June 23 | 2021|
THE FRANCHISE
AT A
GLANCE
COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in
cases of child labor: UN report
Namrata Vijay&Nandini Pandit
A report released by the Inter-
national Labour Organization
(ILO) on the eve of World
Day Against Child Labor on
June 12 with the collabora-
tion of UNICEF, thousands of
children around the world are
being forced to work due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and
has also led to the rise in cas-
es of child labor. This is quite
shocking as the whole world
has made progress in the past
two decades.
However, In India child la-
bor has been categorized into
three sectors: Agriculture;
Domestic workers; industri-
al sectors with an average of
71%, 17%, 12%, respectively
“My Story Trust”, saves lives of children...
Megha Sharma
Sana Srivastav, a 23 years old
journalist and the founder of
“My Story Trust”, an NGO
which helped 1000 families
by providing rations, sanitary
napkins for women, free ed-
ucation to children and went
beyond her limits with her
team of 50 members to help
vulnerable section of the so-
ciety. She was recently inter-
viewed in which she revealed
the challenges she and her
NGO has faced during the
pandemic.
Sana and her team undertook
a lot of initiatives during the
lockdown. When she was
asked about the same, she
mentioned, “The lockdown
was hard for all of us. Our main
focus was to help the poorest
of people, who were not just
suffering from this pandemic
but other diseases as well. We
started a “Sewa Campaign”,
in which we helped children
by providing them food and
education. We also distrib-
uted food to orphanages in
Department of Engish Journalism, IIMC
Orphaned children in cov-
id; Page 02
A boy cleaning a shoe: Facebook
as a result, it has harmed the
health education, and social
security of children.
Expressing grave concern,
“the children working in India
Sana Srivastava, C.E.O of ‘My Story Trust’: Instagram
Hyderabad. We also provided
Sanitary napkins to poor girls,
who could not afford these for
free. We also held some train-
ing sessions.”
On being asked about the
challenges she and her NGO
faced during the second wave
of COVID-19, she said, “Dur-
ing the second wave, we saw
many poor people dying as
they didn’t have enough mon-
ey to afford the treatment. We
used to get phone calls every
day. So, we decided to donate
COVID-19 PPE kits and also
opened an OPD Centre for
Bombay Begum censored;
Page 03
in toy factories but they were
beaten up if they tried to play
with those toys in the factory,”
said Kailash Satyarthi,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
free, which provided them
with all the facilities.”
On being asked about how
she and her team arranged
funds for initiatives and the
schemes her NGO initiat-
ed, she said, “We don’t get
enough donations. We trust
our work and all the donations
come from our friends. Some
companies have also helped
us with donations. We have
laid out a proper plan as to
how much we want to invest.
The most important thing is
to maintain transparency in
funds.”
VOL -VII | ISSUSE - 06
Child labor rise in two decades;
A rundown of third wave’s
impact on children
Navdha Ahuja
In a press conference on June
18, NITI Aayog member, Dr
VK Paul addressed the issue
of reopening schools in the
country, stating that multiple
factors will be considered be-
fore reopening schools. Reo-
pening of schools with a loom-
ing third wave still remains to
be a contested issue. Schools
in most of the country have
remained closed due to the
pandemic since March 2020.
Schools have been using the
online mode ever since, which
Dr. VK Paul , NITI Aayog member: WikiMedia Commons
has also brought the issue dig-
ital divide to the forefront.
In this union health ministry
briefing Dr. Paul said, “This
is a question that keeps com-
ing up. But we should also
remember that in many coun-
tries schools reopened then
outbreaks were reported and
they had to shut them down
again. We don’t want to put
our children and teachers in
that situation unless we have
more confidence that the pan-
demic won’t harm us. He stat-
ed that the decision of reopen-
ing schools needs to be taken
cautiously since it is a crowd
which can give opportunities
to the virus to infect. He add-
ed, “We should take that risk
only when we are rather better
protected, virus is suppressed
Page 04
and we are able to sit at a dis-
tance. But it is not easy to take
this decision to open schools
when an unpredictable situa-
tion is prevalent.”
He also highlighted the need
of the hour, that is inoculation
of teachers, and the awaited
guidelines for children from
2-17 years. Further, he spoke
about the imperativeness of
a change in social behaviour-
al habits- adequate distanc-
ing norms amongst others,
of adults and children alike,
bringing it to the foreground
in the current context.
With the new report based on
a serosurvey conducted by the
All India Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS), New Del-
hi, there is speculation about
the earlier assumption of the
dire effect of the third wave
on children in particular. An
advisory by the Indian Acade-
my of Paediatrics (IAP) stated
that although children do re-
main susceptible to the virus,
it is highly unlikely that the
third wave will predominantly
or exclusively affect children.
He further elaborated and
said, “While the perception
of threat to children may have
reduced, the government will
not let its guard down.” The
government is prepared for a
surge in paediatric COVID-19
cases as the virus is mutating.
COVID-19 & RIGHTS 02
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

