Protect 800 Children from Child Labour

CRY volunteers at Rajabazar noticed a boy of around 15 years with eager eyes but a wan body. The CRY volunteers take sessions to enable children, of the backwards pockets of Kolkata like Rajabazaar, Dhakuria, Ballygunj, Dhapa, Kalighat, Howrah etc., to avail their rights as well as interact with the kids. This boy is Sazid (name changed) who would sit in a corner with his brother and show great enthusiasm in the sessions. Very often, the boy used to complain about his deteriorating health. One can see red patches and blisters all over his palms and feet. When probed further, the volunteers found that the blisters were a result of working with hazardous chemicals in the soap factory where he used to work.

Sazid is a slum dweller of Rajabazar Kolkata, in his early teenage. He lives with his parents and a younger brother in a single roomed shelter, barely enough to accommodate all the members at the same time. His family members even have to take turns to sleep at night. Sazid’s father drives an auto while his mother works as a domestic help to run the family. The traumatic and grief-stricken living conditions had forced Sazid to work in a nearby soap factory in the day and prepare animal cages with the help of his brother at night to add up to their life savings somehow. They did not possess any Govt. ids which means that they could not avail basic amenities at subsidized rates. The economic condition of the family never allowed Sazid to get medical aid for his worsening health.

The urgency of the situation and immediate crisis of the case were brought up by CRY volunteers, who took initiative and made efforts to admit Sazid in Rajabazar Science College and R.G Kar University where he got free treatment. During the treatment, doctors unexpectedly found that Sazid’s IQ is less than average IQ level i.e. less than 90.

The volunteers, upon understanding the implications, counseled his parents. His parents, too realized the threats and immediately stopped sending him to work. Currently, they have sent Sazid to his relative’s place in Bangalore, where he can receive better medical attention. They are even contemplating on sending him to a special school, provided it’s under their financial capabilities.

At CRY the volunteers are trying to bridge the gap and find concrete solution to the atrocities faced by children like Sazid, so that they can get the best out of their childhood.