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India has about 12.6 million children engaged in economic activity according to the Population Census 2001.
A pervasive and exploitative child labour problem exists in the cotton fields and other agricultural farms across India, particularly in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Large numbers of children work in dangerous, difficult and often deplorable conditions and are denied their basic rights to protection from exploitation, abuse, harm, and neglect and quality education.
In response to this, Save the Children has launched a Child Rights for Change movement in 8 districts in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, covering approximately 1,870 villages. Through an integrated development approach that includes establishing community-based child protection mechanisms, facilitating inclusive and quality education, enabling improved household income and helping protective health practices, the movement aims to make a positive and lasting impact in the lives of over 630,000 children directly, in the age groups of 3-6, 7-14 and 15-18.
In order to facilitate progressive elimination of child labour in all its forms, Save the Children works at myriad level – community, district, state and national – with key stakeholders such as children, women, farmers, teachers, government departments and civil society organisations.
The Child Rights for Change movement ultimately strives to create a favourable legislative environment that facilitates child labour being socially and culturally unacceptable. It seeks a paradigm shift in children’s work from one of tolerance to intolerance.
Is Child Labour the price of childhood? At Save the Children, we work to bring childhood back to children! Please Click Here to know more.
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