Dear Chhotu, Munna and Bachha,
How are you?
Do you remember me from the last time, when we met at the tea stall, at a ration shop, at the road side hotel? And yes, also in the nearby dumping yard, in a motor garage, at the bus stop, railway station, and also at your homes.
Do you remember what you were doing when we met? I am sure you do because you do this work on a regular basis. In fact, daily. You were serving tea, giving rations, washing plates, picking garbage, fitting the wheels, begging in the trains and yes, taking care of younger brothers and sisters at your home.
You know, November 14 was Children’s Day. We are celebrating Child Rights Week between November 14 and 20. Do you know that these days are about you? But where are all of you?
I understand, this day, this week is not that important to any of you. Before people could have started celebrating these days and weeks, your work would have begun.
I once tried to list down all the work that you did. My page was full but there was still so much more to jot down. At the end of it I was left groping in the dark for answers to questions that surround all of you- how do all of you do this work? Why do you do this work?
I saw Chhotu that morning. He had a big plastic bag on his back, and an iron rod in his hand. I saw him near the dumping yard. His bag was filled with plastic bottles, polythene and other waste materials. I called out to him and chatted with him for a few minutes. We talked about his work. I was amazed by the details that he shared with me. He explained how he collected waste- different collection methods for different waste, how he segregated and sold them.
The next day, I saw a child in my neighbourhood. At first glance, he looked like Chhotu. After all, both of them had bags with them. But that is where the similarity ended. His bag had books and he went to school. The same school which was close to the dumping ground where Chhotu went with his bag. For Chhotu, the dumping ground was his world. For the kid from the neighbourhood, the school opened a whole new world for him. Every day brought a new prospect for both of them. Just that their prospects were disparate.
Every day I come across some of you. Some I can interact with, some I cannot. The question remains - Why do you all do it? Why don’t you all go to school? Why don’t you play, ride a cycle, go for a picnic? Why don’t you do things that the kid in my neighbourhood does?
But do you know you are not the only one who does this kind of work? There are many more. According to government statistics, over 8.2 million children between 5 to 14 years of age are engaged in different labour activities across the country. Even though education is now a right, 6 million children are still out of school. The government schools are failing to attract children and retain them. Nearly, 92% of government elementary schools do not comply with all the norms of the Right to Education Act. The government has introduced a new Act to ban child labour but that is not foolproof either.
But not all statistics are bad. They say anaemia has reduced, number of children engaged in labour activities (like all of you) has come down, immunisation has increased, fewer children are dropping out, so on and so forth. Do you understand these figures? Do these figures make any difference to you when you pick the garbage, wash the plates, or beg at the railway stations and bus stops? Do these figures matter to you?
You don’t need to say it but I know you - none of you - enjoy the work you are doing now. You want to take a bath, wear clean clothes, fill your bag with books, go to school, read, write and explore. You want to ride a bicycle, walk with a balloon in your hand, fly kites, go for a picnic, enjoy good food, and sleep peacefully. You want to do all of those things that the kid in my neighbourhood does – enjoy your childhood.
I am not sure when these dreams will come true and when the ‘good days’ will usher in for you. But I am sure change will come about and I am hopeful about that.
Until then,
With love and hope (and crossed fingers).
Written by Jitendra Rath, who leads Oxfam India's education programme in Odisha.
