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Looking at child labour through a positive lens
A still from the documentary "Rebuilding the Playground": In focus, Aatma Ram of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, studying for his engineering diploma.
ABOUT 10 years ago, for young Aatma Ram, childhood meant making carpets for a measly sum of about Rs. 200 a month. But now he has a dream. With an engineering diploma in his hand, he hopes to bring about many changes in his village. Intervention by a non-government organisation has not only changed the life of Aatma Ram but also of other children in his village who have a new role model.
Child labour may be a widespread malaise in our society, but attempting to examine the changing scenario is this 30-minute documentary titled "Rebuilding the Playground" that looks at the role of the government and initiatives of the people to eradicate the social evil. Capturing success stories, government campaigns and struggle at the grassroots levels, the film does not ignore the reality of the evil but looks at the situation through a positive lens. However, with practically no statistics, the film fails to give a holistic picture of the real situation.
"We are not trying to say that child labour does not exist in the county. It is a reality and we are not attempting to brush it under the carpet. But the Government has made a lot of efforts to sensitise society against child labour. There is a lot of initiative in the education sector with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and other programmes. There is a difference on the ground," insists the film-maker, Anu Radha.
Shot over a period of two months, the film examines the situation in several States -- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Starting with Kerala, with almost 100 per cent literacy and near eradication of child labour, the film travels through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh and the gem-cutting industry in Rajasthan, ending with a small village in Himachal Pradesh where community intervention rather than government assistance has kept a check on child labour.
A project of the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, the film will be dubbed in German, French and several other languages to reach out to the international audience, in particular the trading community. There are plans to screen the documentary on various channels as well.
"There is a lot of misconception about the extent of child labour in the country. Especially among the Western countries. But there is a lot of difference on the ground in recent years. And we need to portray that. For example, in the carpet manufacturing units in Uttar Pradesh, there is practically no child labour today," claims Anu Radha.
By Anjali Dhal Samanta
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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