|
CRY defines child labour as: - “Children, in the age group
up to 18 years, who are working/involving as wage earner and/or
contributing to the family income, either bonded or not, part time/full
time worker, involved in any sort of economic activity that is hazardous
or non hazardous, in any work shed- in-house or outside, exploited
physically, spiritually and economically are called child labour.”
There are according to various estimates, a hundred million children
are not in school and are involved in some form of child labour
in the country.
CRY realises that the issue of child labour cannot be viewed in
isolation and that finally it is the state’s responsibility
to ensure that every child is in school.
 To
address this problem, CRY adopts a two-fold strategy. It’s
project partners are encouraged to address the problem at a micro
level. CRY-supported projects work with the community and the children
themselves to look into the roots of the issue and try and provide
solutions. The communities are also encouraged to enter into a dialogue
with the local government to find solutions. <
At the macro level, CRY tries to form alliances with like-minded
organisations and advocates with the media and the government to
influence policy to eradicate this problem.
About CRY :
 CRY
is Child Relief and You, a registered Indian trust working towards
building a people's movement to restore to India's underprivileged
children their most basic rights. CRY harnesses the money, time
and skills of thousands of individuals and organisations to partner
169 child development initiatives across India.
CRY is governed by values of respect for human dignity, transparency,
accountability, secularism, non-violence and the spirit of innovation.
For more information on CRY, do call at: 91-44-4671828, 4996784
or visit our website :www.cry.org
|
Jyotimani’s tiny fingers were stacking
matches at the tender age of 4. At age 5 came a half-hearted
attempt at schooling. But after school and on holiday,
she spent long hours helping her mother augment her
income at the match factory. Uneducated themselves,
her parents couldn’t teach her, and were resigned
to her staying at home. She left school soon enough.
Press Trust, a CRY-supported project, convened
the villages to explore the viability of an evening
school in Vellicheri, Jyoti’s village. What they
heard was appalling- incompetent teachers, a school
that kept the children on the rolls marking them present
and passing then in their exams though the kids had
not been inside the school for 2 years! So Press
Trust with CRY’s support started the evening
school, appointing a teacher for English and Math. Now,
Jyotimani diligently goes to school every evening. And
just as important, her parents have been educated on
the importance of not making demands of her at this
time- her evenings are hers.
Press Trust works towards eradication of child labor
in the Kovilpatti block of Tuticorin district in Tamil
Nadu through education, awareness building and community
mobilization.
|
|
|
 |
| |
 |
|