WBCPCR chairperson files a petition in

Highcourt against EC Children suffer most due to poor medical facilities
NAMRATA VIJAY MEGHA SHARMA

Ananya Chakraborty, who is “We have requested the EC to COVID-19 impacted the Lack of basic facilities like
the chairperson of west postpone the elections as the whole world, and people of all proper medication,
Bengal Commission for pandemic was still raging in
age groups were affected by infrastructure, treatment, and
Protection of Child Rights the country and could also
this deadly virus. The system are the main reasons
(WBCPCR) filed public possibly become a super
spreader event. But they healthcare facility of our children are battling for their
interest litigation in the
rejected the request. The EC country was not well prepared
Calcutta High Court and has lives. “The doctors are only
asked the Election should make arrangements to treat everyone, and children
focusing on COVID-19 for
Commission to pay for the and give these children some are suffering from the effects Source: Instagram
the past 2 years, and the
children who had been forced kind of interim relief so that of this virus the most, as our
system is still not well patients suffering from other The India Today reported the
to live like orphans due to the they can be compensated.”
comorbidities are ignored by Economic Survey 2021 as
deadly second wave of the According to a report of the prepared to provide proper
state health department, there them. That's the reason I lost saying, “A large proportion of
COVID-19 pandemic. treatment to children and
were less than 4,000 active deaths in India manifesting
Ananya has blamed the EC in infants. According to various my child", said Mr. Naveen
COVID-19 cases in Bengal, a due to poor quality of
the petition as the elections economic surveys and WHO Sain, father of a 4 years old
few days before the first phase healthcare is likely to reflect
were held in eight phases, data, India's IMR (Infant girl (who lost her life).
of the polls began. The cases that the quality of treatment in
which continued for more Mortality Rate) in 2019 was COVID-19 impacted the
than a month and also held reached 1.1 lakhs after the the private sector may not be
28.80 deaths per thousand, whole world, and people of all significantly better than that
large rallies with huge crowds elections ended on April 29.
and in 2020 was 29.07 deaths age groups were affected by in the public sector.” The
in the whole state, and the 16,000 cases were reported
per thousand live births. India this deadly virus. The above data clearly shows the
COVID-19 protocols were every day. th
ranked 112 in the 2020 ratio of deaths among
also broken. Ananya healthcare facility of our
Healthcare index. children is increasing every
Chakraborty was interviewed country was not well prepared
recently as to why she filed The India Today reported the year and poor management of
to treat everyone, and children
the petition, where she said, Economic Survey 2021 as infrastructure is the real
saying, “A large proportion of are suffering from the effects
"The whole pandemic reason behind it. Lack of basic
deaths in India manifesting of this virus the most, as our facilities like proper
situation was under control in
the state as restrictions were due to poor quality of system is still not well medication, infrastructure,
being put in place-such as not healthcare is likely to reflect prepared to provide proper treatment, and system are the
celebrating the festivals. But that the quality of treatment in treatment to children and main reasons children are
during the time of elections, the private sector may not be infants. According to various battling for their lives. "The
the EC had put the lives of Ananya Chakraborty, WBCPCR Chairperson significantly better than that economic surveys and WHO doctors are only focusing on
many people in danger. The Source: Linkedin
in the public sector.” COVID-19 for the past 2
data, India's IMR (Infant
whole second wave showed According to the data of the years, and the patients
The above data clearly shows Mortality Rate) in 2019 was
the healthcare system of the health department, a total of 9 suffering from other
the ratio of deaths among 28.80 deaths per thousand,
country collapsing and led to a children had died from comorbidities are ignored by
children is increasing every
hospital bed and oxygen COVID-19, between and in 2020 was 29.07 deaths them. That's the reason I lost
February and May of this year year and poor management of
crisis. This also led to the per thousand live births. India my child", said Mr. Naveen
lockdown being imposed and about 21,655 got infected infrastructure is the real th
ranked 112 in the 2020 Sain, father of a 4 years old
again in the state.” She further during this time. reason behind it.
Healthcare index. girl (who lost her life).
mentioned,
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

