Majboor Kisko Bola!

A BBC World Service Trust Programme on bonded labour
Bandhua village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradeshhas an infamous claim to fame. The village name, which literally means bonded in Hindi, owes its origin to the fact that all its residents were bonded labourers about 20 years ago.

Despite being abolished in 1976, bonded labour still exists in India. It is a form of labour that initially involves bondage of an employee to an employer through some form of debt or through a power dynamic fuelled by poverty and caste and/or class vulnerabilities.

The BBC World Service Trust announces a new radio programme designed to promote labour welfare and prevent bonded labour in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. These two states account for the highest incidence of unorganized and indebted labour in India.

The 30-minute radio programme, titled Majboor Kisko Bola! or “Who are you calling helpless!” seeks to achieve changes in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the workforce in India. By informing vulnerable communities about labour rights, relevant government employment schemes and the risks of entering into bonded labour agreements, the programme aims to reduce bonded and exploitative labour.

Thirty-six weekly episodes are being aired on the public broadcaster All India Radio in the two states. The first episode was aired on Friday, the 28th of May 2010. “We’ve designed a show that promises to have great appeal among the Hindi mass audience. Community reporters from Bihar and UP have been trained to collect and record personal accounts from people from these states, as well as record locally relevant songs and sounds. The programme also features a drama segment along with interviews with experts, government officials and people affected by labour exploitation.” explains Project Manager Ashish Singh.

“Those vulnerable to labour exploitation often lack information to make informed decisions about employment. Radio is an excellent means to provide essential information about potential risky situations to avoid, human rights and services available for avoidance and redress of exploitation. Our aim is to empower people with information and ultimately to reduce the incidence of bonded labour,” says Yvonne MacPherson, Country Director, BBC World Service Trust in India.

7 food majors pledge responsible advertising

Seven major food and beverage companies have signed a unique pledge committing themselves to responsible advertising and marketing to children. This is the first such self-regulatory pledge in India on the lines of the one in the European Union.

According to people familiar with the development, companies which have become signatories to the pledge are Indian subsidiaries of global majors such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Kellogg, Mars International, General Mills and Hindustan Unilever. While more are expected to join in, Cadbury India is the only notable exception from the list.

(source: timesofindia.com)

Campaign to encourage parents to enroll kids in BMC schools

Did you know that every child in a BMC-run school is covered by a health insurance scheme? Or the fact that the BMC spends about Rs 25,000 per year per child? Also, that the BMC’s rules stipulate that it has to provide 27 items to every child free including shoes, school bag, tiffin box and even a raincoat.

For probably the first time ever, citizens have now taken to the streets trying to get these points across.

Citizen activists have initiated a campaign across the city encouraging parents in slum areas to admit their children in civic schools.

The drive, which began on Friday, is an initiative by Mumbaiites for Child Rights (M4CR), an organisation powered by independent activists across the city.

Targeting three areas in the city — Chembur, Bandra and Santacruz, Friday saw the activists campaigning in Vakola and other parts of Santacruz (East).

Among other things, an autorickshaw has been specially customised for the drive, carrying messages on child literacy and its importance.

The three-day campaign will be a first in bridging the socio-economic divide that the city’s civic schools have become symbolic of. Said Nitin Wadhwani, one of the activists, “The whole point of this exercise is to draw people out of their houses and tell them how their child could benefit if enrolled in a school. There is a glaring ignorance of all the amenities a child in a BMC school is entitled to.”

The campaign will involve a hint of introspection for the civic body.

Aftab Siddiqui, a Bandra-based activist, said, “The campaign will also involve close interaction with parents whose children have dropped out as there is an urgent need to find out the reasons behind the dropout rate.”

“One of the reasons for parents not encouraging their children is because they think education will be a costly proposition, thanks to the books, bags and other such support elements. Hence, the campaign will tell them that education in civic schools is absolutely free,” Wadhwani added.

Child Rights & You (CRY), an NGO working on children’s issues, will also support the initiative. The drive will go on till June 20. (Article: Hindustantimes.com, June 19, 2010)