Child-and-adult-labour-in-the-export-oriented-garment-and-gem-polishing-industry-of-India

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Child and adult labour in the gem polishing export industry of Jaipur
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6.6.1 Evaluations and criticism by involved actors and organizations
(i) Institute of Development Studies: evaluation in 1990 of the Government's Special
Schools in Jaipur, Ms. Kanchen Mathur
In December 1990, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), a research institute based in
Jaipur, conducted a study on the qualitative dimensions of child labour in the gem polishing industry
in Jaipur and on the effectiveness of the Special Schools. That study had been conducted
under the CLASP 167 project and the results had been submitted to the Government of Rajasthan.
Ms. Kanchen Mathur, the coordinator of the research in 1990, was interviewed in March 1996 in
Jaipur during this study.
At the time of the study (in 1990), the special schools had already been operating for two years in
Jaipur with the main objective to wean the children from the industry. This meant that the coverage
vis-a-vis the magnitude of the problem as also the impact on the lives of the children and the
match between the objectives and the design of the intervention could be assessed. The twenty
Special Schools together reached 1,000 child labourers (50 children per school), which was 6.7%
of the estimated total labour force of 15,000. A summary of the results found by the IDS 168 ,
which concern the effects of interventions supposed to be made by the Special Schools, were
mentioned in IDS's report as follows:
1. Approximately 20% of the children attending the special schools were still found at work
in the gem polishing industry.
2. Another estimated 20% of the children in the special school consisted of children who
were not involved in the gem polishing industry.
3. The aimed health care interventions such as medical check-ups, investigations etc. besides
the supply of wholesome meals, in order to improve the physical status had not made any difference
compared with children outside the schools. A similar health status was enjoyed by children
in and outside the school.
4. The implementation of non-formal education happened to be rather formal using basic
skills in literacy and numeracy of a standard comparable with those in other government schools.
5. Skill-training in gem polishing which should have been introduced in the third school
year, had still not begun and no indications were found that the training would start in the near
future. Training in other crafts like candle making, card box making etc. was not apparent during
the school visits.
6. Space for entertainment, regular outings, in- and outdoor activities for the children was
absent from the school curricula.
7. The aim of providing economic support for the families of the working children had not
been attained. The loans which were supposed to be given to the parents in need had not come
through yet, after almost three years of functioning of the schools. The support in the form of the
stipend happened to be reduced by Rs 2.50 per day in case the child is absent. The stipend, therefore,
happened only to be an incentive for attending the school regularly.
167 The Child Labour Action and Support Programme (CLASP) formulated by the Government of India in consultation with the ILO in
order to strengthen projects that have been undertaken to implement the National Child Labour Policy of 1987.
168 Kanchen Mathur, 1991. Child Labour in Gem Polishing Industry of Jaipur. Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, Rajasthan.