What is the fate of Child Labor?

Dear Friends,

It is very saddening to hear from a senior official from the government, during my recent meeting with him, that he and his team were very effective in enforcing the Child Labor Act but failed in taking next step in helping that child. He said, instead of pulling them out of houses on the name of Child Labor Act and leaving them on roads, better they work for somebody and earn their daily bread, shelter and some money. This is something like "Operation successful but patient died". What an irony!

Somehow i was not comfortable after hearing such an experience from one of the most authoritative man in state government. It started bothering me even hours after i left his office. I shared this experience and piece of information to all the people i met after my meeting with him till next morning. I couldn't sleep for hours. I didn't know what to do? Only one question was going aruond in my mind - How to respond or react to such situation. However, i started my day as usual, next day. Sometime after lunch hour, i started working out a plan and thought of going back to the same senior official. But then i couldn't dare to call or meet him. So i shared this plan with my well-wisher who actually took me to the officer couple of days ago. She was excited with the idea but then that exciting moment didn't last for too long.

She told me that you may start well with all good intentions but you may not timely support from government for various reasons or you may be busy with your other engagements or localites may intervene in your plan and spoil the whole show.

This again set me thinking in different direction. How about involving Private companies, individuals and initiate the project at a large and mass scale say one centre in every district. Thats how my project was born - "Vidyadan for every khandan". This means education for every individual in the house. Thats how you can empower every human being.

The idea was to

1. work on child labor project. SMILE’s role in the project commences after the government enforces the child labor law and sends the children to SMILE Campus
   
2. SMILE is working on establishing its own campus in association with public and private involvement. First campus will be in the vicinity of Twin Cities. In 36 months, one campus in each district. The campus will be a self sustained campus with all facilities like Accommodation, Canteen, Education centre, healthcare centre, vocational training centre and recreational centre.
   
3. partner with Government, Private organizations, Corporates, Individuals and foreign agencies for funding to ensure the project takes well.
   
4. provide food, accommodation, rehabilitation, education, healthcare and vocational training to at least 100,000 underprivileged & normal students in 5 yrs.

The Child Labor project is only an idea for now. There is a Hercules task ahead of us in making it a reality. Even in the absence of support from concerned officials or government department in regard to Child Labor initiative, initially SMILE shall initiate similar project and later seek support from concerned officials.

Till date, SMILE Trust was helping very few, handful of needy children with practically no financial support. Now, it has taken the giant step of making it public and share its experience with as many people as possible across the globe to join hands for a cause.

Lets join hands in making this dream a reality

Jai Hind

Shyam S Mantha
Founder Trustee
August 15, 2008