‘Children in mica mining areas abandoning education’
They work as labourers to supplement their family income, says survey; over 5,000 of them have given up education
26/08/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI
They work as labourers to supplement their family income, says survey; over 5,000 of them have given up education
26/08/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI
Lost childhood: Objective of the survey was to find out the educational status of children in the region.Kamal NarangKamal Narang
Over 5,000 children in the age group of six to 14 years have abandoned education in the mica mining districts of Jharkhand and Bihar, and a section of them have started working as labourers to supplement their family income, according to a government survey.
The survey was conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) after a report by Terre Des Hommes, an international development agency working in India, revealed last year that more than 22,000 children were employed as child labourers in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar.
In a report based on the survey conducted in the districts of Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand and Nawada district in Bihar, the NCPCR said it had observed that a section of children were deprived of opportunities.
“As per the survey, there are 4,545 children, in the age group of six to 14 years in the area of Jharkhand, reported as not attending school,” the NCPCR said.
The survey, done on the education and well-being of children in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar, found that 649 children in the same age group were reported as not attending school in Nawada district, Bihar.
Collection of mica scraps
The reasons included a lack of interest and also cases where the collection of mica scraps were preferred activities, said the survey. It was found that children in the age group of six to 14 years in Koderma, Giridih and Nawada collect mica scraps.
Officials say selling mica scraps is the main means of livelihood for many families in these areas.
“Several families do not see the benefit of sending their children to schools and instead prefer them collecting and selling the scraps,” an official said.
Largest producer
India is one of the world’s largest producers of mica, with Jharkhand and Bihar being the main producing States. Mica is used in various sectors including buildings and electronics. It is also used in the production of cosmetics and paint.
The objectives of the survey were to find out the educational status of children, the number of children not attending school, whether they are involved in collecting scraps, if vocational training is provided to the adolescents and the presence of NGOs.
The commission gave out a set of recommendations based on its findings. It said the supply chain of the mining and industry should be made free of child labour.
“No child to be engaged in any part of the mica mining process and collecting scraps. NGOs/development agencies should work with the local and district administration as well as with industries to chalk out a strategy to make the supply chain free of child labour,” the NCPCR said.
It said strict action should be taken against buyers of mica scraps from children.
Over 5,000 children in the age group of six to 14 years have abandoned education in the mica mining districts of Jharkhand and Bihar, and a section of them have started working as labourers to supplement their family income, according to a government survey.
The survey was conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) after a report by Terre Des Hommes, an international development agency working in India, revealed last year that more than 22,000 children were employed as child labourers in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar.
In a report based on the survey conducted in the districts of Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand and Nawada district in Bihar, the NCPCR said it had observed that a section of children were deprived of opportunities.
“As per the survey, there are 4,545 children, in the age group of six to 14 years in the area of Jharkhand, reported as not attending school,” the NCPCR said.
The survey, done on the education and well-being of children in the mica mining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar, found that 649 children in the same age group were reported as not attending school in Nawada district, Bihar.
Collection of mica scraps
The reasons included a lack of interest and also cases where the collection of mica scraps were preferred activities, said the survey. It was found that children in the age group of six to 14 years in Koderma, Giridih and Nawada collect mica scraps.
Officials say selling mica scraps is the main means of livelihood for many families in these areas.
“Several families do not see the benefit of sending their children to schools and instead prefer them collecting and selling the scraps,” an official said.
Largest producer
India is one of the world’s largest producers of mica, with Jharkhand and Bihar being the main producing States. Mica is used in various sectors including buildings and electronics. It is also used in the production of cosmetics and paint.
The objectives of the survey were to find out the educational status of children, the number of children not attending school, whether they are involved in collecting scraps, if vocational training is provided to the adolescents and the presence of NGOs.
The commission gave out a set of recommendations based on its findings. It said the supply chain of the mining and industry should be made free of child labour.
“No child to be engaged in any part of the mica mining process and collecting scraps. NGOs/development agencies should work with the local and district administration as well as with industries to chalk out a strategy to make the supply chain free of child labour,” the NCPCR said.
It said strict action should be taken against buyers of mica scraps from children.
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