| > | | | | activities were introduced during those days. After |
| | | | this first phese, preparation for IVth Stds. Was |
| An experience of people’s Institute of | | | | started. Each subject was given 35 to 40 hours |
| Rural Development for eradication of child labour. | | | | for preparation and accordingly the syllabus was |
| People’s Institute of Rural Development | | | | administered. Each camp was having three |
| has implemented two major programmes till to | | | | teachers. Teachers role was to teach the children |
| date. One is Education Programme for Child | | | | as well as to function as their parents. It was |
| Labour and second is campaign against child | | | | resulted in developing emotional relationship |
| Labour. But, we were of the scope and intensity | | | | between children and teachers which was visible |
| of the problem and also the inadequate efforts of | | | | on the valedictory function. |
| Government and voluntary organisation to | | | | The camp was for child Labour. The course was |
| mitigate the problem. In the mean time we could | | | | designed to suit to the learning capacities of them. |
| visit M.V. Foundation Hyadarabad(A.P.) and could | | | | Therefore, each period was of 45 minits. And |
| see their programme of "Bridge Course Camp" | | | | only two periods were taken continuously which |
| which highly motivated us. To implement this | | | | followed by a break of 30 minits. To 2 Hours. To |
| concept T.D.H. agreed to make necessary financial | | | | provide them healthy entertainment and to |
| arrangements. In the month of April it was | | | | improve their general knowledge, facilities for |
| decided that five voluntary organisations will | | | | indoor and outdoor games like foot ball, cricket, |
| organise 60 days Bridge Course Camps for Child | | | | handbal and T.V.set were made available to them. |
| Labour from Latur and Osmanabad districts | | | | For their learning purpose. States, pencils, books, |
| simultaneously. According all the organisation | | | | pens sketch pens, black boards, maps, charts and |
| initiated priliminary activities for implementation of | | | | other teaching aids were provided. |
| the course. | | | | On 7th july the camp was concluded. One day |
| People’s Institute of Rural Development | | | | before the conclusion games, cultural evening and |
| conducted a survey in 10 villages for enrolment of | | | | various competitions were organised for them. To |
| children in the age group 7-15 for the camp. It | | | | asess the performance of children and also to |
| was proposed that minimum 100 children should | | | | assess their learning’s examinations were |
| attend the camp. After assessing that 10% will be | | | | conducted. Papers were set class wise and |
| dropped out 126 children were enrolled for the | | | | subjectwise. 80% children were passed in grade |
| camp. After enrolment major problem was of | | | | IVth examination and result was 70% for grade |
| accommodation and availability of water. | | | | VIIth examination. In the literacy development |
| Mr.Shrama, District Collector, Latur has allowed us | | | | category 60% children could develop their reading, |
| to use the premises of Mahila Kendra. A Building in | | | | writing and mathematical skills. Followup action will |
| Narangwadi was also available for this purpose. | | | | be undetaken for enrolling these children schools. |
| But the problem was at one place water was not | | | | But this short term residential school for child |
| available and at the second place conductive | | | | labour, experiment revealed the following: |
| atmosphere for education was not available. | | | | 1. If such opportunities for education are provided |
| Therefore; a new alternative was to find out. We | | | | to deprived children then children’s |
| could get a suitable place, that is anand | | | | response will be positive. |
| margi’s Ashrams of Tawasigarh and | | | | 2. Two month duration for such camp is |
| Salegaon. But the condition was girls will not be | | | | inadequate. The reason is 15 to 20 days are |
| allowed to stay with boys. Because two separate | | | | required for setting them down in the |
| Ashrams are there for male and female. Hence, | | | | environment. Besides to prepare them for Std. |
| we were compelled to conduct a separate camp | | | | IVth or VIIth minimum four months are required. |
| for girl children. In this process, instead of starting | | | | 3. Education department should make special |
| a course on 1st May, we could start it on 7th | | | | provisions for incorporating these children in |
| May. | | | | regular schools care should be taken that these |
| Before the commencement of the camp | | | | provisions are implemented properly. |
