Stephen Ekka Director, PAJHRA Key Child rights Issues as experienced while working with Children and Women in the tea gardens of Northern bank of Assam Stephen Ekka Director, PAJHRA

Concerns relating to Children and Women Children : 0-18 years Mothers access to prenatal and postal Care The 3 month Maternity Leave Delivery facility at the Garden Hospital Pregnant women are not given different work during their pregnancy and continue to undertake the usual work , Low nutritional food, anemia Women continue to work till 8th, 9th month with the hope of spending more 3 month paid leave with their baby,

Concerns relating to Children and Women Salt tea provided during work hours instead of safe drinking water, leading to dehydration and hypertension. No toilets in the work place, no water and sanitation in long stretches of the tea plantations where the women have no place for sanitation, leading to major health hazards.

Living Working conditions The congested living in labour lines – 6 to 12 in one house Poor sanitation (lack of proper toilets and water supply) Safe drinking water is an issue Secluded living, less opportunity of interaction with the greater Assamese society (market and other institutions which give opportunity for interaction is inside)  Sprayers, subjected to health hazards due to lack of proper safety measures while spraying. Distance from residence to work place resulting in loss of time, affects particularly the women

Child rights violation Lack of proper crèche and child care, leading to older siblings looking after the younger one and thus loss of schooling, No government BIRTH CERTIFICATE, (affecting heir opportunity out side later) Girl Children allured/tricked with the promise of good pay and taken to metros neighbouring states as DOMESTIC HELP but ARE SOLD TO DIFFENERENT AGENTS LEADING TO TRAFFICKING AND FLESH TRADE. Lack of education and opportunity for skill building facilities leading to EARLY MARRIAGE

Child rights violation Lack of proper education in the school; due to high pupil teacher ratio Schools are over crowed Teachers often working also in the office or are engaged elsewhere, besides school No upper primary in the garden so the GIRL CHILDREN PARTICULARLY unable to travel to upper primary many kilometers away from the residence. (no regular communication facility from tea garden lines to schools outside) LACK OF MOTHER TONGUE BASED EDUCATION in schools, children face difficulty in understanding leading to low confidence, fear and drop out. High Drop out after primary, higher at upper primary and thereafter

Living Working conditions The congested living in labour lines – 6 to 12 in one house Poor sanitation (lack of proper toilets and water supply) Safe drinking water is an issue Secluded living, less opportunity of interaction with the greater Assamese society (market and other institutions which give opportunity for interaction is inside)  Sprayers, subjected to health hazards due to lack of proper safety measures while spraying. Distance from residence to work place resulting in loss of time, affects particularly the women

Development opportunities Poor implementation of the flagship programs in the tea plantations. Possibilities of MGNREGA, Coverage of NFS NHM Opportunity for saving, or investment nil due to lack of BANKING FACILITY with their reach. The Insurance facilities and other GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES out of their reach. Access to tea plantations for the civil society

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