Industrial, domestic sectors: nations struggling for complete elimination of child labour

Nobody can gainsay the fact that children are the most important part of a society. It is correct that child is the father of man. If children are brought up on healthy lines and are given their rights, strong, hale and hearty generations come into being.
The societies that paid full attention to children's training and upbringing on appropriate lines made astounding progress that baffled other societies. The history of the World is full of such examples.
These nations brightened their future and won distinctions and their names are written in history. On the other hand those that neglected the children fell instead of rising and dwindled into nothingness. The optimistic role of developed societies reflects that education is a vital instrument for rising of a nation and its all round development.
Under the present scenario, education has become very important for bringing revolutionary changes in every sphere of life. Human history bears witness to the fact that it was lack of educational facilities, greed on part of the parents, and trend of cheap labour, which increased the lust for benefit of the traders and industrialists and all these factors promoted the menace of child labour and other child protection issues.
Now the situation has totally changed globally and nations are struggling for complete elimination of child labour from industrial sector and domestic sector, and protecting the child's rights under the United Nations Charter.
Child and Social Development Organisation (CSDO), Sialkot, is an offshoot of the Atlanta Agreement signed by UNICEF, ILO, and SCCI on 14th February 1997 to eliminate child labour in the Soccer ball Industry of Sialkot-Pakistan. It is an independent NGO established by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) in consensus with UNICEF and ILO to carry forward Social Protection and Rehabilitation component of the Atlanta Agreement. UNICEF, ILO, WFSGI, FIFA, SCCI and all Soccer ball manufacturers participating in Child Labour Elimination Programme (CLEP) have been fully supporting CSDO since its inception (year 2002). Membership of CSDO is mandatory for all CLEP members which is a major source of strength to this organisation. The other industrialists and women entrepreneurs of the City have also started taking interest in getting membership and activities of CSDO, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
CSDO has been implementing UNICEF sponsored "Child & Adolescents Protection Project in Sialkot and its adjacent districts; Gujranwala and Narowal" since May 2009. The Project has been very successful and received immense appreciation locally and internationally. Social mobilisation, and community participation, Formal and non-formal education, Psycho-social support to children and their families, Vocational skills, Conditional cash grant for education for poorest of the poor children and Children participation and empowerment are the key components of the project.
The District Government, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and its Women Entrepreneurs' Cell, the Business Community of Sialkot especially Soccer ball manufacturers have been providing every possible support to the project since its beginning (year 2009).
In a short span of time, with support of UNICEF, CSDO is achieving its cherished goal of enrolling working and out-of-school children. In this connection eighteen non-formal education centres namely Talim-ul- Amal Centers (TACs) have been established in the backward areas of Sialkot and its adjacent districts; Gujranwala and Narowal. In these centres, currently, around 1,200 working/out-of-school children of the past are getting quality education and are being kept away from undesirable activities. Identification and enrolment of more working/out-of-school children in the Centres is in progress. Eight hundred forty (840) children have been mainstreamed in formal schools from these Centres. 1,460 children mostly 5-7 years of age, have been enrolled in formal schools directly. These children are being monitored regularly to prevent dropout. CSDO has set-up a unique example by bringing the children of junk collectors into schools. This is an extraordinary success of the project.
CSDO team is playing a tremendous role in mobilising the members of the community and parents for the protection of children. Though, it was a tough task in this materialistic era because poor parents usually prefer that their kids do something to earn as compared to education. This tendency generates many sensitive issues like domestic labour, child labour, forced labour and child abuse as well as social evils. The hallmark of the programme was to eradicate illiteracy and child labour of all sorts from the society. CSDO had set up a unique precedent by mobilising and through social dialogues with the "Junk Collectors" families about the utility of education. Ultimately, the junk collectors' families decided to send their children to education centers established by CSDO under the UNICEF sponsored above said project. It's a miracle because this community has its own rules and regulations as well as a nomadic life style.
During a visit to one TAC centre it was observed that these children (totally ignored in the past) are showing their excellent performance in the centre. By virtue of a spade work CSDO has attained the impossible.
This precedent is rare in the history of Sialkot or even in the country. The service of UNICEF and CSDO in this connection is of historical proportion and would be remembered for all times to come. This may well pave the way for others to replicate same model in other parts of the country.
According to the teachers of the centre the enrolled children of Junk Collectors families are fast learners and have the capacity of maximum learning. There are a few cases of slow learners but are fit and eager to imbibe the lesson by learning through trial and error, the teachers said.
According to field visits by the writer, here are some success stories of children who were involved in labour/out-of-school before starting "Child & Adolescents Protection Project".
