Call to abolish bonded labour among children

http://expressbuzz.com/topic/call-to-abolish-bonded-labour-among-children/202646.html
Call to abolish bonded labour among children


Express News Service

First Published : 31 Aug 2010 03:18:32 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Aug 2010 09:02:09 AM IST
CHENNAI: The State-level consultation on the status of Arunthathiyar children in Tamil Nadu-India has unanimously recommended the immediate abolition of children forced into bonded labour, to protect their future.
In a meet organised by Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF)-TN here on Monday, more than 100 representatives including 50 intellectuals from different parts of the state unanimously resolved to send 21 recommendations to the state government to protect the human rights of children from the community.
Coordinator of AHRF R Karuppusamy told Express, “A special plan has to be evolved by the state government for abolition of child bonded labour among the Arunthathiyar community across the state.”
Besides suggesting a claim policy for release of bonded labourers from the community, Karuppusamy demanded that a special education package be worked out for the children to prevent them from bonded labour due to family compulsions or caste.
In its 21 recommendations, the consultation meet strongly pitched for the abolition of scavenging by Arunthathiyar children. “The children should not be made to do any scavenging activity in any school or institution. Necessary order has to be passed by the government and any school or institution in which any person is found violating this norm should be punished and penal action taken against them,” Karuppusamy said.
We will be meeting Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin in mid-September to hand over these recommendations, he added.

Arunthathiyar students discriminated: Study

http://expressbuzz.com/topic/arunthathiyar-students-discriminated-study/202647.html

G Saravanan
Express News Service
First Published : 31 Aug 2010 03:19:33 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Aug 2010 08:59:52 AM IST
CHENNAI: In a startling revelation, a 13-month field study conducted by the Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF)-TN has revealed that children from the Arunthathiyar community are the most discriminated against in schools.
A study on ‘Exploring the discrimination and caste-based violence aimed at Arunthathiyar children in schools’ conducted by AHRF and released on Monday has vindicated the community’s claim of being discriminated against at every level. The study had begun in February 2009 and was completed in March this year.
Coordinator of AHRFR R Karuppusamy said,“with the help of volunteers from different areas, we conducted the study at 24 villages selected from five districts--Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Tuticorin--and recorded testimonials of 666 Arunthathiyar students in the age group of 11-14 studying in government schools.”
The focus of the study was to probe into the prevalence of discriminatory practices including caste-based discrimination and exclusion experienced by Arunthathiyar children in schools.
The study has confirmed that Arunthathiyar children are being discriminated against most and forced to do scavenging activities in their schools.
Out of the 666 interviewed, 606 were engaged or forced to clean bathrooms in their schools, noted Karuppusamy.
These ‘activities’ include cleaning the toilets, school premises, vessels used for noon-meals and teacups used by teachers.
The study also found that about 262 of them were being abused and discriminated against on the basis of their caste names while 148 were engaged to do the household chores of their teachers and 228 were being sexually harassed in schools.
The study also suggested various remedial methods to alleviate the problem and to bring back confidence among Arunthathiyar children.
It suggests establishing of a district-level legal advisory forum consisting of Arunthathiyars to bring to the notice of the government issues relating to violence against Arunthathiyar children, child labour or discrimination and caste-based violence.

Tamilnadu state level consualataion on Status of (Dalit) Arunthathiyar children

Dear Sir/Madam

Greetings from Arunthathiyar human rights forum (AHRF)

One day consultation on “Status of Arunthatiyar children in Tamil Nadu” at ICSA, Chennai on August 30, 2010

Tamil Nadu is also one of the states which has a high population of the Arunthatiyar community. Arunthathiyars are considered to be the lowest in the dalit hierarchy, the ‘Dalit among Dalits’ - the ‘untouchables’. It is one of the most oppressed, depressed and the poorest among the poor in the Indian Society. In Tamil Nadu, Arunthatiyars are densely concentrated in the western districts namely Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur, Karur, Namakkal, Salem and Dharmapuri districts and loosely spread over in the other parts of the state. There are about 60,00,000 Arunthathiyars in Tamil Nadu. Their children are most exploited and abused and face discrimination at the hands of the upper caste community and lag behind or outside the sphere of quality education, health, development and participation. The United National Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) core principles of promoting survival, development, protection and participation of children still remain a distant reality for the Arunthatiyar children. The children face rampant discrimination and social exclusionary practices like the two tumbler system, forced to clean toilets in schools, calling them by derogatory names and treating them as untouchables takes these children deeper in the web of exploitation and marginalisation. The look of these children indicates that they are impoverished, malnourished and anaemic.

