In India, 12% of children (ages 5-14) are engaged in hazardous child labor, including waste collection. Bangalore, with its rapidly growing population, has become a major hub for unorganized waste collectors. While municipal authorities collect 68% of the city’s waste, the rest is left for scavenging by ragpickers, many of whom are migrant families.

Children in these families work in waste segregation under unsafe and unhygienic conditions, leading to severe health risks. Their living environments lack basic necessities like clean water, toilets, and electricity, making them vulnerable to infectious diseases. Additionally, language barriers and frequent migration contribute to high school dropout rates, with some children never attending school at all, forcing them into labor at a young age.

We aim to eliminate the worst forms of child labor by creating opportunities for children to pursue formal education while ensuring financial stability for their families. Our approach focuses on:

• Removing children from hazardous labor by enabling them to enroll in mainstream education through bridge courses, study materials, and child-friendly learning environments.
• Eradicating child labor in the waste-picking supply chain through a community-led socio-economic empowerment model in four Bangalore slums.
• Providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for families, ensuring financial stability so children are not forced into labor for extra income.

By addressing both education and economic stability, we strive for a long-term, systemic change to break the cycle of child labor.

The project has identified 3300 children and 556 families, 15 Government Authorities and community members

4 slums in the Hebbal locality of Bangalore city

Chiranjeevi Layout, Rachanhalli kere, Sumanahalli, Thirumanahalli

1. 145 drop out children were re-enrolled in the Government school after the fostering support from bridge course session

2. 45 Change agents from 4 project areas were identified and trained as the change agents from the child rights clubs established.

3. The project ensures the involvement of the Education Department, Judiciary, and Law Enforcement through regular interfaces, stakeholder meetings, and their active role in delivering legal awareness sessions to the communities.

4. A total of 834 children actively participated in various educational programmes, including early childhood learning, tuition and bridge courses, and the Veggie for School programme.