Sixteen years old Nazish Khalid, now a student of Talim-ul-Amal Center Alhar situated in Tehsil Pasrur of Sialkot, has passed grade 8 Board Examination in year 2011. She dropped out from grade 6 due to poverty. She left the job of housemaid and joined the Center in year 2009 despite serious financial constrain to fulfil her dream to become educated and to support her family members in a better way. Nazish said that her ultimate goal is to become fashion designer after completing her education. She has also availed vocational training of stitching and embroidery. After school timing, she stitches clothes to support her family financially. Her teachers are very happy and foresee that she will be an excellent fashion designer in future because she has ability to do what she thinks and the ability of original designing as well as modification according to her wish. Nazish further told that her whole family was engaged with domestic labour for earning livelihood and she also joined the hands with her family on weekend.
Another girl student Sidra Bashir 15 year of the same centre remained top in her middle class Board examination 2011 by obtaining 61 percent marks. She dropped out from class 6 and was involved in domestic labour. She belongs to Soccerball stitching family. While expressing her views she said that after completing her education, she would chose the profession of teaching to fight against the menace of illiteracy and to enroll out-of-school and runaway children in the schools. This will ensure bright future as well as make them useful members of the society. Sidra said that without obtaining education no nation can survive in this World.
Saqib Hameed 16 years dropped out from class three. While working in hazardous occupation, he suffered serious damage to his hand. Now he is a student of 5th Class Talim-ul-Amal Center Kotli Loharan, Sialkot. Under the Project, he is being provided psycho-social support, as well. He is also keen to avail computer education to become an IT expert.
A sixteen years old girl Alishba Francis dropped out from class 4 due to corporal punishment at the private school. She stayed at home doing household chores for many years and then joined Talim-ul-Amal Center in year 2009. She has passed middle class Board examination 2011. She has also availed vocational training, as Beautician and after receiving soft loan of Rs 15,000/- from Khud Kifalat Roazgar Trust Sialkot, she is successfully operating her own Beauty Parlour in partnership with her friend in the remote area.
Sidra Amjad, age 16 years, the student of 8th class belongs to a Soccerball stitcher family. Due to unknown reasons she left the school from 5th class and now rejoined the school. Her whole family is engaged with the soccer ball stitching since long and earning for their livelihood. Sidra told that she too stitched two footballs daily after the school time. She said that after completing her education she will prefer to join teaching line aimed at fighting against illiteracy by spreading education in downtrodden areas. Education is the key instrument for eradicating social evils and putting the country on road to development she said.
With the financial support of UNICEF, CSDO is providing overall educational support like books, school bags, uniform, shoes, stationery, etc to the selected children. Monthly conditional cash grant of Rs 500/- per child per month was provided to 514 children (339 children in year 2009 and 175 in year 2010) to the most marginalized children for their educational support. Currently, the said monthly cash grant is being provided to 60 children of four new centres.
In an interaction with the community members and parents they were of the opinion that CSDO and UNICEF should expand and formulate long term programme for the larger interest of the poor segment of the society because after passing middle level the students cannot afford to study in private schools for continuing their onward education.
Most of the students who have passed middle exams are unable to continue their education due to non-availability of Government High Schools in their areas. Most of them are girls. Due to poverty and security issues, parents are not willing to send their daughters in far areas for further education. Under the prevailing circumstances UNICEF, CSDO and the District Government should introduce education facility at least up to 10th class to enable the working/out-of-schools children to continue their education. The financially weak students cannot afford heavy fee of private educational institutions or continue their education due to non-availability of Government High Schools in their areas.
Most of the students, parents and members of the community understand that the current project is for a limited period and it will be finished sooner or later. Under the prevailing situation there was a great need to address these fears. It is suggested that this project should be converted into a long term one and some skilled training programmes should be added in the syllabus.
At this juncture skill training had become imperative to enable the adolescents to earn their livelihood after accomplishment of their training by setting up their independent work. It was also observed that philanthropists and wealthy persons are reluctant to establish educational institutions in their own respective areas to facilitate the poor segment of the society and there is a great need of social mobilisation of such persons to engage them in this noble cause.
CSDO should launch a vigorous drive to motivate generous people, philanthropists and donors to bring them in the mainstream for establishment of more and more educational institutes to serve the poor segment of the society. In addition to this, children, parents and members stressed the provision of furniture in the centres aimed at removing discrimination and to ensure the healthy environment to the student community. During the visit of various centres it was heartening to note that teachers who are from the same area have put their heart and soul to educate the students. Due to the excellent behaviour of teachers with students there was great attachment between teachers and students that pave the way of success to this project.
Currently, the project is benefiting around 3,500 neglected children from the marginalized section of the society. It is important to ensure continuity of the project and expand its scope gradually to the entire region.