Tens of thousands of nomadic Gujjar children in Jammu and Kashmir are subject to child labour, which is otherwise prohibited under law, says a survey released here on Saturday on the eve of World Day against Child Labour.
“Extreme poverty, rough and tough living, early marriage system and nomadic way of life is casting dark shadows over the future of lakhs of nomadic Gujjar children residing in the most backward, hilly and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said, adding the hostile conditions compel them for child labour.
The study, conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), which works on Indian tribes with special focus on Gujjars, also claims that the life of nomadic Gujjar children is worst than ten other tribal groups children residing in the state. The study says the children belonging to nomadic section of Gujjar tribe “are put to physical labour at a very early age and about 37 per cent children work without any wages. They were being provided only sub-standard food and clothing.”
Dr Javaid Rahi, national secretary of the foundation, said that out of every thousand Gujjars and Bakerwal tribes moving in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts, a total of 74 per cent Gujjar children in the 7-15 age group are engaged in physical labour. “They are being exploited because of limited sources of family income, lack of human resources in tribal life as nomadic children are not in a position to get proper education, health and care facilities in early age,” he said, quoting the study. It also says that the worst condition was of the children belonging to Ajjhari Gujjar (shepherd) and Manjhii Gujjar (buffalo keeper) as 83 per cent of them have not seen the doors of the school and only 17 per cent are getting education in religious institutes. The study further says that among the high-ups in the tribe, a sizeable percentage is working as or equivalent to a domestic servant in their own family, dera or community.