“To enhance child education, child labour should stop.” We began working with children with this premises but could stay with it for a very little time. I think it got challenged on the very first day of Agrasar’s journey in child education.

On a regular community mobilization drive for our employability program, when we saw a group of children playing marbles and smoking bidis, we casually asked them

“बच्चों आज स्कूल नहीं गए?”

“नहीं हम स्कूल नहीं जाते” children yelled.

“क्यों”

“थोड़ा काम में मदद कर देते हैं. खाने के लिए शाम को मंदिर के सामने बैठ जाते हैं.”

Upon discussing further with their parents living in a nearby jhuggi cluster, few insights emerged. The government school was very far for these young children. Also, they ask for documents that people who have migrated from different states don’t have, and private schools charge fees they can’t afford.

“अगर हम आपकी बस्ती में ही स्कूल खोलें और फीस भी ज़्यादा नहीं लें तो क्या आप बच्चों को स्कूल भेजोगे?” – we asked

“जी ज़रूर!” - People exclaimed. In chorus.

“So, let’s begin from tomorrow.” – I told the team.

And, we started “Agrasar Bachpan” ( a non-formal learning centre) the next morning with a limited understanding of child education and without many resources. We went prepared for 10 children, based on our expectation that around 50% of children whom we spoke to would turn up. We were so wrong, and pleasantly surprised to see more than 80 children the very first day! How amazing was that!

At least four or five of them didn’t go to work that day. Even the mother, who is seen in the picture, stayed back to experience the first day of her child going to "school". 

It was 2015. The journey continued and evolved. We now have much more resources, a comprehensive curriculum, and trained teachers. We meet countless children who were either working or were on the verge of getting into some labour work and/or substance abuse, had a “school” not been there. A school that cares for them. Teachers that teach them. Not scold them. Not ridicule them. Not abuse them. Just teach them with compassion. A school that provides them space to have fun. Learn with joy!

One of the major aspects of our work is developing affinity among children. Affinity with learning. And, with that thought, we set up libraries, and our experience of children taking ownership of learning continued. Got strengthened.

We see parents who now do not go back to their villages for a random wedding, or just because they have earned enough for the coming months. They stay back. They stay back for only one reason. Ensuring continuity in the education of their children. And, these experiences are certainly not unique to Agrasar. These thoughts always echo when I discuss with other practitioners all across India. I am sure a lot of the readers would have had similar experiences.

Aren’t these experiences sufficient to believe – “To stop child labour, efforts towards education must be enhanced, rather than only trying to solve the problem through curbs and punishments."? Where is the incentive? An incentive for children to not go to work. 

And, if we do need research to “prove” the hypothesis, this is the time.