Lack of secondary education driving Chakma kids to child labour

By Tejang Chakma published by Merinews on 14 June 2012

“In Arunachal Pradesh, Chakma children have been dropping out of schools, and are being forced to engaged themselves as child labourers after the upper primary level in school. This is primarily due to lack of access to secondary education.”

INDIA IS home to the highest number of child labourers under the age of 14 in the world. As elsewhere, 12 June was observed as World Day Against Child Labour in India. Many new commitments were made to address the menace. However, the commitments remained only on paper. The figure of child labourers continues to increase every year.

As per the 2001 census, an estimated 12.6 million children below the age of 14 years are engaged as child labourers. The figure is much higher unofficially. Majority of these children are exposed to the worst forms of child labour.

The situation is no better in India’s northeast. The main causes of child labour include poverty, unemployment and lack of education, among others. The number of child labourers is increasing in the region each day due to poverty and unemployment. News of trafficking of children belonging to poor families to other states from the northeast is reported at regular intervals. 

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Chakma children are being driven to engage as child labourers due to lack of access to secondary education. The Chakma children have access to schools only up to upper primary level in two circles of Miao and Kharsang in Changlang district. There are no secondary schools for them. Admission to existing secondary schools is denied to them. In the absence of access to secondary schools, a good number of Chakma children are dropping out of schools every year. For instance, 91 students dropped out last year. More students are likely to be drop out this year.

Students who have the financial capacity take admission outside the state such as Assam and Delhi. But, the majority of them being poor have no option but to discontinue their studies. School drop-outs marry early, ends up as unskilled labourers, domestic servants and few even get involve in anti-social activities.

Every year, many of these drop-out children, including the girls, are going outside the state such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, etc., in search of petty jobs including domestic servants. They work in hostile conditions and remain extremely vulnerable to abuse.

However, these children are not recognized as child labourers as per the government definition. Therefore, no step is being taken by the government.

There is an urgent need to raise the age of children to 18 years for any form of labour for the existing 14 years by the government. While the state government of Arunachal Pradesh will have to urgently provide secondary schools to arrest the problem of child labours among the Chakma children.

Equality of educational opportunity is a myth in Arunachal Pradesh

By Tejang Chakma

Published by Merinews.com on 13 June 2012. The article has also been featured in the Merinews Picks section for the day.

“In 2011 five non-Chakma students of a middle school were given admission by a secondary school in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district. But, 20 Chakma students of the same middle school were denied admission, and this discrimination continues.”

IN 2011, as many as 91 children had to involuntarily drop out after being refused admission to secondary schools in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district. These children, belonging to Buddhist Chakma community, who had passed Class 8 from four upper primary schools under Miao and Kharsang circles failed to get admission due to overcrowding and other related problems in the existing secondary schools.

There are only two secondary schools at Miao and Kharsang circles. These two schools are far from adequate due to increase in student population. Admission was not given by the school authorities despite interventions by the higher authorities to save one precious academic year of the students.

The grounds for refusing admission by the school authorities are facts. However, what was shocking is that some of the Chakma students were discriminated by one of the schools.

The school in question was Miao Higher Secondary school. During last academic session the school admitted five students (non Chakmas) who had passed their Class 8 examination from Government Middle School, Deban under Miao circle despite overcrowding. But 20 Chakma students who passed Class 8th from the same school were denied admission due to overcrowding and other pretexts. The non-Chakma students were preferred over the Chakmas. More importantly, out of the 20 Chakma students, 10 students were passed-outs of previous academic session of 2010-11. At least, these students should have been given priority as they have already lost one precious year. Is this not discrimination by the authority of Miao school?

This violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India, and India’s obligation under international human rights law such as United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (in particular, Article 28 of the CRC). Article 29(2) Constitution of India provides that none shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.

Education should be made accessible to all. Secondary education serves as a bridge between elementary and higher education and prepares children between the age group of 14-18 for entry into higher education.

The denial of secondary education to the children also results in the denial of several other human rights to these children.

Child Labour Day: Lack of access to secondary education driving Chakma kids in Arunchal to child labour

India is home to the highest number of child labourers under the age of 14 in the world. As elsewhere, 12 June is observed as World Day Against Child Labour in India. Many new commitments were made to address the menace. However, the commitments remained only on paper. The figure of child labourers continues to increase every year.

A common sight: A child begging in a street of Delhi

As per the 2001 census, an estimated 12.6 million children below the age of 14 years are engaged as child labourers. The figure is much higher unofficially. Majority of these children are exposed to the worst forms of child labour.

