In the 21^st century India, there live children who lack even the primary education, proper healthcare or the most rudimentary amenities needed to live a dignified and safe life. The worst part is, they are deprived of a childhood, by getting trapped in circumstances that make them forego education and enter the workforce, in a tender age for studying and playing.

West Bengal ranks 7th among the most child labour prone states of India. The Child Rights programme of Caritas India in West Bengal has been working on the concerns around child protection and development since 2013.

Programme partner, Seva Kendra Siliguri (SKS), with the support of village-level authorities and school administration, instituted the Child Rights Protection Desk the school and villages across the Gram Panchayats of Chenga, Sukna, and Hatemuri. These Child Rights Protection Help Desks will be the direct point of contact for children and concerned persons to reach out for assistance, report protection issues and gather information about child rights, with focus on elimination of child labour, so that every child gets to be in schools, play and learn. Soon after the installation, instances of incomplete documentation for children linked to state entitlements; single parents’ children; alcoholism; substance abuse; distantly located schools; migration of adolescent children in search of work; and school dropouts got reported at the helpdesk. These are being addressed by the SKS Child Protection Officer and Child Protection Workers with village child protection officials.

Similarly, the Bal Suraksha Abhiyan Trust (BSA), on the occasion of the Adivasi Diwas, on August 9, installed the Child Rights Protection Desk at Birpara, a town in the centre of the Dooars region of Alipurduar district, known for the tea gardens. On the same day, information regarding the school dropouts got reported and followed up by the Child Protection Workers of BSA. Likewise, on August 18, Dimdima Tea Garden Villages in Madarihat, Jalpaiguri, saw the institution of a Helpdesk after the constitution of Children’s Club in the community. These areas house tea gardens which are infamous for employing child labourer.

Suprava Panchashila Mahila Uddyog Samity (SPMUS), programme partner in Murshidabad district, largest bidi-rolling centre, organised an interaction with the frontline health workers and village officials, including the ASHA, ANMs, Village president, Self-Help Groups and other members of the Faridpur Gram Panchayar, in Block Jalangi. A survey by the Government in 1999 had estimated 3 to 4 lakh bidi workers in Murshidabad, where 90% were women and children working from home. The interaction revealed the issue of the lack of designated infrastructure for Anganwadi centres, where out of 41 approved centres, 24 centres don’t have separate buildings. This absence caused the ICDS workers to gather children under the trees or in the fields. Additionally, some of the existing centres lack the basic equipment and utensils to cook a fresh hot meal for the children, as is the mandate under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). In the meeting, the village president assured speedy actions to address the gap. This also gave way to sensitise them on child rights.  The interaction generated interest and demand from the stakeholders to conduct such orientation programmes in the community to educate and benefit the children as well.

The Child rights programme was initiated in the Northern Bengal region in 2013, focusing child protection issues, in Kalimpong and Darjeeling. The programme engages with the communities and ICPS officials and system; provides direct assistance, including legal intervention and follow-up for children in need of care and protection, and conducts orientation workshops for the Police, community and other stakeholders. This year, in April 2019, the initiative has been expanded to cover the additional districts of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Murshidabad, (U) Dinajpur and 24 Parganas (North), comprising 26 Revenue blocks, 43 Gram Panchayats, and 180 villages, where child labour has been endemic. The programme is supported by Caritas Germany.