“Are online classes safe?”, asks Kerala Stop Illegal Adoption Of Children Orphaned By
State Commission COVID-19: Supreme Court
KUHU SHARMA NAVDHA AHUJA

Following a jarring event including school authorities, In the Suo moto case initiated inviting interested persons to provisions of the 2015 Act.
where obscenity was parents, and students. "Since by the court, with a bench adopt them. The court further urged
streamed in the middle of an there is no financial gain in comprising Justices No adoption of affected entities like District Child
online school session in this incident, the probability is L.Nageswara Rao and children should be permitted Protection Officers (DCPOs),
Kerala, the Kerala State that a friend of a student Aniruddha Bose to deal with contrary to the provisions of health officials, Panchayati
Commission for Protection of streamed the obscene content. the problems of children the Juvenile Justice Act, raj institutions, police
Child Rights has demanded a The possibility of the link affected by COVID-19, an 2015.” The court highlighted authorities, and NGOs to step
detailed report from the getting leaked does exist, but 18-page order was published the paucity of awareness in and help track affected
Kerala Police. This report will it is more likely that the link on June 8, 2020. It explicitly about the rights of children children.
highlight cybersecurity issues was obtained by the culprit ordered the state to step in and under the Juvenile Justice Act,
that are pervading the space of through the student,” revealed
online education. The reason stave off private entities from which was a primary
police sources. Though the divulging the identities of perpetrator of illegal
the session was disrupted was infiltration was an unforeseen
due to leakage of credentials COVID-19 affected children, adoptions. Advocate
mishap, it brings a series of usually on social media and Shubhankar Sehgal said,
that allowed the culprit to get lapses in the school's
access to the session. inviting people to adopt “Social media posts are
management to light.
Elaborating on the nature of them.It highlighted the playing a negative role whilst
Nandakishore Harikumar, a
the report, Manoj Kumar K.V, importance of the Central circulating posts about
commission chairperson, cybersecurity expert, believes
that the lack of basic Adoption Resource Authority children for adoption. It is
said, “All issues related to (CARA), a statutory body illegal and violates the
cybersecurity, including cybersecurity awareness is at
the crux of this issue. “It is under the Women and Child Juvenile Justice Act. This has
students' addiction to online Development Ministry in also led to an increase in cases
gaming, will be touched up.” possible that the link is getting
shared by parents who ethical adoptions, given the of child trafficking.We as
After the report is approved,
unknowingly share it with pre-existing trauma of aware members of the society
the commission aims to
discuss how to curb these others or have compromised personal loss, these children have a responsibility to
existing dangers. After this email accounts. Students have suffered. The order said, protect children who
incident, the Kerala police might be sharing it with their “TheStateGovernments/ areorphaned, abandoned or
have emphasized the friends as a prank. It is Union Territories are directed whose families have lost their
importance of safeguarding difficult to trace the infiltrator to prevent any NGO from earning members.” The court
the links of online sessions in if they had adopted a fake collecting funds in the names directed the Centre, States,
an advisory issued for name to join the session” he of the affected children by and the Union Territories to
stakeholders, said. disclosing their identity and impart awareness about the Source: Facebook
 DIGITAL 03
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

