Locally neglected,Globally unknown,We are dalits among dalits Arunthathiyer
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Life skill training for scavengers children
 Life
skill training for scavengers children on 12th and 13th
May 2012 at Sathyamangalam,Erode.dt,TN. |
Last 12th and 13th May 2012 .We conducted two days our children camp at Sathyamangalam hill area ,Kadmpur TRED training centre.11th night our children and volunteer reached to training centre .Totaly 62 ,children 43 volunteers and trainer 19 . They are 8th class to 10 class .This training more focus on girl children ,12th morning we started training with Dr.Amedkar awareness song and self introduction .
First session we started social analyzes ,
It is small number game .Each group they discussed ,personal level ,family level and society level ,What are the issues or discrimination facing .
Children given lot of answer.
Second level :
We given group game for discussion :
How we can stop the drop outs from the school .
Why our community doing child marriage
How we can stop ,what are the steps ?
Why traditionally our community doing scavenging?
How we can stop ,what are the steps ?
This session is wonderful experience with the children .
Then we taken class for life skill training
This training focus on how we can take decision in difficult circumstances
Like school drop out,child marriage and traditional scavenging .
Also we link alternative skill,problem solving skill and other skills.
This sessions we done roll play ,games,group discussion .
In this two days we teach awareness songs and Dr.Ambedkar and Periyar life stories .
We hope this 43 children will not become a scavenger in their life .
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Our studies
We done four study on Dalit(Arunthathiyar) childrens issues
1.Bonded children issue
2.School discrimination on Arunthathiyar children issue
3.Sumangali thittam issue on Arunthathiyar children
4.Manual scavening impact on arunthathiyar children
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Exploitation continues at garment hub
Exploitation continues at garment hub
In the garment export town of Tirupur, bonded and forced labour exists on an extensive scale; girl children younger than 14 continue to work and women workers still face physical and sexual abuse, says a sneak preview of a report to be released next month by international NGOs on exploited Dalit girls in the garment industry.
After publishing a report in May 2011 ‘Captured by cotton – exploited Dalit girls produce garments in India for European and US markets', the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) have conducted fresh field research, including interviews with nearly 200 women workers.
According to the preview released by SOMO and ICN, there have been some improvements in employment conditions at the four manufacturers. Wages have increased and so has the final amount the women workers receive at the end of contract under the ‘Sumangali' scheme, seen as an exploitative scheme tantamount to bonded labour. Majority of the workers for the scheme come from marginalised communities including lower caste and Dalit groups.
New research has shown some improvement in the food served in the canteens and in the workers' living quarters which now have fewer people per dorm. There has also been some improvement regarding the freedom of movement.
However, the preview says issues of concern remain. First, bonded and forced labour had not been abolished but was still reported on an extensive scale. Second, child labour had not been abolished despite the law and buyers' code of conduct. At the four investigated manufacturing units, girls younger than 16 were found working. And researchers found two cases of girls younger than 14 in the workforce.
Also, there have been no significant improvements in working hours. Cases of long working days of up to 24 hours have been reported. Women workers still face physical and sexual abuse and occupational, health and safety hazard continue to occur. None of the units researched had any effective and independent grievance mechanisms.
“All the women workers are forced to work,” says Sachithanandan, a researcher who has done a similar study on the life and work of about 200 women from Arunthathiyar community in Sumangali scheme in Tirupur. “They are verbally abused (82 per cent) and physically abused (19 per cent). None of them have any rest during working hours,” he says. The surveyed women were mostly former employees under the scheme as the companies restrict entry to outsiders. In fact, 98 per cent cited poverty as the main reason.
“The law requires 16 registers to be maintained. Most of the mills do not maintain register,” says A. Devaneyan, director, Thozhamai, an NGO. He was part of the team that inspected 14 mills in Tirupur during the previous government. “There is no complaint cell for women workers. They are treated like bonded labourers. Some mills have improved working and living conditions but the women, including girl children, live and work in pitiable conditions.”
Enforcement of labour laws and asking garment brands and retailers to commit to proper due diligence to manage their entire supply chain were recommended. This should include mapping suppliers beyond first or second tier levels, identifying risks, and detecting human rights violations along the supply chain.
According to an official of the Inspectorate of Factories, cases of textile units adopting the Sumangali scheme have reduced drastically and it is no more a rampant problem. “Some garment units do have hostel facilities for the workers but they do not have the Sumangali scheme,” the official said.
A. Sakthivel, president of Tirupur Exporters' Association, denied any case of forced labour in the garment exporting units in Tirupur. "The buyers' norms are strict and exporting units comply with these," he said.
A. Aloysius, founder of Social Awareness and Voluntary Education, a non-Governmental organisation in Tirupur, said there may be non-compliance problems in some textile mills located around Tirupur. The garment units did not have forced labour or the Sumangali scheme.
A Southern India Mills' Association official said the textile industry in Tamil Nadu employed nearly 50 lakh people. Almost all the units followed the norms, and if there was non-compliance in a few units, “we have always said that action should be taken against these units.”
(With inputs from M. Soundariya Preetha)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Manual scavenging programme photos and report
Greetings from READ!!!
We had the Erode dt level consulataion for manual scavening eradication at Erode on 26th Dec .
above 70 participants participated from different backround .
Some Key people :
Mr.Narayanan editor Paadam monthly magzine
Dr.Jeevanandam
Mr.Samuvel Safai karamachari andolen(SKA)
Ms.Palaniyammal Peoples watch
Mr.Balamurugan Advocate : AIYF
Mr.Marimuthu CITU
Mr.Annadurai Untouchability eradication front
Mr.Saminathan Advocate
Mr.Thangavel Vizhuthugal
Mr.Satchidanadam Reseacher
Mr.Gowthamsakthivel SDF
Ms.Pattamal Sakkiyar women federation
We had inagaral session
Three panel discussion on Act 1993
Manual scavening research presentation
Government schemes
and Manual scavening documentry film release
Final : Action plan for followup at Erode district level
Also we will give the programme photos:
http://www.facebook.com/media/
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Invaitation for consulataion on Eradication of Manual scavening
Dear Sir/Madam
Greetings from rights education and development centre(READ)
READ and Scavengers Dignity Forum(SDF) jointly organizes a consultation for eradication of Manual scavenging at Erode.dt level .We done a data collection manual scavenging at our Erode district level ,Also we will share this with you .Therefore Even in the computer era still existing this inhuman practice in our area .We like to end this and ensure the human rights with dignity .So, we invite you ,to join this Nobel cause .
Venue:
Sakthi Karaikudi complex
Royal theatre opposite road
Arasan eye hospital opp
Erode .
Date:26th Dec 2011
Time:10Am to 3Pm
Contact number: 9842090035,9865571125
Thanking you
With regards
R.Karuppusamy
Director