Save the Children as an initiative towards “Child Labour Free Bihar” in association with Campaign against Child Labour (CACL) Bihar and Koshish Charitable Trust organized showcasing of thematic street play and interaction of children from slums with media representatives and other distinguished guests.

To mark commemoration of “World Day against Child Labour” children from urban slums of Patna developed a street play on the issue of child labour. As pursuance towards awareness generation, from 12th to 15th June, this street play was showcased at 10 slums of urban Patna. It is estimated more than 1100 slum dwellers, including children witnessed these street plays.

While sharing their experiences of living in a slum and how it pushes children living into child labour, Radhika Kumari, a child champion and resident of Chitkohra slum shared that majority of children living in slums, in one way or other are economically active, which restricts avenues for their all-around development and it’s always challenging for a children living in slum to protect herself from being a child labour.

Smt. Sita Sahu, Mayor, Patna on this occasion while addressing to children of Adalatganj slum highlighted Government is already making various efforts through programme like Beti Bachyo, beti Padho, Cycle scheme and School dress scheme to keep children in school and keep them free from clutches of child labour. Bihar government is making specific efforts on the issue of Child labour, Child Marriage and dowry. Praising children’s efforts for awareness generation, she underlined children can be best messenger to highlight their rights and concerns.

Smt. Harpal Kaur, Chairperson, Bihar State Commission for Protection of Child Rights  (SCPCR) assured one can reach SCPCR at any time if there is any incidence of child rights violation. Referring to recent incident of Muzaffarpur, she stressed that Govt. is committed to not tolerate any such violations and bound to take strict action against perpetrators.

Praising children efforts to highlight plight of child labour through street plays, Smt. Shweta Mishra,  Secretary, Bihar SCPCR said Commission in association with organizations like Save the Children will continue its efforts for protection of rights of all children in the state.

Nawlesh, State Convenor, CACL- Bihar Chapter highlighted every year commemoration of World Day against Child Labour on 12th June gives us an opportunity to raise our voice against the menace of child labour, program of media interaction and street plays by these children aimed at awareness generation is a children led effort to make Bihar free from child labour.  
These street plays were aimed to raise the issue of child labour, its ironical acceptability in normal parlance, sensitization of general masses on the issue of child labour and influence concerned stakeholders to actively contribute toward abolishment of this menace. 

In addition, Labour Resources Department, Govt. of Bihar on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour, in collaboration with Unicef and other INGOs organized a consultation in which Principal Secretary, Labour Resources Department announced that a strategy will be developed to make 51 blocks in Bihar child labour free. Through the consultation the guidelines were finalized on intensifying on preventive and response strategies on child labour in 51 selected blocks in the state. 

We also along with other agencies are active constituent of this path breaking initiative. This consultation witnessed participation of representatives of Labour Resources Department; Social Welfare Department; Home (Police); Rural Development; PRI, SC-ST Welfare;  Unicef and other development agencies. This consultation proven to be important step for taking State Action Plan in a phased manner by identifying the most vulnerable blocks.