We focus on ensuring access to quality and affordable health and education for all
Read MoreMar 29, 2023 | Savvy
Mar 2, 2023 | Savvy
Jan 17, 2023 | Savvy
Mar 9, 2023 | Savvy
Dec 23, 2022 | Savvy
Dec 2, 2022 | Savvy
Nov 28, 2022 |
Nov 22, 2022 | Savvy
Nov 14, 2022 | Savvy
Oct 31, 2022 | mahika@oxfamindia.org
Oct 3, 2022 | Savvy
Sep 15, 2022 | Savvy
Aug 12, 2022 | Savvy
Aug 9, 2022 | Savvy
Jun 29, 2022 | Savvy
Jun 29, 2022 | Savvy
May 30, 2022 | Savvy
May 30, 2022 | Savvy
May 5, 2022 | Savvy
May 26, 2022 | Savvy
Mar 21, 2022 | Savvy
Feb 20, 2022 | Savvy
Feb 16, 2022 | Savvy
Jan 25, 2022 | Savvy
Jan 13, 2022 | Savvy
Jan 9, 2022 | Savvy
Dec 31, 2021 | Savvy
Jan 17, 2022 | Savvy
Dec 17, 2021 | admin
Dec 16, 2021 | Savvy
Dec 14, 2021 | Savvy
Feb 28, 2022 | Savvy
Oct 15, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 12, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 10, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 10, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 8, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 6, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 4, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 29, 2021 | Savvy
Oct 10, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 16, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 5, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 1, 2021 | Savvy
Sep 15, 2021 | Savvy
Aug 7, 2021 | Savvy
Jul 23, 2021 | Savvy
Jul 7, 2021 | Savvy
Jun 4, 2021 | Savvy
May 17, 2021 | Savvy
Jun 7, 2021 | Savvy
Apr 15, 2021 | Savvy
Apr 9, 2021 | Savvy
Apr 1, 2021 | Anisha
Mar 14, 2021 | Savvy
Mar 12, 2021 | Savvy
Mar 2, 2021 | Savvy
Feb 19, 2021 | Savvy
Feb 14, 2021 | Savvy
Jan 12, 2021 | Savvy
Jan 12, 2021 | Savvy
Dec 23, 2020 | Savvy
Dec 3, 2020 | Savvy
Jan 4, 2021 | radhika
Apr 1, 2021 | radhika
Dec 23, 2020 | radhika
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | Savvy
Aug 25, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | radhika
Aug 9, 2020 | Savvy
Aug 5, 2020 | Savvy
Aug 21, 2020 | radhika
Aug 4, 2020 | Savvy
Sep 30, 2020 | radhika
Sep 30, 2020 | radhika
Aug 1, 2020 | Savvy
Jul 17, 2020 | Savvy
Jul 15, 2020 | Savvy
Mar 5, 2021 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | radhika
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 |
Jun 30, 2020 | radhika
Jun 24, 2020 |
Jun 24, 2020 |
Jun 30, 2020 |
Jun 15, 2021 |
Jun 30, 2020 | Savvy
Jun 30, 2020 | radhika
Jul 29, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
Jul 29, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | Savvy
May 28, 2020 | Savvy
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 |
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 | Animesh Prakash
May 31, 2020 | radhika
May 31, 2020 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | Anisha
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Jun 3, 2020 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Oct 23, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Oct 9, 2019 | radhika
Oct 9, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Sep 25, 2019 | radhika
Nov 21, 2019 | radhika
Sep 19, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Feb 20, 2020 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | Anisha
Aug 19, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Aug 1, 2019 | radhika
Jul 31, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | radhika
Dec 5, 2019 | radhika
Jun 27, 2019 | radhika
Jun 19, 2019 | radhika
Dec 18, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Jun 19, 2019 | Anisha
Dec 18, 2019 | Anisha
May 27, 2019 | sanya
May 24, 2019 | Anisha
Jul 23, 2020 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
May 13, 2019 | ursila
Sep 30, 2019 | ursila
Sep 19, 2022 | ursila
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Feb 20, 2020 | ursila
Nov 11, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 | ursila
Jun 3, 2020 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
May 31, 2020 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Feb 20, 2020 | ursila
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 23, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 31, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Feb 20, 2020 | admin
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Sep 9, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Oct 7, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | admin
Sep 27, 2019 | admin
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 12, 2022 | admin
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 30, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Apr 5, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Nov 14, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 9, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Nov 21, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Sep 20, 2022 | Anisha
Nov 11, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 30, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 | ursila
Oct 30, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 1, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Sep 27, 2019 | ursila
Nov 18, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Sep 10, 2019 | ursila
Oct 7, 2019 | ursila
Nov 11, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | ursila
Nov 11, 2019 | ursila
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | Ravi
Oct 1, 2019 | Ravi
Sep 27, 2019 | Ravi
Oct 7, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | Anisha
Sep 10, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 7, 2019 | Ravi
Sep 27, 2019 | Ravi
Dec 5, 2019 | Anisha
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Jan 9, 2020 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 10, 2019 | Avantika
Nov 18, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 9, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 9, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 10, 2019 | Avantika
May 13, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | Avantika
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | Avantika
Nov 14, 2019 | Avantika
Sep 27, 2019 | Ravi
Oct 24, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
May 27, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 6, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 16, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Feb 20, 2020 | ursila
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 21, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 15, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 16, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 18, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | Avantika
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Jan 9, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Feb 20, 2020 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 16, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Apr 5, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 3, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Dec 5, 2019 |
Nov 18, 2019 |
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 9, 2019 |
Oct 7, 2019 |
Oct 24, 2019 |
Sep 27, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Nov 15, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Sep 10, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 7, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 1, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 30, 2019 | oxfamadmin
Oct 24, 2019 | oxfamadmin