Officials of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Government of India, during their recent visit to Kutch, found out that the salt industry attracts nearly 45,000 migrant families.
Officials of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Government of India, during their recent visit to Kutch, found out that the salt industry attracts nearly 45,000
migrant families.
NCPCR chairperson, Shantha Sinha said, "80% of people from villages such as Bhachao and Lakhpat migrate to other cities for work, along with their children. Such is the case of many villages in Gujarat leading to migration of a large number of children, especially in salt pans."
Sinha stated that during the month of January-February 2011, nearly 30,000 people including children are likely to reach salt pans of Kutch. She said, "Each of these families has at least 3 children. They will hence, require aanganwadis, health services, whereas, for children in the ages of 6-14 will require schools and a proper form of education."
These people work on saltpans for 6 months at a stretch, wherein their constant contact with the elements results in harmful effects, she said.
"Our study was to highlight these points and bring it to fore for the government to take immediate action, as these migrating families are not surprise visitors," informed Sinha. Sinha's study also found out that thousands of village kids of Gujarat migrate to cotton fields to work, especially from tribal areas of Mahesana, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Panchmahals.
"Children working in cotton fields are exposed to chemicals such as indo-sulpha, which is banned across globe. They inhale this every day, while doing cross pollination.
However, under the child rights acts, children are not banned from working in these fields. "Hence, nothing has been done in this regard," she said. Sinha and her team highlighted child labour practices in salt pans, cotton fields, sugarcane, animal grazing and charcoal areas.
Sinha said, "Government officials mentioned schemes penned down to help children, but we found that there was a mismatch between what we actually need and what is being provided."
With nearly 5lakh children involved in internal migration annually, there are only 100 children hostels, which is insufficient, informed Sinha.
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