Within this context, Arunthatiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF) has established itself as a state level human rights forum since 2005. It comprises of young Arunthatiyar activists working in 14 community based organisations across 12 districts in western Tamil Nadu. AHRF is working specifically towards creating awareness on discrimination and atrocities against Arunthatiyars; eradication of manual scavenging primarily associated with Arunthatiyars; fighting against the scourge of untouchability. The forum’s strategy has been to mobilise and empower the Arunthatiyar community through the following: document and report caste based atrocities faced by Arunthatiyars to National and State level Human rights Institutions; access to quality primary and higher education for Arunthatiyar children; forming thrift and credit societies towards sustainable economic stability and strengthening Arunthatiyar men and women’s political participation. It conducts periodic trainings and leads on research initiatives to gain a deeper understanding of the status of Arunthatiyar women and children in Tamil Nadu.

Vision:

— To build and strengthen a State level Advocacy and Networking Forum to demand rights and entitlements for the Arunthatiyar community

— Undertake advocacy and lobbying particularly at State, National and International level to address violence, discrimination and exploitation of the Arunthatiyar community

— Assert the social, cultural and political identity of the Arunthatiyar community to ensure non-violation of their fundamental rights

In 2008, four research studies were commissioned by EveryChild[1] through AHRF in order to understand the status of Arundhatiyar children in western Tamil Nadu on the following priority issues:

I. A study to understand the working conditions and context of Arunthatiyar bonded child labourers in Sathyamangalam Block, Erode district-Tamil Nadu

II. A study to understand the occupational impact on the children of manual scavengers from the Arunthatiyar community in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram and Salem Districts-Tamil Nadu

III. A Study to understand the situation of Arunthatiyar girls employed under the Sumangali Thittam Scheme in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Tirupur, and Viruthunagar Districts-Tamil Nadu

IV. A study exploring the discrimination and caste based violence aimed at Arunthatiyar children in schools in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram, Shivagangai and Tuticorin districts-Tamil Nadu.

In order to share the key findings and recommendations of the four studies and to pave the way forward, AHRF and EveryChild India invites you to attend the one day consultation on the Status of Arunthatiyar children in Tamil Nadu on August 30, 2010 at ICSA (Inter Church Service Association), Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The main objective of the consultation is to launch the four studies, participate in specific sessions on the four issues and suggest recommendations for specific advocacy and campaign on the four issues; strengthen AHRF’s initiatives to demand social justice for the Arunthatiyar community. Please find the concept note for the consultation attached with this invitation.

We request you to confirm your participation at the earliest-before 20^th August, 2010

Contact Mr.Ganesh : 9865045020

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Thanks and regards,

R. Karppusamy

Convenar , AHRF

Till existing manual scavening

This photo taken by Coimbatore corporation ,We want eradicate caste based inhuman work ,We have to ensure the Arunthathiyar human rights.This photo taken by Imaigal Govindraj and Narayanasamy .

What happen 1993 manual scavenging eradication Act ? ???????????

Tamilnadu state level consulataion meeting inviataion on Arunthathiyar children issue

Greetings from Arunthathiyer human rights forum (AHRF)

AHRF is state level collective with small Arunthathiyar headed CBOS for collective action .AHRF done four study on
I. A study to understand the working conditions and context of Arunthatiyar bonded child labourers in Sathyamangalam Block, Erode district-Tamil Nadu
...II. A study to understand the occupational impact on the children of manual scavengers from the Arunthatiyar community in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram and Salem Districts-Tamil Nadu
III. A Study to understand the situation of Arunthatiyar girls employed under the Sumangali Thittam Scheme in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Tirupur, and Viruthunagar Districts-Tamil Nadu
IV. A study exploring the discrimination and caste based violence aimed at Arunthatiyar children in schools in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram, Shivagangai and Tuticorin districts-Tamil Nadu
Based on this study we are going to conduct the state level consultation on Status of Arunthatiyar children in Tamil Nadu at Chennai Egmore ,on 30th August ,ICSA centre .
Therefore we will invite to you for this consultation.

Contact number : 9842090035
Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy
Convenar
AHRF

(Dalit) Arunthathiyar cultural night -Photo link

Dear Sir

Greetings from Arunthathiyar human rights forum (AHRF) !!!

Thank you for your support and solidarity

AHRF is state level collective with small Arunthathiyar headed CBOS for collective action .

Recently AHRF conducted 3rd state level cultural night at Tamilnadu ,Ramweshwaram ,

Our Arunthathiyar movement leaders,Dalit leaders, left leaders ,Cultural teams ,specially Arunthathiyar traditional teams,
They participated .It is a historical event for Arunthathiyar community .Through Art form we mobilise the our Arunthathiyar community ,We demand our rights .

I am given below the cultural night some of photos

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23352&id=100000292101514&saved

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy
Convenor

Arunthathiyar cultural night Rameshwaram