The situation is no better in India’s northeast. The main causes of child labour include poverty, unemployment and lack of education, among others. The number of child labourers is increasing in the region each day due to poverty and unemployment. News of trafficking of children belonging to poor families to other states from the northeast is reported at regular intervals.  

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Chakma children are being driven to engage as child labourers due to lack of access to secondary education. The Chakma children have access to schools only up to upper primary level in two circles of Miao and Kharsang in Changlang district. There are no secondary schools for them. Admission to existing secondary schools is denied to them. In the absence of access to secondary schools, a good number of Chakma children are dropping out of schools every year. For instance, 91 students dropped out last year. More students are likely to be drop out this year.

Students who have the financial capacity take admission outside the state such as Assam, Delhi, etc. But, the majority of them being poor have no option but to discontinue their studies. School drop-outs marry early, ends up as unskilled labourers, domestic servants and few even get involve in anti-social activities.

Every year, many of these drop-out children, including the girls, are going outside the state such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, etc in search of petty jobs including domestic servants. They work in hostile conditions and remain extremely vulnerable to abuse.

However, these children are not recognized as child labourers as per the government definition. Therefore, no step is being taken by the government.

There is an urgent need to raise the age of children to 18 years for any form of labour for the existing 14 years by the government. While the state government of Arunachal Pradesh will have to urgently provide secondary schools to arrest the problem of child labours among the Chakma children.

Lone secondary school for Chakmas lies in utter neglect

By Tejang Chakma published by Merinews on 9 June 2012

      “Govt. Secondary School, Diyun under Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, is the       only secondary school for about 46000 Chakmas of the district. But, the school has no basic facilities. One teacher has to teach more than 100 students.”

THE CONDITIONS of most of the schools in Arunachal Pradesh are dismal. Lack of basic facilities is a common feature. In some schools, the children are even forced to sit on the floor due to lack of benches.  

Similar is the situation of the Diyun Government Secondary School under Diyun Circle in Changlang district which lies in utter government neglect. Diyun Township is the only secondary level school for a population of about 46,000 Chakmas of the district. In the absence of secondary school for the Chakmas, this school has to accommodate not only students from Diyun circle but also students passing out upper primary education from other circles every year. This results in overcrowding and affects the quality of education.

The authorities have not shown any interest to uplift the pathetic condition of the school. Many appeals went unheard. The school was initially constructed by the Chakmas on self-help basis. Except construction of a few pucca classrooms some years ago, no upgradation or renovation work has been undertaken since then.

As a result, the school lacks all the basic facilities. Overcrowding is a recurring issue. The total enrollment from Class I to X even touches 2000 at times. There were nearly 1400 students in the school last year. Overcrowding in upper primary level in the school has declined to some extent following the launch of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. However, overcrowding continues in the secondary level in the absence of secondary schools. Last year, 429 students were enrolled in Class IX. No less was the overcrowding in Class X. It is not difficult to comprehend the environment where these students study.

The lack of proper and adequate infrastructure adds to the problem of overcrowding. No additional classrooms have been constructed for the rising number of students. There are only nine classrooms in the schools. Some of the classrooms have no proper structure. In some classrooms, the students had to sit or stand due to lack of bench/desk. In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Changlang, D Riba (APCS), Extra-Assistant Commissioner (EAC) cum Chairman of School Management Committee, Diyun while highlighting the dismal condition of the school stated “The school is run without sufficient numbers of bench/desk as a result many students are settled to sit on the floor or stand.”

In addition, there was serious shortage of teachers for the large number of students. The students-teachers should be 1: 40 as per government norms. However, the school was functioning with only 19 teachers last year. Thereby the school was short of at least 16 teachers.

The school had no drinking water facilities. The students were required to collect water from a distance for drinking. The existing water tape was non-functional.

Non-funcitonal girls'  toilets of Diyun school

One of the serious problems being faced by the students in particular girls was the lack of functional toilets in the school. The school has toilets including separate toilets for girls. However, toilets are non-functional/locked due to lack of water connection. Without this basic necessity, not only the school children, especially girls run the risk of illness. They refrain from drinking water during school hours to avoid going to the toilet and may suffer long-term kidney related complications.

The school also lacks other basic requirements such as library, sufficient reading material, computer, standard teacher-quarters, etc

These problems being faced by the students are known even to the authorities. But, no concrete step has been taken to address these problems. The authorities have even failed to utilize the fund approved by the Centre in 2010 for construction of buildings of the school so far.

