Recent findings from a survey conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have highlighted a worrying trend. Over 5,000 children, aged between six and fourteen years, left schools to engage in labour activities. These efforts were made to contribute to their families’ income needs. The survey was sparked in May 2018 by a revealing report from Terre Des Hommes, a noted international development agency, which illustrated that more than 22,000 children were employed in mica mining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar.
This comprehensive survey honed in on specific districts, namely Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand and the Nawada district in Bihar.
The Disquieting Statistics Uncovered
The data from the NCPCR survey is quite alarming. In Jharkhand, 4,545 children within the age group of six to fourteen years were reported as non-attendees of school. In the Nawada district of Bihar, there were 649 children who were not attending school.
This disturbing trend is largely due to inadequate opportunities, a lack of interest, and the necessity for mica scrap collection. Many families in these areas do not see the benefits of education, preferring instead to have their children work in the collection and sale of mica scraps, an activity that forms the primary livelihood for many families in these districts.
The Challenge of Malnutrition
Malnutrition also poses a significant challenge in these areas. According to the survey, 14% of the reported habitations and villages in Giridih and 19% in Koderma were undernourished. This situation intensifies in Nawada, where 69% of habitations indicated that some children were undernourished.
Proposed Intervention Strategies
The survey recommended that NGOs and development agencies should collaborate with local and district administration, as well as the industries involved, to develop a strategy that ensures the mica mining supply chain is free from child labour. Strict action should be taken against those who purchase mica scraps from children.
Table: Key facts and findings of Survey
| State | District | Children non-attendees of school | Child labourers in mica mining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jharkhand | Koderma, Giridih | 4,545 | N/A |
| Bihar | Nawada | 649 | N/A |
Further Recommendations and Measures
The NCPCR suggests that efforts should be made towards eradicating child labour in the areas of Jharkhand and Bihar, where mica mining is prevalent. The opening of rehabilitation centres for such children and residential schools for girls in these areas is recommended. Stricter implementation of child rights laws should be ensured by the districts.
About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The NCPCR is a statutory body established in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act. Falling under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, the commission ensures that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative mechanisms align with child rights. It monitors the implementation of various acts related to child rights and protection, including the Right to Education Act, 2009, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.