Protecting Rights of Children Employed in Garment Industry

“14 ghante kaam karna padta tha. Aankhon se paani aata tha, peeth mein dard rehta tha, par koi chaara nahi tha. Kaam toh karna hii padta tha...”

(I used to work for 14 hours every day with watering eyes and constant backache. I never liked it. Yet, I had no choice but to work.)

At the age of seven, Ravi does not have great memories of the times gone by. 

India has the largest number of child labourers in the world with its national capital Delhi being home to most of these children.

Many of these children are employed in the garment industry. 

With minimal ventilation and insufficient light, this work not only deprives these children of the fun childhood they deserve but also irreparably damages their health. 

During a nine month long project, Save the Children worked with children, parents and communities to rescue these children from unsafe environment.  

Ravi is one of the many children whose life changed for better after Save the Children’s intervention. And like nearly 300 other children, he was also prepared to get enrolled in a formal school.

“I never liked working. I wanted to study. But I had to work for my family.  Now I go to school, and I love to paint and play with my friends,” says Ravi.

Apart from rescue operations, we also followed a preventive approach during the program. Awareness raising activities like police trainings and stake holder meetings were organised regularly. 

Major achievements: 

• Over 1200 children were beneficiaries of the project.

• Nearly 300 children were released from Child Labour through raid and rescue operations, and through community sensitization. 

• Approximately 300 children were mainstreamed in government schools.

• Nearly 100 children were given vocational training

• More than 20 police trainings were conducted, and 700 police personnel were sensitized. 

• 2467 children were provided healthcare facilities.

These children do not weave clothes anymore. Instead, they are busy weaving a better future for themselves. 

You can also help us bring a lasting change in the lives of many such children. Click here to make a contribution.