On a brighter note, the school performed exceedingly well in the recently announced CBSE results for Class X despite of the appalling conditions. According to the CBSE results, 307 out of 315 students who had appeared for the Class X last academic session had passed the examination, reflecting over 97 pass percentage.

DSE orders school heads to admit Chakma students

By Tejang Chakma published in Merinews on 5 June 2012

ON MAY 30, 2012, the Director of Secondary Education (DSE) of Arunachal Pradesh ordered the Headmasters and Principals of secondary and higher secondary schools of Diyun, Miao and Kharsang circles in Changlang district to admit Chakma and Hajong students in the current academic session 2012-13.

Chakma students of 18 villages under Miao and Kharsang circles in Changlang district have been dropping out after upper primary level. Last year, at least 91 students, including 29 girls, had to involuntarily drop out of schools. 10 students dropped out during 2010-11 academic session.

There are no secondary schools in the 18 villages despite having substantial student population. There are two higher secondary schools in the circles but these schools are out of bound for the Chakmas since long. The school authorities refuse admission on the grounds of overcrowding, lack of infrastructure and teaching staff, etc. 


In the absence of secondary schools and denial of admission in the two schools, the Chakma students were forced to seek admission at far away schools in Diyun circle and studying there. However, since the academic session 2010-11, the schools under Diyun circle refuse to admit Chakma students of the 18 villages on the ground of outside of jurisdiction and overcrowding. This is one of the main reasons for the admission crisis among the Chakma students. 


The May 30 order of the DSE was issued following submission of memorandum by the village heads and guardians. 

Interestingly, similar order was issued last year by the DSE when the village heads/guardians approached him to allow admission of the Chakma students and to upgrade the existing middle schools in the Chakma areas. The DSE in a letter (Memo No.EDA.107/99-2000) dated October 21, 2011 through the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Director of School Education, Changlang district directed the school heads of Miao, Innao, Diyun, Sompoi and Kharsang to admit 91 students in proportionate sharing basis and to forward the names of the admitted students to the Central Board of Secondary Education for registration to avoid loss.

However, in blatant non-compliance of the order the schools authorities refused to admit the students. Out of the 91 students, 10 students completed their upper primary education during 2010-11. They lost two years in a row.


The admission crisis has not been taken seriously by the state government. There is a proposal to upgrade some of the middle schools in the Chakma inhabited areas. For example, a government inspection team recommended upgradation of Ratnapur middle school but the school is yet to be upgraded. If upgraded at least half of the admission problem would have been resolved.


The situation demands urgent action but the authorities have done nothing despite being informed by the villagers. The situation will only turn worst if no immediate action is taken. The pressure on secondary education is increasing every year. For instance, over 100 Chakma students are awaiting admission to Class IX for the ensuing session apart from the drop out students. It has becomes extremely necessary to upgrade the existing schools due to increase in student population for secondary education.


It is unfortunate that at a time when the Centre has been taking measures to universalize secondary education of good quality available, accessible and affordable to all, the State Government has failed to make secondary education accessible to the Chakma students.

Where is the money and the school as promised by the government?

By Tejang Chakma

Published in Merinews on 19 May 2012

      "The Centre's Multi-Sectoral Development Programme is being implemented in          Arunachal Pradesh. In Changlang district, the school buildings for the Govt Secondary School, Diyun was selected under the MsDP in 2010. But the construction is yet to start."

IN 2008, the Government of India introduced Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) to address the development deficits in the minority concentrated districts across the country.

The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has been implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Multi-Sectoral Development Programme(MsDP) of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Many projects are undertaken for the welfare and development of the minority communities in the state. The scheme is being implemented in Changlang district, which is a category 'A' district having both socio-economic and basic amenities parameters below the national average. The fund allocated for the district under MsDP Plan was Rs. 1870 lakh for the 11th Five Year Plan.

The Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Minorities Affairs during its 37th Meeting held on August 23, 2010, approved, among others, the proposal of the state government to construct the buildings of the Government Secondary School, Diyun under Changlang district. The state government informed the Empowered Committee that the school was selected as it falls in minority concentration areas. As per the agreement the construction would be concrete brick buildings from classes 1 to X to replace bamboo structure with Semi Permanent Type (SPT) building.