“Bombay Begums '' censored: Does a drug scene

necessarily encourage use of drugs?
Online classes and how student’s face digital divide
Mariya Tudu
Nandini Pandit
Over The Top (OTT) “So portraying and glorifying
platforms such as Netflix and children like that is not
Amazon prime are in the news supported! Then why do they
lately because of their content support adults doing that in
that portrays the reality of movies/films? Isn't it children
s o c i e t y. H o w e v e r, t h i s
platform doesn't put who are more influenced by
restrictions on any age to adults?” Sunny Samuel
watch their series and has Mittra, another Twitter user,
received flak by NCPCR to tweeted, "The web series is
set a certain restriction for not for children it's written it's
children who step in underage for 18+ and contains sex,
to watch content on these substance, and hard language.
OTT platforms. The National Now it's up to the viewers if
Commission for Protection of such content is for them or
Child Rights (NCPCR) has not, stop this Policing in
always been there to put
freedom of expression."
restrictions on freedom of
e x p r e s s i o n . R e c e n t l y, However, the portrayal of
NCPCR asked Netflix to take content is not promoting any Kids studying without any on/offline education support Credit : Mariya Tudu
down “Bombay Begums.” A use of drugs ,the scene has
recent Netflix show “Bombay been overwhelmed by its
Begum”depicts the story of viewers and has raised the Patna: India is facing the connectivity and resources is he said, “We study on our own
five women striving for demand for censorship on the second wave of the pandemic making students' lives from b u t m o s t l y w e p l a y. ”
livelihood and managing OTT platform in recent past and going through a second different social backgrounds Students sure are missing
upheavals. NCPCR filed a years. Grueling with time, the year of lockdown. Apart from difficult and is affecting their
complaint against Netflix to education in villages but also,
nature of content production online shopping, even education. Parents are failing
stop streaming this show and its streaming on OTT they don't have any kind of
because the content student's education has gone at fulfilling the demand for
platforms has changed. If a academic guidance so most of
portraying a minor girl is online but online learning has online education. Students are
inhaling the drugs and taught minor is shown snorting the students don't know what
how to become an adult, cocaine that doesn't mean it is created a digital divide in the lagging because they have not
to do. They are either passing
ispolluting young minds. This influencing young ones to do country. Not everyone can attended a single class for one
has divided twitter into so. Excluding content from time by playing or doing
afford the resources needed and a half years.
two.Here are some reactions : web series is not the solution household chores. Savita, a
for online education. Some Manish Kisku, a class 4
Aravind Rajasekar tweeted, to eliminate filth from society. class 12 student said, “Even if we
parts of India barely have student said, " I haven't
electricity let alone a good get to attend online classes, we
attended classes from the first
internet connection, many are four siblings including me
lockdown, and our school
students from villages don't and we don't even have one
does not provide online smartphone. There are other
even have smartphones or
classes because most of my problems too like internet
laptops. There are families
which have one smartphone classmates do not have a connectivity is very poor here. I
but there is more than one smartphone." On being asked and many like me are lagging
child in those families. Lack what they do if they are not behind in studies because of
Source : Pixabay of internet or poor internet attending any classes, lockdown.”
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

