MISS Collect Project

"Eliminating child labour in waste picking supply chain"

by creating a community-led comprehensive socio-economic development process

THE PROBLEM

As per the Census of India, 3.9% of children are engaged in child labour, with rag-picking significantly contributing to the number. This causes several health risks to children, keeps them out of school and makes them vulnerable to exploitation. A large part of the rag-picking community hails from slum/peri-urban areas where both children and women are engaged in collecting scrap for a living. A significant portion of their wages is taken away by middlemen, leaving the community socio-economically downtrodden.



OUR SOLUTION

We address child labour in the rag-picking community by incorporating children, women, corporates and people into the solution. Children will access child-friendly formal and informal learning institutions, mothers will increase their economic capabilities through sustainable livelihoods with people and corporates contributing and investing in the solution. Know more about miscollect organisation

 

Children Learn

Ensuring children access study material, explore digital learning, and undergo bridge courses to integrate them into mainstream education. Equipping educational institutions into child-friendly spaces, including the launch of early learning centres for children from 3 to 6 years of age.

Mother's Earn

Improving mothers’ livelihood through a sustainable waste production mechanism which segregates paper waste and helps mothers make ‘paper pots’ out of them for sale. Increased income by linking mothers to an eco-friendly consumption market, taking children out of work.

People Concern

The public will be encouraged to move to eco-friendly consumption patterns which in turn help take children out of exploitation. More specifically, market mechanisms will be created for people to purchase the ‘paper pots’ and contribute to taking children out of rag-picking.

Corporates Return

Corporations will be incentivised to invest in the entire supply and market chain of the ‘paper pots’ produced by women from the rag-picking community. Through our efforts, corporates will also be encouraged to move towards a sustainable and circular economy. 

The project has identified 833 children and 670 families (2680 population) and community members

GEOGRAPHY

4 slums in the Hebbal locality of Bangalore city

Chiranjeevi Layout, Rachanhalli kere, Sumanahalli, Thirumanahalli

Project Activities so far

Participatory mapping of educational status of children

Participatory mapping of educational status of children

Status assessment of educational institutions

Status assessment of educational institutions

Coordination with schools for enrollment of children to school

Coordination with schools for enrollment of children to school

Establishing and running the Early Learning Centres (ELCs)

Establishing and running the Early Learning Centres (ELCs)