19 October, 2006
Dear friends,
On 18th and
19th November, 2006, Bhima Sangha, a union of working
children in Karnataka with a membership of around 13,000 working for
the realisation of their rights, is organising a Working Children's
Conference to strengthen their movement and to remind the government
of its obligations and commitments to them. Around 500 working
children will gather in Cubbon Park to discuss their problems, search
for solutions and present their recommendations to the State
Government.
The Concerned for Working
Children (CWC) is supporting Bhima Sangha in this effort. CWC is a 25
year old private, developmental agency that is working towards
empowering children and their communities to find solutions to their
problems and participate in decision making at all levels of
governance. CWC reaches around 60,000 children and 20,000 adults in 5
districts of Karnataka. In Bangalore, CWC works in 22 slums with the
urban poor and migrants.
A National Government
that is donating agricultural land for luxury shopping malls to be
built and aiming to become the world's next superpower is yet unable
to provide basic nutrition to nearly half
of its approximately 400 million child population.
A State Government that boasts of a world famous Information
Technology city and multi lane flyovers has hordes of children
joining the workforce every month. Short sighted policies,
lackadaisical implementation and a lethargic attitude have left many
children abused, neglected and without any financial or emotional
support in times of crises.
In the midst of the
current buzz surrounding the amendment to the Child Labour Act,
issues related to the long term basic survival and development needs
of working children are seldom addressed by raid happy governments
and NGOs. This Conference is an opportunity for you to support
advocacy efforts by working children themselves in trying to change
their lives for the better.
We request your support
in making this venture possible. Any donations by way of food, money,
assistance in garnering publicity and media coverage for it are most
welcome and will be greatly appreciated.
With Regards,
| President |
Co-ordinator |
| Bhima Sangha |
CWC |
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