Kolkata : With most of the seasonal migrant labourers in West Bengal coming from Jharkhand, a child rights organisation on Thursday called for the two state governments to ensure that their children are not deprived of education.
“In fact, almost all the brick kilns here employ workers from the neighbouring state. While the children are not directly employed in the kilns, the workers are forced to bring their children when they migrate here, depriving them an opportunity to go to schools,” said Chittapriyo Sadhu of Save the Children.
“Again these workers move back to Jharkhand as soon as the crop season arrives. This seasonal migration has resulted in a large number of children being deprived of school education.
“Through appropriate forums, we have been raising this issue with both the Jharkhand and West Bengal governments suggesting ways to tackle the issue,” said Sadhu.
Sadhu along with famed actress Rituparna Sengupta and West Bengal deputy labour commissioner Manisha Bhattacharya were speaking at an event to raise awareness about issues related to child labour and building public opinion in favour of ensuring basic rights to all children.
Sadhu said both the state governments have been discussing the issue.
“We have suggested several models for the rehabilitation of these children including setting up boarding schools in Jharkhand or Bengal or may be services of a mobile school be employed.
“Discussions have taken place between representatives of the two governments. They have assured us they will come out with steps to implement our suggestions soon,” the NGO official added.