Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

Situation Analysis
Bukhari, Fouzia. et. al.. (1999).
The Situation of child workers among hanjis : a pilot study. Leh, Ladakh : Save the
Children Fund. 21 p.
Key Words : 1.CHILD LABOUR 2.JAMMU AND KASHMIR 3.CARPET INDUSTRY 4.BOATMEN
5.ARMED CONFLICT 6.HANJIS 7.TOURISM INDUSTRY 8.GIRL CHILD LABOUR 9.GIRL
CHILD EDUCATION 10.EDUCATION OF GIRL CHILD 11.TERRORIST VIOLENCE 12.CHILD
VICTIM.
Abstract : The study was conducted in Srinagar, Kashmir, near Dal Lake, to assess the
situation of child workers, and understand how these families are coping with their social
and economic problems. Interviews and field surveys were conducted in 50 pockets (21
Shia, 26 Sunni, 3 fishermen pockets) and 100 houseboats. 345 families were covered which
provided data about 1447 siblings/children. The study covered Houseboat Owners,
Vegetable Growers and Fishermen. Houseboat Owners comprising 100 respondents, 90
males and 10 females, were interviewed and of them 73 respondents were literate. These
100 respondents, provided information about 252 siblings, of whom 158 were males and 94
were females. Enrolment rate was 67% for boys and 61% for girls. About 90% children
dropped out from school during the peak period of militancy between 1989 to 1993 because
of economic hardships and the fear of going out. Prior to militancy, the average monthly
income of the houseboat owners was between Rs.20,000 – 30,000. For economic reasons,
young boys aged 12-18 years went outside the Valley to work as salesman or as touts.
Vegetable Growers belonged to two religious groups, namely Shia and Sunni. 102 Shia
respondents were taken, of whom 49 were adults and 53 were children below 21 years of
age. All adult respondents were married, with an average of 5 children. It was revealed
that 20% children were school-going and remaining 80% were child workers. From these
102 Shia participants, information was collected about 464 siblings. Of the 208 school
going age children, 55% were working. A total of 129 Sunni respondents were taken, which
comprised 52 adults and 77 children. Information was collected regarding 466 siblings. Of
the 175 school going age children, 52% were working. The three reasons given for not
sending the children to school were turmoil, poverty and inaccessibility of schools.
Fishermen community was the poorest of all the Hanjis. Out of 14 respondents interviewed,
8 were children and 6 were adults. From these respondents, information was collected
about 60 siblings. The level of education was very low. The monthly income of fishermen
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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009