Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) collaborated with Society for Rural Development and Education (SRED) for a field level investigation on the working conditions of children in the context of usage of pesticides. The study primarily focused on the impact on children involved in floriculture and living in areas surrounded by pesticide sprayed fields. The study was conducted in two villages Thazhavedu and Nemili villages in Tiruvallur district. . Interactions were held with 103 women, 36 men and 121 children. These groups included rural women, mothers of child laborers, teachers, Village Administrative officers (VAO) and former representatives of local self governance. The 121 children included school going children, drop out children, children working in floriculture all of whom were below 16 years of age.
Key findings:
- Prevalence of child labour in flower cultivation. Children between the age of 10 to 17 are engaged in plucking flower buds
- They start working as early as 6 am and continue till 8 am after which they go to school
- They are exposed to pesticides as they work in fields where pesticides are being used or have been used.
- They are engaged in work immediately after spraying of pesticides .
- Health hazards are identified symptoms of irritation of eyes, nausea, stomach upset, nostril issues, headache, skin allergies and other symptoms
- it was revealed that the children engaged in flower picking are irregular and often absent themselves from attending classes and they are slow learners too.
- It is the economic compulsion of the families which lead to the child labour employment situation.
- Most children working in flower plucking are found to be mal nutrient as revealed by the nurses from the Primary Health centers (PHCs) of the Government of Tamil Nadu, who conduct regular medical check ups in the villages.
- Pesticide spraying takes place, very near to their homes and school premises that are within a radius of less than one kilometer.
- The children work part time and work 10 to 15 hours per week.
- Children are exposed to pesticides every day .They use bare hands and no protective gloves are used while plucking flowers. They are not aware of the hazards of pesticides and also about the safety measures to be adopted while plucking.
- It is a legal violation to employ child labour.
The findings of the study was shared with the state, UNICEF, media and with PANAP partners.
With thankful Acknowledgement to PAN-AP from SRED team Ms. Shanthi, Ms. Gracy, Ms. Kamatchi, Ms. Gajalakshmi, Ms. Saraswathy
Indeed commendable work among the most marginalised and underprivileged women and communities! More POWER to SRED!