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Rural poverty combined with a massive population means there are still millions of child labourers
in India. And many of them are going hungry. But these stark realities are behind one of
the largest efforts to get children out of child labour, and into school.
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is the world’s biggest school lunch program. Since it was adopted
on a national level in India, the program has had an impact across the country. Now
millions of families who sometimes can’t afford enough food can feed their children
by sending them to school, and keeping them out of child labour.
(Former Child Labourer - in Kannada language)
“I would tell kids who are working that we used to work, too, and waste our time.
Now we come to school every day. Coming to school made us more intelligent.”
India is also making an effort to bring national policies on health care, rural employment,
and compulsory education together, putting the family at the centre of the fight against
child labour.
(Mrs. Sudhamani, Math Teacher - in Kannada language)
“A lot of parents don't send their children to school because they don't know the importance
of education and its benefits. That’s because the parents themselves never went to school.”
The national effort is helping change those perceptions, backed by a vibrant civil society
movement. Self help groups meet and monitor families at risk; deliver skills and economic
empowerment programmes for adults, and promote awareness raising activities concerning child
labour.
Its Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is an ambitious public works programme intended
to provide a basic safety net to the rural poor.
Sound policies can make a big difference. Where there has been political will, there
has been progress. When government, employers, trade unions and civil society networks come
together to promote the right policies, it can make real change happen.