Social Responsibility - Child labour in Mica Mining in Bihar and Jharkhand.

David Hircock (Estee Lauder Companies, Kailash Satyarthi (SCF) in mica mine Bihar

Children going to work to Collect mica.

In early 2005, Kailash Satyarthi, founder and then Chairperson of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) was approached by Aveda Corp. and Estee Lauder Companies to conduct research in the supply chian of mica. When this reserach was completed, it proved the presence of child labour in mica mining and mica collection. This led to a further project to investigate the extent of the problem and find solutions to eradicate child labour from the supply chain. SCF was by then formed as a partner of BBA to work specifically in the mica mining region and on trafficking of childen for forced labour.

“When David Hircock spoke to me about finding solutions for child labour in the supply chain of mica, I was truly impressed; here was someone working with a major company – that really wanted to understand social responsibility and make a change. It is a pleasure to work with Aveda and Estee Lauder, we are working in partnership to find true solutions for all the people of India.” - Kailash Satyarthi

This work is now in its third year. To begin with, they have facilitated the formation of nine “Child Friendly Villages” (Bal Mitra Gram or BMG) on a piot basis. A BMG is one where no child is engaged in child labour, all children are enrolled in school, they form a children's assembly (Bal Panchayat) which gains recognition from the elected village council (Gram Panchayat). In these nine BMGs in Jharkhand, there are 8 schools currently functioning, 5 of which were approved due to the efforts of SCF; it also includes a recently approved High School. Besides ensuring access to education for all children, health needs and other developmental needs are also taken care of. In addition, women are accorded equal representation and rights. One of the major challenges of access to clean water was dealt with, through repairing and setting out of altogether 80 working wells and handpumps from the able assistance of Aveda Corp. under this project.

The most important change is perhaps the confidence among children when they seek “We have a right to Love, Play and Education”. Through this work, that right has become a reality in these villages.

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