Children - Terre des Hommes

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The DP Camp is far away from the village and hence the
children do not have access to the primary school in the
village and therefore, some of the younger children attend the
company school within the resettlement colony. However, this
is temporary in nature and there is no certainty that it would
continue. Many of the children above 12 years do not attend
school and either remain at home or take part in the labour
activities of mining or construction work. Most of the youth
are working as manual labourers in mining and construction
activities, or in tea stalls, hotels and other petty shops in the
area. Table 2.27 gives information of status on children in
villages visited in Kasipur.
Child Labour
It was observed that hardly 50–100 children of each village
regularly attend school. For example, in the villages of
Ramibeda, Kendukhunti, the school is in Dimundi village.
Even if a school officially exists, there is no infrastructure
and there are no teachers who attend regularly. On the other
hand, the people stated that there is increase in child drop
out rate in almost every village every year. Villagers stated that
at least 10 per cent of children in each village drop out every
year for different reasons but mainly due to the poor financial
situation of the family. Most of the children in the area were
found to be working in different construction sites, mining,
small hotels and in the markets where they earn a daily wage
to supplement their family’s subsistence.
According to the interview with the ANM of Tikiri who is in
charge of 11 villages and supervises four anganwadi workers,
the total population of her area is 4,479 and around 700–800
children are in the age group of 0–5 years. Although she does
not maintain a detailed register, according to her estimates,
only 20–30 per cent are literate. The basic health problems
of the children in the area are malnutrition, malaria and
diarrhoea. She has noticed an increase in the number of TB
cases in the villages. A random count by her in Koral village
showed that there are about 10 absolute malnutrition cases
among the children but she commented that there were many
more anaemic and malnourished children.
This year the institutional deliveries were 70 out of 120
deliveries and the IMR is 51 per 1,000 live births, which is
highest in the district. In the previous year there were at least
4–5 identified cases of HIV/AIDS in the area.
Child labour in Kasipur Area
(Photo June 2009)
The anganwadi worker in Tikri stated that the number of child
labour is rapidly increasing in the area. At present, around 30
per cent of the children in the age group of 10–15 years are
directly or indirectly involved in the mining activities. In the
nearest town of the mining project, it can be estimated that at
least 500 children are working in the hotels, shops, garages,
railway station and tea stalls. 275 From each of the villages
affected by the UAIL project, there are an average of 50–60
children and adolescents under 18 years of age, working in
the construction site of mining under local contractors. At
present (just before closure of the mining activities) there
were 400–500 children and youth of both sexes working in
the mine site as daily labour.
In Kucheipadar village, there is only one primary school and
one Panchayat school. Roughly, it was estimated that around
300–400 276 children are working as child labour in mining
and non-mining related activities. As per the statements of
the villagers, these groups of children, especially adolescent
boys, are involved in anti-social activities like alcoholism,
stealing, gambling, petty theft and consumerism due to the
new influences.
Basic Amenities and Health
Status of Children
In Kasipur it was found that the area is desperately lacking
in basic amenities like anganwadi centres, primary schools,
drinking water, electricity and medical facilities. Southern
275. Interview with the ANM of Tikiri
276. Meeting with Bhagaban Majhi