PEOPLE'S APPRAISAL ON UNCRC IMPLEMENTATION

CACL-Karnataka has undertaken a study on UNCRC implementation in all the 14 districts of North Karnataka with the support of UNICEF. With the North Karnataka districts being the most backward in the state, the aim of the study is to understand and analyse the situation of children and the reach of implementation of various government schemes, and their effectiveness in these districts.

Process:

1. Developing questionnaires and methodology for collection of data.

2. Partner NGOs to collect the data using the questionnaires.

3. Compilation, analysis and report of the data.

4. Consultation on the findings.

CRT is responsible, along with CDF, for developing and finalizing an individual questionnaire, village level questionnaire and guidelines for 3 focus group discussions with women’s group, children, and village leaders to get opinions on the situation of children in their village from varied perspectives.

CRT has pre-tested the above methodology in ChikkaSonne village, 40 kms from Bangalore. The questionnaires were finalized incorporating observations/difficulties encountered during this pre-test.

During the first week of March, CRT members traveled to Belgaum and explained the questionnaires and methodology to all partner NGOs to collect data effectively.

Once data has been collected and analysed, CRT in partnership with CDF will be putting together the report on the study.

Consultation on children of construction workers

Children of construction workers have to get a fair chance to develop.

Workers within the unorganized sector constitute over 92 percent of the total workforce in India, or about 370 million in number. These workers are paid poorly and have to cope on their own when there is any interruption in their working income due to recession, non-availability of work, sickness, accident or death.

In Karnataka, the number of unorganized workers increased from 9.7 million in 1981 to 13 million in 1991, and to 17.3 million in 2001. Most of these labourers were migrants moving from one state to another and from rural areas to cities. The state government has been taking some initiatives to provide these workers with social security. However, much remains to be done in the direction of designing a comprehensive social security package for all unorganized workers. The existing provisions are not enforced either, leading to immense suffering for the workers and their families.

The situation of the children of migrant labourers is especially pathetic. These children do not get the services they require – health, education, protection, etc., from the existing systems, as the rights of children demand.

KCRO [Karnataka Child Rights Observatory] along with various other organisations and networks in Karnataka including Bridge Network, Samtha Sainika Dala, Karnataka Construction Workers Welfare Action Group, Construction and other Building Workers Welfare Board, Forum of NGOs working with Street and Working Children, Campaign against Child Labour, Bangalore Unit, etc. began trying to find solutions to ensure the rights of the children of construction workers. To this end, an one-day consultation was organised with the involvement of other NGOs and government departments also at Bangalore on 16th Dec. 2008 with the following objectives:

Objectives:

i.To enhance social security for construction workers.

ii.To develop a comprehensive programme of education, protection and development for the children of construction workers.

iii.To establish delivery structures for utlising the resources available for migrant workers and their families efficiently and effectively.

The day-long consultation deliberated on various issues pertaining to construction workers and their children and came out with a list of recommendations. The consultation was attended by representatives of Government (Education, Women and Child Development Department, Labour Department), NGOs, UNICEF, labour unions, construction workers and the media. Freedom fighter Shri Doreswamy gave the keynote address; senior government officials and NGOs also addressed the meet. These speakers made several valuable suggestions.

Many groups working with construction labourers and their children shared their experiences on various problems faced by these children and their families. A documentary film on the situation was presented by Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA), which also mounted a photography exhibition on the issue. A few construction workers shared their first hand experiences and views.

Participants were then divided into groups to discuss problems related to health, protection and development of the children of construction workers and to list their conclusions. These were then ratified in the plenary and recommended for further follow-up by Government.

Recommendations

1. Basic Amenities:

There should be a policy for improving basic amenities like toilets, drinking water, housing, ration card, voter ID cards .

The procedure of giving identity cards to the construction workers should be more simplified, easily accessible and rapid.

NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) should ensure strengthening of rural employment program and stipulate better wages for the rural people [to deter migration].

The Board Of Construction Workers Act should be suitabily amended so as to extend the benefit of health coverage not only to beneficiaries but also to their families.

2. Health:

Awareness on pre -and post natal care should be provided by the Health dept.

ANMs/ Health Visitors should visit the place where construction workers live.

Like ASHA (Accrediated Social Health Activist) in the National Rural health Mission, even USHA (Urban Social Health Activist) should be introduced very shortly.

Health services like clinics, mobile health vans, etc. should be made available near dwelling places of construction workers.

Awareness on immunization should be provided.

3. Anganawadis:

1.Anganawadis should have balsevika teachers and trained helpers; the timings of anganawadis should be extended till 4pm.

4. Education:

Govt. schools should be located in migrant colonies/clusters.

There should be equal treatment of migrant and other children in schools.

Two percent of their income should be set aside by builders for the education of the workers' children.

5. Protection:

Shelter with elementary facilities should be provided for construction labourers.

Strict protection policy should be formulated to combat girl child abuse.

Two-Day Consultation on Child Marriage

The KCRO and Partners' Consultation on Child Marriage was held on November 6 -7, 2008, at Bijapur. NGOs from the seven Uttara Karnataka districts most affected by this problem attended in strength as did the students of the Mahila University. which collaborated in the event. Several presentations on various aspects of the issue held the rapt attention of all on the first day, while the second was mostly focussed on action plans for each of the districts involved. the working groups that drew up the plans were composed of officials from various departments at the district level, NGOs and some academics.

The day prior to the meeting began with field visits by the KCRO teams in both rural areas around Bijapur and in the slums of the town itself. Issues revealed during these visits were aired at the meeting. In the afternoon, drawing and elocution competitions on the subject of child marriage were held. There were a gratifying number of good entries. Moreover, the children enjoyed the competitions.

The Mahila University Social Work department expressed keen interest in following this initiative with focus on other aspects of child rights, especially those related to the problems of girl children.