WBCPCR launches app to help lodge Child rights CTRFI developing Probiotic foods for Children
violation complaints Mariya Tudu
Kuhu Sharma
Unlike the second wave, the Developing vaccines for
The West Bengal government wants to stay children may take time.
Commission for Protection vigilant and prepared for the Companies which are
of Child Rights (WBCPCR) third wave of COVID. Many developing a vaccine for
launched an app to make virologists claimed that the children are either in the
third wave will affect children second and third stage or
lodging complaints of child more and for the future the some companies like Pfizer
rights violations. The app Center Food Technological Inc and BioNTech are on trial
was launched on June 10 in Research Institute (CFTRI), a for children aged above 12
the account of State Child constituent laboratory under years. The Indian government
Protection Day, will also the aegis of Council of is preparing for the third wave
Ananya Chakraborty, WBCPCR Chairperson
allow complainants to Source: Linkedin
Scientific and Industrial of COVID-19. Since the third
Source: Instagram

Research (CSIR) are wave may affect children the

track its status. “The app is press conference that the
developing probiotic foods
an extremely handy missing children, and for children. most. The CFTRI is working processing method of
mechanism to complain sexual assault. “It's a good on probiotic foods for probiotic food will increase
move given they inform children to boost their
even from a remote area, at absorption of micronutrients
immunity. CFTRI is a
odd hours, and by those people about it adequately from fruit, vegetable and
constituent laboratory under
unwilling to reveal their for them to use it," said plants will help in developing
CSIR which researches food
identity. It also brings Sushmita Bose, a science and technology. wholesome food that
transparency in our humanities student at The institute is developing increases immunity in
response to the Jadavpur University. The probiotics so that many children. Even in the first
complaints," said WBPCR app is currently available diseases in children can be wave of COVID-19 CFTRI
for all Android devices and prevented. The probiotic
Chairperson Ananya distributed food among
can be downloaded from foods Which are being
Chakraborti. The WBPCR frontline workers and
the Google Playstore. Most processed will be enriched
receives around an average with vitamin A, C, D, and E COVID-19 patients like
people are unaware of the
of 800-900 complaints genesis of the app. Not just along with micronutrients so banana cereal bar, mango
annually. These pertain to this, the Commission should children's immunity can fight energy bar, spirulina chikki,
cases of child marriage, also look into raising bacteria and infectious spiced water with bio-actives,
domestic violence, awareness regarding child diseases. Director of CFTRI, and antioxidant ingredients
trafficking, care and Sri Devi Annapoorna said in a
rights more actively. Source: Pinterest
 REPORT 04
Rising cases of Child mariage in ILO collaborated with UNICEF
recent years: WDCW report Continued fron page- 1

