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To eradicate child labourers from the bidi industries in four villages of Botolama block in Khurda District. Also, enable bidi workers (adults) to get minimum wages and to identify alternative sources of income for them. 

Botolama is a remote block in Khurda district which is situated 62 kms. away from Bhubaneswar. The inhabitants are primarily Scheduled Caste and other backward communities. Though agriculture is the main occupation of the people of the area, returns are non-remunerative because of small land holdings, lack of irrigation facilities and primitive practices. 

Therefore, a sizable number of families have to depend on other sources of income. Bidi rolling is the main activity besides agriculture which engages most of the families in the villages. Besides adults, this industry engages quite a number of children below 14 years. These children work 10-14 hours a day to supplement family incomes and are exposed to various health hazards. In the Botolama Block, there are 14 viillages where-in the situation is no different. 

These families gets orders through local middleman from various bidi companies. The earnings of elders ranges from Rs.20/- per day while the children earn 7 to 9 rupees per day though they produce the same volume wages i.e. Rs.27/- which is fixed by Govt. of Orissa. 

Though there is a primary school situated at the village, parents do not send their children to school. Therefore, literacy rates in the area is very low particularly female literacy. 
 

** Bhubaneswar 

To eradicate child labourers from the construction sites at Bhubaneswar. 

Bhubaneswar being the capital of Orissa has become the central place for not only business and commerce but also for head offices of Govt. of Orissa and non-government concerns. This has led to the rapid growth of population as well as the city. Massive constructions such as apartments, housing colonies, shopping and office complexes are growing in number day by day. This massive constructions attracts large number of labourers from poor rural masses which includes men, women and children. 

Very often it has been found that children are involved at the construction sites. Further, children in the age group of 0-5 years are found neglected at the work site while their parents are working. These children are deprived from health, education and other recreational facilities. 

Despite the best efforts and legal protections ensured by the government from time to time, the problem of child labour is alarming in the state and therefore the need for intervention. 

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** Sex : Male 

** Marital Status : Married 

** Educational Qualification : B.A. 
 

Mahendra parida has worked as State Co-ordinator for CACL, Orissa for six years. During his tenure he took initiatives to conduct the statewise study on child labour and cause behind it. Efforts were made to bring awareness among the parents of child labour and to sensitize the general mass on the said issue. Also, efforts made to raise questions in Orissa assembly on the various problems relating to child labour and reinforce the law. After a long fight, at last Orissa has become the first state of
India by declaring that "Child Labour is illegal and no child can be employed below the age of 14. 

Besides this, Mahendra has also floated district level forums/networking among the individuals and volage to combat the issue of child labour. Till date agitation, demonstration, writing in newspaper, advocacy campaign etc. have been remain as Ongoing activities for him. 

Couple of other achievements are as follows : "In the district of Angul the union of bidi workers has been formed, which enabled them for fight and declared by the labour ministry of Orissa". 

In another instance a child labour lost his life while working at a construction site at Bangalore in the state of Karnataka. Mahendra took the case in his hand on behalf of CACL and enabled the poor parents to get compensation. 

The work experience of Mahendra has direct relevance with the idea. The noticeable fact is that he is equally well known and well accepted by the places i.e. Bhubaneswar and operational villages in Botolama block. While describing his proposal he said "I preferred the shift from macro to micro as because I want to develop a "model" to address the issue". 

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• Short Term: 
  • To bring awareness among the parents on the educational aspect of the children especially girl child education and 100% enrollment in schools.
  • To enable the bidi rolling workers to form union/group and fight for the minimum wages. 
  • To conduct research/study to have a better understanding of the problems. 
  • To pursue the builders to provide educational, health and recreational facilities for the children at construction sites. 
  • To sensitize construction companies, trade union and labour contractors on the issue of child labour and motivate them to stop employing children. 
  • To develop capacity of local level organizations to address the issue of child labour. 

  
   Long Term: 

  • To sensitize the mass on the issue of child labour. 
  • To highlight the problems at state level and fight for child rights. 
  • To find out and implement various anti poverty schemes of government. 
  • To implement a model programme on eradication of child labour. 
  • To work towards eradication of child labour from the bidi industry.  

