Bangalore: Little girls running behind the trucks laden with vegetables, armed with a knife or a pair of scissors in one hand and a gunny bag in the other is a common sight at the Yeshwanthpur Regulated Market.

Driven by poverty and threatened by their parents, these girls tear open the sacks and filch vegetables from the trucks. They also pick up onions and potatoes on the road. These vegetables are later sold in the market. Most of these children are driven to despair — they cannot return home without any "collection".

Besides the fear of being punished by their parents, these girls face the risk of abuse by truck drivers and cleaners if they are caught filching vegetables.

More than 10,000 trucks pass through Bangalore every day. These children, who run behind the trucks, run the risk of being run over.

According to a survey of World Vision India, in the four slums of Gautamnagar, Gajendranagar, Peenya 1st stage and the RMC area, 73 per cent of the girls are out of school. Of these, a few are working while around 10 per cent of them are married.

Some of the children working there say that often, sacks roll off the trucks when they are backing up and children can get hurt.

"Some of these girls have to be there at 4 a.m. and are under the risk of being abused.

"Moreover, child marriages are an issue of concern in these slums as many minor girls are married. If they are not working outside, they have to stay at home and look after their younger siblings or do domestic chores. They are not sent to school by their parents," said Pricilla Barnabas, Project Manager, Bangalore Girl Children Project at World Vision.

A ray of hope

However, there is some hope for these girls. World Vision has started two bridge schools — at the RMC Union office and in a school at Peenya 1st Stage where 70 children are enrolled. Children are given books and other material.

"To promote sustainable livelihood and to help the families of these girls, World Vision has started four self-help groups for mothers. In 2005, 15 of these children were admitted to regular schools. Our staff members work with the parents and the community in these areas to motivate them to send their children to school. The idea is to help the community," said Jayanth Vincent, director, media relations of World Vision India.

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