Namrata & Nandini

Manish Awana
According to the Wom-
en Development and
Child Welfare (WDCW)
report, crime against
women such as domes-
tic violence increased
as a result of the lock-
down. Many experts
have pointed towards
the fact that the pandem-
ic-induced lockdown
has rolled back to years
when the cases of child
marriage were rampant
across the country.
According to Childline
staff, in recent years,
the number of child
marriages in Telangana
increased by 27%. Be-
tween April 2020 and
March 2021, 1,355 inci-
dences of child marriage
were avoided in Telan-
gana. There have been
56 incidents of child
marriage in Hyderabad
since the outbreak. This
is a 19% increase from
March 2019 to March
2020.
On being asked about
the number of child mar-
riage cases being filed in
Haryana, Kala Ramach-
andran, Haryana ADGP,
Source: Instagram
mentioned, Haryana
police have received a
total of 104 complaints
involving child marriag-
es so far in 2020. “For-
ty-nine of the 104 com-
plaints have been filed
with the police. Cases
were not filed in the
remaining cases since
neither of the girls was
found to be above 18
years”, he mentioned.
When the lockdown
was announced which
resulted in school clo-
sure, no midday meals
were provided which
led to job losses and
many parents from low-
er socioeconomic back-
grounds were forced to
marry off their girl child.
They were forced to
push their sons to work.
West UP District fared
worst as UP reported
354 child marriage cas-
es amid pandemic.
The United Nations
International Chil-
dren’s Emergency Fund
(UNICEF) has identi-
fied child marriage as a
chronic issue in India,
with underage girls get-
ting married to men who
were twice their age.
According to the global
organization, “1.5 mil-
lion girls under the age
of 18 marry in India,
making the country with
the most child brides in
the world.”
According to a report by
confectionary production,
the year 2021was supposed
to be celebrating the end of
a Nobel Peace Laureate child labor. Some of the big-
and Indian social activ- gest supply chain countries
ist of children in an event in West Africa are still facing
hosted by ILO recently. the same problem as about
He further mentioned “In 1.5 million minors are work-
this pandemic, our children ing in hazardious working
are in danger and we need conditions, even though the
much bolder steps and laws United Nation Organisation
to safeguard the social se- have undertaken many initia-
curity and ensure that our tives to solve this problem.
children go back to school This was also highlighted on
for quality education.” June 12 which celebrates the
One of the major reasons World Against Child Labor
for the rise in cases of child Day.
labor is the rise in poverty
due to the pandemic. Many PAST EVENTS:
households have lost their
livelihood and to survive 2020: COVID-19: Protect
they have used every pos- children from labour, now
sible means. According to more than ever
ILO report, one percent
rise in poverty has led to a 2019: Children shouldn’t
0.7 percent rise in child la- work in field but on dreams
bor cases in some countries.
The fallout of COVID-19
is putting millions of chil-
dren at risk. It was estimat-
ed that by the end of 2022,
around nine million children
will be on the verge of being
pushed to child labor across
the world. Moreover, to
avoid this violation of Child
Rights, ILO and UNICEF
are calling world leaders
to support vulnerable fam-
ilies, by providing the chil-
dren of these families free
schooling, and enforcing
laws against Child labor. Source: Faceboook

NGO’s play a crucial role in protecting child rights

Manish Awana
Children are caught in the
clutches of poverty. They are
forced into child labor so that
they can become a helping
hand for the family. Accord-
ing to the 2006 modification
of the Child Labour Prohi-
bition and Regulation Act,
which has covered lakhs of
child laborers under the age of
14, India’s youngsters are still
suffering from poverty.
As a result, the role of
Non-Governmental Organi-
zations (NGOs) and civil so-
ciety has become important.
Here are some of the ways
that Non-Governmental Orga-
nizations (NGOs) have helped
to abolish child labor- by en-
couraging businesses to re-
frain from using child labor. cards. The organization has
NGOs are continually edu- helped the most vulnerable
cating trade organizations on sections of society.
the need to eradicate this so- Azim Zaidi, owner of ‘stu-
cial ill, and communities have dent welfare’ said, “We have
been urged to report cases of 40 children in our NGO, we
child labor. educate them for their overall
NGOs such as ‘Save the development.”
Children’ are implementing Save the Children has worked
comprehensive plans to solve in 1,866 villages throughout
the issue. Eglantyne Jebb, the Gujarat and Maharashtra, res-
founder has published a char- cuing almost 65,000 children
ter of children’s rights, ‘Save from child labor.
the Children’ has played a cru-
cial role in eliminating child
labor. ‘Save the Children’ has
built long-term partnerships
with rural and urban families
so that they may contribute
to an NGO like this through Azim Zaidi, Owner of Student welfare: Manish Awana
community service. Save the tion/2015” and “Every Last The campaign of action/2015
Children has sponsored com- Child” to raise awareness for conveyed a message of hope,
plex campaigns such as “ac- children’s rights in India. by sending over 4 lakhs post-
Azim zaidi: Manish Awana

Group 13. Mentor - Jyotiprakash Mohapatra, Asst. Prof, IIMC, Dhenkanal

Editors: Namrata Vijay, Nandini Pandit Sub-editor
Sub-editor: Megha Sharma Designers
Designers: ManishAwana, Mariya Tudu, Nandini Pandit
Contributer: Kuhu Sharma, Navdha Ahuja
Contributer