From Bricks to Books

Per the 2020 estimates of the International Labour Organisation, 160 million children in the age group of 5-17 years were engaged in child labour globally, projected to reach 168.9million in 2022, largely impacted by the COVID pandemic. The situation in India is not likely to be different though there are no recent official statistics (10.1 million per Census 2011). Finding these children — oftentimes rescuing them — and reuniting them with their families is the challenge. BREADS’ initiatives, the Child Labour Elimination Project (CLEP) and Child Safety Net (CSN), focus on rescuing children from exploitative labour and ensuring their access to education and a safe environment. These programmes work towards breaking the cycle of child labour and empowering children for a better future.  In Kalaburagi, BREADS’ partner, Don Bosco PYaR, has been at the forefront of advocating against child labour, particularly in the brick-making industry, where children are often subjected to gruelling conditions. The programme teams successfully rescued 40 children who had been working under perilous conditions in the brick-making industry, where they
lived in cramped huts surrounded by dust and toxic fumes. The harsh environment severely impacted their physical and emotional well-being, depriving them of their fundamental rights to education, health, and a carefree childhood. In a dedicated effort over four weeks, our
team worked tirelessly with the parents to reintegrate these children into formal education. This marked a significant achievement, as it not only freed the children from child labour but also secured their right to education. Initially, the children were to be admitted to the Government Higher Primary School in Bablad. However, when the team approached the Headmaster, he raised concerns about the school’s ability to provide midday meals, eggs, milk, and other essential benefits for the 40 new students. This logistical challenge threatened to delay their admission. To address this, DB PYaR Director Fr. Kuriakose and the team took prompt action. They submitted a memorandum to the Additional Commissioner for Education, outlining the issue and requesting immediate intervention. The matter was then forwarded to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI). Following the DDPI’s recommendation, the team was directed to meet with the Assistant Director of the Midday Meal (Akshara Dasoha) scheme to ensure the provision of meals for the children. Thanks to these collaborative efforts among the local government authorities, and the
support of community stakeholders, a final order was issued, directing the Headmaster of the school to admit all 40 children. Arrangements were made to provide the necessary midday meals and other essential benefits. As a result of these coordinated efforts spearheaded and facilitated by DB PYaR, all 40 children were successfully enrolled in school, marking a significant change in their lives: from forming bricks to filling up books, as they move towards education and a brighter future, free from the exploitation of child labour.