| arrangements of enrolment of children, | | | | 4. For the needy Children free provision should be |
| accommodation, water, foodgrains. Teacher, | | | | made for lodging and boarding along with their |
| assistant and procurement of other required | | | | education. |
| material were made. Still it took 5 to 6 days for | | | | 5. For the successful conclusion of this camp |
| stabilisation and regularisation of the camp. In the | | | | coordination between parents, government, |
| beginning children were in less number. Some of | | | | teachers and social workers is essential. |
| them were went back due to homesickness. But | | | | Many people and extended their support and |
| slowly and gradually the no. of children was on the | | | | cooperation to people’s Institute of Rural |
| rise. Finally there were total 126 children in the | | | | Development in implementing this programme. Shri |
| camp. Out of which 44 were girl children. Analysis | | | | Lahu Bande, Mane, Salunke, Sulochana Kumbhar, |
| of the attendance of the children revealed that | | | | Sunita Cheuale, Jaimala Borsule and the teachers |
| out of 126 children enrolled 47 attended the camp | | | | involved in the implemation of this programme |
| for 5 to 15 days only. There were 44 girl children, | | | | worked with full dedication and commitment. |
| they were more interested in attending the camp. | | | | Besides them Sunil Khandalikar, Sanjay Ladke, |
| Out of 82 male children 47 attended the camp | | | | Shankar Kadam, Vivek Yadav, Shrirang Maske, |
| for 5 to 15 days only. Girls were on the fore | | | | Ashok Kulkarni, Amrit Bhoge, Patil, Afasana Shaik |
| frout for completing the full term of the course. | | | | and other social workers also endeavored and |
| Out of 44 girls 23 were present for 60 days | | | | contributed for the success of the camp. |
| while out of 82 boys only 12 were present for full | | | | Summary of Residential Bridge camp : - |
| term. | | | | Features |
| Children attended Bridge Camps | | | | - Camps for out of school children; support |
| TypesAttended CampEnrolled into school | | | | classes for all children |
| Boys8233 | | | | - Children from different villages brought together |
| Girls4423 | | | | at one location for camps |
| Total12656 | | | | - Duration of bridge camps: two months or more |
| Participant children were from landless labour and | | | | - Compressed curriculum covered in camps was |
| small farmers families. Analysis also reveled that | | | | based on formal school syllabus |
| out of total population 27% were from upper | | | | - Support given to all children throughout the year |
| caste. This was a maximum number. While only | | | | - Intention was to enroll all children into formal |
| 8% were from nomadic tribes. OBCs were 19%, | | | | schools |
| SCs were 22%, ST 13% and 11% were from | | | | Strengths |
| muslim community. But on the basis of this | | | | - Children were released from work and could |
| statistics drawing a conclusion of caste wise | | | | concentrate on learning during camps |
| incidence of child labour will be wrong. This | | | | - The habit of spending time on learning was |
| statistics only given the coastwise, Percentage of | | | | developed in children who had never done this |
| child Labour participate in the camp. Out of total | | | | before the camp |
| participants only few of them were literate | | | | - Substantial teaching was achieved in two |
| otherwise majority of them were illiterate. Some | | | | months and children were better prepared for |
| of them disclosed that they had attended the | | | | school |
| schools and wee studiad from 1st to VIIth stds. | | | | Concerns |
| But majority of them were not able to identify | | | | - Lower attendance of girls at camps |
| even the alphabets. | | | | - Difficult involve working children who were either |
| The objective of the camp was to bring the | | | | bonded or contributing substantially to family |
| children in the main streme of education. For this | | | | income |
| they wanted to be prepared to appear for IVth | | | | - Cost of camps was high we had expired Rs. |
| or VIIth Std. Examination according to their status | | | | 2,29,946/- During the Bridge course camp. Hence |
| and capacities. Therefore, they were classified as | | | | it is not continued in Further. |
| literate, samiliterate and illiterate catagories, and | | | | - Organisation of camps was complicated and |
| according to their category the curriculum was | | | | staff-intensive |
| designed. First 15 days were utilised for improving | | | | - Children had to be taken away from home into |
| their capacities and for their stabilisation in the | | | | unfamiliar environment for camps. |
| campus. Hence gamesm sports and entertainment | | | | |