Advocacy for Readmitting Children from the Brick Making Units to Mainstream Schools by Don Bosco PYAR, Gulbarga

Don Bosco PYaR has been at the forefront of advocating against child labour, especially in the brick-making units, a sector where children are often forced to work under harsh conditions. The organization not only works on rescuing these children but also ensures that they are integrated into mainstream education.

In December 2023, Don Bosco PYaR focused on rescuing children from the brick-making units in Babalad, a locality known for child labour practices. The brick-making season starts in mid-November, and children are often sent to work in these units due to economic hardships. Last year, 24 children were rescued, and this year, 40 children were brought out of child labour.

The rescued children were intended to be admitted to the Government Higher Primary School in Babalad. However, when the team approached the Headmaster, he expressed concerns about the school’s inability to provide midday meals, eggs, milk, and other essential benefits for 40 additional children. This logistical hurdle posed a challenge to the education of these children.

Fr. Kuriakose and the Don Bosco staff took the following steps to resolve the issue- Firstly a memorandum was submitted to Mr. Akash, IAS, Additional Commissioner for Education, outlining the issue and requesting urgent intervention. Mr. Akash quickly forwarded the matter to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI). Following the DDPI’s recommendation, the team was directed to meet the Assistant Director of the Midday Meal (Akshara Dasoha) scheme to facilitate the provision of meals for the children. The final order was issued to the Headmaster of the Government Higher Primary School to admit all 40 children, with provisions for midday meals and other benefits being arranged by the relevant departments.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Don Bosco PYaR, local government authorities, and community stakeholders, all 40 children were successfully admitted to the school. The brick industries are notorious for their exploitative and hazardous conditions. Children, along with their parents, are forced to live in small, cramped huts surrounded by dust and toxic fumes. These conditions have severe physical and emotional consequences for the children, denying them their basic rights to education, health, and childhood. Through a concerted effort spanning four weeks, our team worked tirelessly with parents to mainstream these children into formal education. This was a significant achievement as it ensured that these 40 children, previously subjected to child labour.