Child labour free nation was the statement of central government and state government announced that Karnataka state will be child labour free by 2007, then said by, 2012 and now it is extended further and the statement is making child labour free state by 2017!. Paraspara Trust initiated its intervention to make child labour free community since 2005 at Malleswaram zone, Bengaluru city. The organization succeeded in making 10 slum communities as child labour free community. In 2010, organization declared four slum community, namely AK colony, Ambedkar nagar, Sunnadagoodu and Sidartha nagar communities as child labour free communities through public programs. Child labour free community process released 78 child labourers and rehabilitated them by main streaming. 80 children newly enrolled in to the formal school, 160 children got scholarship through construction workers welfare scheme. 1835 school going children got student scholarship under BBMP program. At the same time 196 construction workers received the Identity cards from Labour welfare board, 35 widows got old age pension and 15 differently able people got pension. To sustain child labour free community, the community based organization, women organization's, youth organization and children association are sensitized towards child labour issues and child rights. Child Rights Action Forum [CRAF] has taken the responsibility to monitor child labour free communities on regular basis.
CRAF is one of the initiatives of Paraspara Trust to involve public towards ensuring child rights at grass root level. Paraspara Trust promoted 10 Child Rights Action Forums in 10 wards of Malleswaram and Rajarajeswari zones of Bangalore city. CRAF has members from CBOs, women organizations, youth associations, NGOs, representatives from children's association and other eminent persons from the society. They are come together once in 2 months and discuss the issues of children, women and human rights issues and plan to ensure the rights through proper communication, representation to the related departments and individuals. At the same time they have their zonal committee which works on communication and advocacy for the marginalized people's entitlements. The zonal committee is representing the state networks like CACL, Right To Food Campaign, State Alliance For Education and other related networks at state level. At present CRAF is concentrating on quality education and food for children through ICDS scheme.
Paraspara Trust is one of the active partner in the process of bringing quality and equity in primary education through Common School System at state and national level. But Central Government brought Children's Act 2009, which has loopholes and not representing fundamental rights to education for all children. The act is violating CRC, which says up to 18 years are children, but act is framed to give education only for 6 to 14 years, which is already there in our Indian constitution since 1950! The Act has also not included 0 to 6 years children and 15 to 18 years children. The act has fully neglected disabled children and their inclusive education. The Act is indirectly supporting privatization of primary education by facilitating 25% reservation in private schools and government is going to pay the fees for few selected children. Therefore Paraspara trust continues its struggle by strengthening the networks towards bringing about Common School System.
One goal campaign was initiated and supported by ActionAid and other like minded organizations in Bangalore city with the goal of 'education for all'. Children's association's forum "Chethana" took a lead role and distributed 25000 handbills all over Bangalore city in the month of August to October 2010. Chethana forum organized a sensitization program for 500 children and as a result children organised a demonstration in front of the Gandhi statue to remove the discrimination among children in the Children's Act 2009. They demanded universalization of education with quality and equity with a memorandum to the Governor of Karnataka. The Chethana forum representatives participated in the national children policy discussion, which was held in Bangalore.
Corruption is increasing the gap between poor and rich in India. In 2010, we came across scams like 2G spectrum, common wealth games, illegal mining, Land grabbing in large scale devaluating our democracy. On the other side, MGNREGA and Public Distribution System are dysfunctional and/or corrupt at grass root level. The poor BPL, AAY card holders are not getting their entitlements. To address corruption in Public Distribution System, Paraspara trust initiated Model Fair Price Shop concept and promoted Public Distribution System Monitoring Committee and enrolling them into the vigilance committee to prevent corruption at grass root level and is promoting the group towards campaigning to address corruption at large. To promote this, Paraspara trust supported by PTF through Public Affair Center, Bangalore. In 2010, Paraspara Trust declared 3 Model fair price shops and worked with 30 fair price shops towards ensuring corruption free and model fair price shop process. The "Dhanya Hakku Vedhike" is a forum initiated to advocate and participate in the Right To Food Campaign at state level.
Punaschethana is a program to identify mentally ill persons in the community and rehabilitate them with their family support. Paraspara trust identified 325 mentally ill people in its project area and rehabilitated 105 people with counseling the families, medicine support and awareness created among the community on mental health. Mentally ill people are referred to the NIMHANS and other related hospitals for the rehabilitation and further treatment. Paraspara Trust with other organization's promoted a federation towards advocating their problems and get dignity in life with basic facilities. For this effort Basic Needs India is supporting Paraspara trust sine last five years.
