Considering the present scenario of increasing child labour amidst the multitudes of challenges posed by the pandemic, West Bengal Surokhit Shaishav Partner team along with CBO members held a meeting with Tea Garden Managers after submission of Appeal letters to Gram Panchayat by Child Club Members.   As per the ground reports, child labourers were working in these tea gardens. The primary objective of the meeting was to meet the Managers of Hansqua Tea Garden and Sobharani Tea Factory and sensitize them about rights of the children and the provisions under  Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act in order to encourage them to create their tea gardens as child labour free zones.

One of the CBO members explained the Managers about the situation of the children in their area due to the pandemic. Due to school closures, many of the children have started going to work instead of studying. This is further exposing these children to a multitude of health risks amidst COVID and also increasing their risk of drop out of school once they get engaged as child labourers.

Both the Managers shared that there is no involvement of children as labourers in their tea garden. They further assured that they will investigate the matter and see if any child is even involved as a casual laborer. The Program team informed the Managers about the CLPRA provisions and further handed over stickers and pamphlets urging them to sensitize all the workers of the tea garden to prevent child labour.

Following months, as the Team decided to follow up in these Tea Factories and met the Managers, they were delighted to know that the Tea garden Managers decided to install biometric Machines linked with Aadhar Cards at their factories to prevent any child labour in their tea gardens.  The Biometric has been installed in these factories and a regular follow up and sensitization is being done in the community to generate awareness to prevent child labour with the support of the Tea Garden Managers.

“ By our friendly approach and appeal we were able to transform the perspective of the management of the Hansqua Tea Garden and we are making plan to approach to other nearby Tea Gardens to make a difference and set an example of the Hansqua Tea Garden a model for other Tea Garden areas” – shared a  Child Club Member with joy.  “Further follow up will be carried to work on declaring Hansqua Tea Garden a Child Labour free Tea Garde” words echoed by Mr Anil, CPW, Surokhit Shaishav. Surokhit Shaishav, supported by Caritas Germany is a programme towards the elimination of Child Labour and strengthening Child Protection Mechanisms in the State of West Bengal.

The child club members and team rejoice this positive transformation and hope to work towards declaring these tea gardens as Child Labour Free Tea Gardens in the coming times.