IISc is, by nature, dynamic. The institute, over the last century, has
evolved continually, trying to keep up with the needs of the country. As
it evolves, its landscape changes too. Buildings come and buildings go,
the old making way for the new. For this cause, toil many migrant
workers, hidden within the tall Aluminium sheets covering the four
flanks of their work site, playing their role in the growth of the
institute. Not far from their work places, their children play away
under the afternoon sun. And therein lies the stark irony. Living within
an institute that is revered as a temple of knowledge, these children
may never see the inside of a classroom.
A large part of the workforce employed by the contractors to work for
the construction projects in the Institute, are migrant labourers
hailing from other states. They go where their work takes them, often
with their families staying with them near the sites. When asked till
when their stay in the institute will last, the most common reply from
the labourers was “When the work here ends”. Sadly their children suffer
the brunt of this. Many can never attend the same school for an entire
academic year as their parents rarely stay that long in one place. Some
wish their children to have a permanent roof over their head, instead of
a nomadic existence. “I will send my children to stay with their
grandparents back in our village, soon”, said Shabaana*, a labourer,
busy wetting the newly laid concrete at a construction site near the new
Aerospace Department. Those who stay with their parents near the work
site, however, are left to the care of others in the temporary tin
roofed settlement as both the parents have to work at the site to make
ends meet. Ramesh, a project manager with the Ramky Group who is
in-charge of the construction at that site, said, “Indeed! We would love
to send these children to pre-school. That way, we don’t have to worry
about their safety because a construction site is an unsafe place for
little children to loiter around”. He remembers there being a Balawadi
centre within the campus a few years ago. And he is right.
A Balawadi centre is a pre-school specifically aimed for children in the
age group of three to five years belonging to the underprivileged
section of our society. The aim of such initiatives is to ensure
universalisation of pre-schooling. It is believed that this will improve
the rate of enrolment in primary education. Not too long ago (late
2007) the students and the Administration had been instrumental in
setting up a Balawadi centre in the Institute for the children of the
construction workers working in the Institute then. Sadly, as the
construction projects got over and the workers left, the centre was
closed down. According to some workers Voices spoke to, the place near
the Water Recycling Plant where a new canteen is coming up is the place
where this Balawadi centre once stood.
Back at the construction site, the site in-charge seemed oblivious to the presence of the little ones in the settlement right next to the site. When prodded further he admitted their presence, “Yes, there are children, but they are all small, some three or four years old. No one is older than six”. He said, “We are ready to even sponsor their school uniforms and books, but the parents are not interested in sending their kids to school. They stay for no longer than six to eight months.” He has been in the institute for 7 years. When asked about the old Balawadi centre, he admitted he didn’t know there was one. “If they open it again, I’ll encourage my labourers to send their children there. I’ll also arrange a vehicle to take them to school and bring them back.” He mentioned the tens of thousands of rupees they donate to a school nearby, the management of which approaches them for donations, on a yearly basis. One might wonder, if true, how the management could miss seeing the children that play on the path that leads to their generous donor’s office.
The people behind the Note Book Drive initiative too, were at one point, keen on making sure these children get primary education. When asked about their view, they said, “We started ‘Reach and Teach’ 3-4 years back; aimed at the children of construction workers but we had lot of difficulties in taking the initiative forward. The main difficulty we always faced was the shorter time duration for which they were present in the institute. The labourers mostly used to change. Also, once Prof. Prabal Maiti (from the Physics Department) started discussion with the administration to have a permanent crèche for those kids in IISc , but the administration never really responded ”. Even after repeated attempts, the Voices Team could not get any response from the administration in this matter .
“It would delight us all if these children could go to school”, said Babu, a bachelor new to the settlement. “Would you like to go to school?” he asked little Ismail. He nodded a quick “No!”. And everyone around laughed.
One of the elders near him smiled and said “No, my boy, be a good kid and go to school.” Indeed, who, among those who live in India’s premier research institute, would know better the value of educating the young, than the ones who were denied it in their youth.
*All names have been changed to protect identities
Excerpts from the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules, 1971:
with Arjun Shetty (ECE) & Ranjith Warrier (AERO)
Back at the construction site, the site in-charge seemed oblivious to the presence of the little ones in the settlement right next to the site. When prodded further he admitted their presence, “Yes, there are children, but they are all small, some three or four years old. No one is older than six”. He said, “We are ready to even sponsor their school uniforms and books, but the parents are not interested in sending their kids to school. They stay for no longer than six to eight months.” He has been in the institute for 7 years. When asked about the old Balawadi centre, he admitted he didn’t know there was one. “If they open it again, I’ll encourage my labourers to send their children there. I’ll also arrange a vehicle to take them to school and bring them back.” He mentioned the tens of thousands of rupees they donate to a school nearby, the management of which approaches them for donations, on a yearly basis. One might wonder, if true, how the management could miss seeing the children that play on the path that leads to their generous donor’s office.
The people behind the Note Book Drive initiative too, were at one point, keen on making sure these children get primary education. When asked about their view, they said, “We started ‘Reach and Teach’ 3-4 years back; aimed at the children of construction workers but we had lot of difficulties in taking the initiative forward. The main difficulty we always faced was the shorter time duration for which they were present in the institute. The labourers mostly used to change. Also, once Prof. Prabal Maiti (from the Physics Department) started discussion with the administration to have a permanent crèche for those kids in IISc , but the administration never really responded ”. Even after repeated attempts, the Voices Team could not get any response from the administration in this matter .
“It would delight us all if these children could go to school”, said Babu, a bachelor new to the settlement. “Would you like to go to school?” he asked little Ismail. He nodded a quick “No!”. And everyone around laughed.
One of the elders near him smiled and said “No, my boy, be a good kid and go to school.” Indeed, who, among those who live in India’s premier research institute, would know better the value of educating the young, than the ones who were denied it in their youth.
*All names have been changed to protect identities
Excerpts from the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules, 1971:
“A Creche should be located within 50 metres of every establishment where 20 or more women are ordinarily employed as contract labour. While the Creche should be conveniently accessible to the mothers of the children accommodated therein, it should not be situated in close proximity to establishment where obnoxious fumes, dust or odours are given off or in which excessively noisy processes are carried on… Accommodation in the Creche should be on a scale of at least 20 sq. ft. of floor area per child. There should be a shady open air play-ground suitably fenced for older children…The Creche should have first-aid equipment kept in proper condition. Every child should be medically examined before admission. There should be medical check-up of the children once a month and their weight recorded once a month. A record of the periodical medical check-up should be entered in the record of medical examination of each child kept at the Creche…”
Sources: http://labour.nic.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/ActsandRules/Service_and_Employment/TheContractLabour1970.pdf
http://www.lawsindia.com/Industrial%20Law/c_036a.htm
with Arjun Shetty (ECE) & Ranjith Warrier (AERO)
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