View of a dilapidated classroom of Diyun Govt. Sec. School 

The Diyun Secondary School, constructed initially by the Chakmas themselves on a self-help basis, is the only secondary level school meant for a population of about 46,000 Chakma Buddhist minorities in Changlang district. Since then the condition of the school remained dismal. The school remained overcrowded and infrastructure appalling. Due to poor study environment the quality of education has taken a back seat.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) has already released the fund meant for the construction of the school. The total cost of the project was 50 lakhs in the ratio of 90:10 between Centre and State. The first installment of Rs. 22.50 lakhs of the central share was released by the end of 2010. However, the government is yet to start infrastructure-construction work of the school till date.

The projects under the MsDP are required to be completed during 11th Five Year Plan period. The state government will have to return the fund if it remained unused. Surprisingly, the Deputy Commissioner informed the Empowered Committee during its 51st meeting held November 25, 2011 that the utilization certificate for the project will be submitted by January, 2012.

It is beyond one’s imagination as to how the Deputy Commissioner assured to submit the utilization certificate without any construction work started on the ground.

Timely construction of the school buildings could have solved half of the problem in the school. The question is bound to arise - where has the money gone, and have these Buddhist minorities been denied the benefit of the minority scheme because they belong to the Chakma community?

Open Letter to Hon’ble CM, Arunachal Pradesh

To,

The Hon’ble Chief Minister

Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar

PIN-791111

Subject: Request for intervention to end drop-out of Chakma students after elementary schools

Sir,

I am writing to draw your kind attention towards the deplorable state of secondary education in Chakma-inhabited areas under Miao Sub-Division in Changlang district. Many Chakma students had to involuntarily drop out due to lack of secondary schools over the last few years.

At least 88 Chakma students, including 29 girls, from 17 villages under Miao and Kharsang Circles had to drop out last year. Out of the 88 students, 10 had completed Class 8th in 2010-11 academic session. These students lost a valuable year, while the 10 students suffered two academic lost in a row.

All these students completed their elementary schooling from four Govt. middle schools located in their villages. Two schools namely Govt. higher secondary schools at Miao and Kharshang which are feeder to these middle schools. However, the school authorities did not allow admission to these Chakma students due to overcrowding, lack of teachers and infrastructure etc. The students also approached the secondary schools under Diyun circle, where they were again refused admission on the grounds of overcrowding, outside jurisdiction etc.

Acting on various representations from the 17 affected villages, the Director of Secondary Education in a letter (Memo No.EDA.107/99-2000) dated 21 October 2011 requested the Deputy Commissioner, Changlang and Deputy Director of School Education, Changlang to direct/instruct the Principals of Govt HSS Kharsang, Miao, Innao and Headmaster of Diyun to admit the students and forward the name of admitted students to the CBSE for registration to avoid loss of one valuable academic year of the students. On 3 November 2011, the Deputy Director of School Education, Changlang instructed all the school authorities of Miao/Kharsang/Diyun circles to admit the Chakma students on proportionate sharing basis. But, none of the schools complied with the instruction and the students had to involuntarily drop out of schooling.

A lot of the education problems of the Chakma students could have been resolved had some of the existing middle schools been upgraded to secondary level. For example, the Govt Middle School at Ratnapur village under Kharsang Circle is yet to be upgraded to secondary level despite recommendations by the three-member Govt. Inspection Team in July 2011. The Inspection Team pointed out that “Golakpur, Milanpur, Ratnapur, Bijoypur and Dharmapur –I, II, III villages will be benefitted if Ratnapur ME School is allowed to run Class-IX.”

The situation is equally abysmal in Chakma areas under Diyun Circle. There are only three secondary schools which are awfully short for a large number of students, both Chakmas and others. As a result, overcrowding remains a perennial problem in these schools in particular Diyun secondary school.

The issue of admission will be increasingly felt in the current academic session as more students have passed their Class 8th examinations. There are already about 150 Chakma students who are awaiting admission to Class IX in the current academic session. But it is feared that they would not get admission as the situation remained the same.

Education is the foundation for the development and progress of any society. The absence of secondary schools and denial of admission in the existing schools results in uncertain future of the students including rise in school dropout. School dropout children are more likely in the risk of being exploited as child labours, domestic servants, and even in anti-social activities.

Since you assumed office, your response to improve and develop the education sector in the state has been positive.

I, therefore, request your personal intervention to ensure admission of all the Chakma students from the ensuing session and upgrade the existing middle schools to end the recurring admission crisis.

Yours sincerely,

Tejang Chakma

On behalf of the Chakma students