Children go to mines, not schools, in Keonjhar

BHUBANESWAR: Instead of going to school, children in the mining heartland of Keonjhar are working in the mines, employed in hazardous jobs. Their state of nourishment is pathetic, while health and social security are non-existent. In Salarapentha village, only four ST boys and one ST girl are enrolled in the primary school. Most children work as daily labourers while at least 45 of them are employed in mines.   The anganwadi presents a picture of neglect with just a handful turning up although 59 children are enrolled. There is more to the plight of children as brought out by a study by Samata which is now before the National Council for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as a petition. Meanwhile, the Orissa Government has asked the district administration to inquire and submit a report on the alleged violation of child rights in the mining areas of the district soon. The study alleges that children are employed in hazardous jobs. In Bolani village, with a population of 1,562, there are about 650 children below 18 years of age but enrolment in schools is way behind. In Tanto, there are 78 children enrolled in schools but they are all daily wagers. In Tanto, Badakalimati and Kasia, the locals say, primary schools do not function regularly which is why children head for the mines for labour work. Even the teachers admit to the fact. Same for Thakurani, Dobuna and Khasia villages. The nourishment status of the children gives a bleak picture. Of the 59 children enrolled at the anganwadi in Salarpentha, 30 are severely malnourished. In Janardanpur, 31 children face grade I malnourishment. Since large-scale land has been taken away for mining, legal and illegal both, people have become landless and lost resources from forests. This has affected food security to a great extent leading to malnourishment and child labour. The heavy mining and transportation has resulted in air and water pollution which affect the children the most, the study said and urged the NCPCR to inquire. Basing on the NCPCR direction, the Women and Child Development Department has asked the district administration to look into the matter and submit an action taken report soon.