Inspite of ban child labour is still rampant in Andhra Pradesh
Picture for representational purpose
Visakhapatnam: Though child labour has been banned in the country, it is rampant in Andhra Pradesh. A major reason behind this is said to be the high dropout rate of schoolchildren. The combined figure of school dropouts in three districts of north Andhra, Vizag, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam is more than 4.5 lakh and it is more than 25 lakh in the entire state, according to figures provided by State Commission for Protection of Child Rights officials.
S. Balaraju, member of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), says, “About 30 to 40 per cent of school dropouts end up in child labour. If Right to Education Act had been implemented efficiently till now, the figures would have been much less.” Mr Balaraju further said, “Though the issue of child labour is rampant, there has been no district-wise documentation yet by the state government. According to an unofficial survey by an NGO, the figure of child labourers in Vizag is about 1.5 lakh and it is above 50,000 in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.”
Lack of manpower and proper support from government is resulting in fewer interventions. The SCPCR last year rescued 839 children from the clutches of child labour in north Andhra. Another organisation that is working on the issue of child labour is Child Rights and You, which has recognised more than 150 critical villages in the country to work on the issue and is working towards establishment of child labour-free villages in AP.
Sunil Peter, head of CRY for AP and Telangana says, “Improper connectivity to schools, especially in Agency areas is a major issue why there are many school dropouts, who in turn join traditional jobs or are trafficked. Another peculiar reason in north Andhra is that there are many fisherfolk in these three districts. Usually, the males in the family stay out for months every year. Due to poor access to public schemes like PDS, the kids are forced to work to earn money till the father comes back.”
CRY has established 73 child labour-free villages in Andhra Pradesh along with mainstreaming 1,266 child labourers and 2,210 school dropouts in the state.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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