Child Rights Situational Analysis of Children of Families Engaged in the Sugarcane Farming in Maharashtra

Abstract

Save the Children and Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics jointly launched a study of ‘Child rights situation analysis of children of families working in engaged in sugarcane farming in Maharashtra’ at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE). The study focusing on the situation of the children of the migrant labourers was launched by Dr. Sanjay Chahande, Director General of Yashada. The study revealed some shocking facts about the apathy of children working on the sugarcane fields such as 97% of them not being able to continue their situation at workplace. Many of the children are forced into child labour for more than eight hours. Many are being exposed to hazardous and laborious tasks such as sugarcane cutting and loading. Dr. Chahande, said, “I had proposed the idea of this study and I am glad that I have the honor of launching this study today. Such empirical studies are important to understand economic and social composition of neglected communities within society and will help Government to draw better policies and programmes for ensuring child rights.” From Save the Children, Latha Caleb, Director of Programmes spoke about the importance of this study. “Hardly any surveys have accurately reported the situation of child labour in agriculture. This study is of immense importance to us, as Save the Children has identified child labour in agriculture as a crucial issue. Poverty and lack of access to quality educations stands in between the better future of these children and we are committed to change this situation.” Professor Dr. Debasish Nandy, Principal Researcher from Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics made a presentation about the study and also provided his recommendations. “There is a need for providing quality education and drawing programmes ensuring rights of the children and both Government and NGOs can play a definitive role in it. Despite the common wisdom: seasonal or circular migration is closely associated with poverty; the study rules out any such possibilities as most of the families are above the poverty line. Bringing children at the work place is not to safeguard the children from the effect of “split families” but is an economic decision as the shadow price of the child labour is substantially high (varies from $4 to $8 per day). The duration of work of these children is no less than principal labourers-majority of them work for more than 8 hours a day. But, as a consequence, they face educational deprivation, poor health condition, non-protective environment and social alienation. This kind of child right violation and child migration can lead to neo-modern form of slavery; Indian policy makers didn’t give any strong directives to improve their situation. The study points out policy lacunae and major gaps in the existing institutional facility and highlights the welfare programmes and legal provisions which can bridge this gap even within the existing framework. The study gives component wise important recommendations for ensuring better livelihood by restoring childhood of these children who are pushed to work to help their parents for extra income (sic!).