05. Strength, Oppurtunities and Threat:

     Mahendra has a very good contact with NGO's and Govt. Officials. 
     His endeavour specifically focus on child labour issue. 
     He has adequate knowledge on the issue. 
     He is sincere and committed to his work. 
 

Opportunities: 

     May be emerge as a resource person at National level. 
 

Threats: 

     Vested interested groups like builders, promoters and business may create problem for him. 

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06. Recommendation:

During the period Mahendra has been able to achieve a great success in making child labour free, five construction sites in Bhubaneswar. Also, he has developed the capacity of a community based organization to work with the child labours in Bidi Rolling in Botalama block. Most evidently he has selected as convenor of FACE - Forum Against Child Exhibition - a state level network. 
  

" Therefore support for the period from October, 1998 to September, 2000 

( Two Years ) may please be sanctioned to Mahendra. 

Monthly meetings were organized in each proposed areas with the parents of the children, employers and trade unions. In these meetings the topics were discussed mainly on enrollment of the children in the formal schools, withdrawing children from the work, provision of recreation facilities for the children at the construction sites, earmark of welfare funds for the children, minimum wages for the parents etc.

During the review period 200 children from bidi rolling sector and 80 children from construction sites were admitted in the nearby formal schools. Regular interface with the formal school teachers were undertaken jointly by Mahendra and the parents.

It was observed 03 children dropout from the schools owing the fact that, their parents shifted to their respective villages after the completion of construction work.

Mahendra with the help of a CRY partner organization namely CCWD were running 30 mobile classes in various construction sites of Bhubaneswar. A greater positive response was noticed from the parents and children towards these centers.

Around 150 children from these construction sites were covered under the immunization programme.

Because of continuos pressure from Mahendra and community the builders of Maitree Vihar and Mahanadi Coal Field have agreed to meet the cost of the study material for the children.

Mahendra?s intervention in the construction sites namely NALCO, Orissa Housing Board Colony, Jayadev Vihar, Samant Vihar construction site, LIC Housing colony have became child labour free.
 

• ADVOCACY/ LOBBYING

During the period Mahendra met Labour Commissioner, Labour Secretary, Labour Minister, secretary Urban Department and Secretary Urban Department with the objectives to include domestic child labour in the survey of child labour, to issue notice to all the construction sites to make it child labour free, to ensure minimum wages to the parents of child labourers, to setup girl child commission etc.

Because of the intervention of Mahendra and other CRY partner organizations following progress were made during the period ;

Two children from Bolangir and one child from Nowrangpur have been missing since last two years by the local level labour supply agent. This cases were taken into hand by labour commissioner and issued investigation notice after the pressure created from Mahendra and other CRY partners.

Secretary Women and Child Development and Secretary Labour department have agreed to undertake a study on the status of domestic child labour in the Bhubaneswar city.

One child sexual abuse case has taken up by police at Bhubaneswar after the pressure mounted from Mahendra and the community.

Question raised in the State Assembly to raise the minimum wages of bidi rolling workers, as a result it increased from Rs. 20/- to Rs.27/- for rolling thousand bidi.

Mahendra raid Bishnu-priya appartment along with the labour inspector and identified 20 child labourers. As per the Suprime court judgment a case was filled against him.
 

Convenor FACE

FACE - Forum Against Child Exploitation a net work floated in the state by CRY supported organizations and partner fellows to protect the rights of the children in the state. Also to combat all short of issues related to the children. Mahendra has been selected as convennor to this forum.
 

Capacity building of local organizations

Mahendra has transferred his primary responsibility to a local level organization in Botolama block to eradicate child labour in the bidi rolling sector. Apart from orientation on the issue of the child labour this organization has been able to establish good rapport with the local level administration and people with the help of Mahendra. Now unward this CBO - Community Based Organization will operate directly in the field and Mahendra will guide them time to time.
 

Other Achievements

Mahendra has participated in Community Health Training Programme, Eastern Region Fellowship meet, Event - Status of Girl Children after 50th year of Independence - were organized by CRY. Also, Mahendra has organized Global March Rally in protest of growing number of child labour in the state of Orissa, in the capacity of Eastern Region Coordinator for Global March.

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