participation of parents and villagers in the drive for basic education and campaign against child labour. It also contributed for
improvement of health status of children. The issue of child labour is now a matter of concern to many. The invisible issue of engaging children in hazardous work is now becoming a visible issue to many.The process of self-initiated action is currently on through the parents and villagers to create child labour free area. To carry forward this work, they need long term and short term support and initiatives to do away with child labour.