State Level Consultation – Puducherry

In the State Level Consultation at Puducherry, A short documentary film “Falling through the cracks – Children and Mining” was screened and followed by a detailed session on the plight of children in mining areas by the Chairperson of mm&P. A Participatory approach was followed in sensitizing the people on the violation of child rights in the context of Children in mining areas. There were discussions on the overview of mining throughout the country, various stages of mining, illegal sand mining in the state of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Samata Judgement, prospects of Tribal Cooperatives and the need for lobbying at National Level regarding Child Rights as they are being violated. There was a session on the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act and Child Labour in connection with mining. There were discussions on the situation of children in mining areas as it has three aspects to it. Firstly, children (Child Labour) engaged in the hazardous industry. Secondly, those children who are not working in the mines but are living there and thirdly parents of the children who work in the mines. In all these aspects, the rights of the child get undermined.