Bhima Sangha

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When working children in Karnataka, India realised that they were not recognised as workers by the State, legislation, or trade unions, they decided (in 1990) to form their union to fight for their rights. Supported by the Concerned for Working Children (CWC), Bhima Sangha is an independent union of, by, and for working children (aged 18 years and younger). With a membership of over 20,000, Bhima Sangha advocates for the rights of working children and works to improve the quality of life of their parents and communities. Strategies for creating this child-centered development model include advocacy, networking, and participation.

[edit] Main Communication Strategies

CWC describes members of Bhima Sangha as "protagonists" who "reach out to other working children to inform them of their rights, of the means to change their situations and the power of the union. Members of Bhima Sangha...recognise themselves as social actors and not as passive receivers of welfare." To that end, members of Bhima Sangha have interfaced with ministers of state, government officials, and the police to bring about changes in an effort to better their lives. They have formed enquiry commissions and conducted studies to collect first-hand information on circumstances of accidents that have killed other working children.

To accomplish this work, Bhima Sangha strives to create opportunities for working children to participate in political processes so that they can have a voice with which to demand that their needs be met and their rights respected.

Specifically, in the 8 Makkala Panchayat Toofan areas, Bhima Sangha has created a political space for itself through its participation in the Task Force. Through collaboration with CWC, the union has set up Makkala Panchayats, children's village councils or parallel governments of children that constitute a forum for all children to participate in decision-making and governance at the Panchayat level. Click here to read about The Centre for Applied Research and Documentation (CARD), a programme closely associated with CWC that has created databases based to monitor the status of Bhima Sangha's children. This information is updated on a monthly basis so that CARD and CWC can have access to the latest information to identify and act on any emerging or ongoing concerns. To conduct this documentation, a series of consultative workshops was carried out with members of Bhima Sangha who represent the different chapters.

Bhima Sangha's members advocate not only for their own rights as labourers, but also demand attention to the issues that impact their family members, peers, and communities. For example, the union has taken a strong stand against substance abuse. Over the years its members have raised the issue in several forums, have acted against violence related to substance abuse, and have lobbied with local administrators to close down liquor shops in their areas. The children have also used communication to address the issue of child marriage. According to CWC, "The district administration, the police and the local Panchayats have begun to support Bhima Sangha and Makkala Panchayats. The children are fighting a tough battle and they are determined to go on - until there are no more child marriages in their district."

At the national and regional level, Bhima Sangha has links with other working children and is helping them form their own unions. As part of this networking/mentoring effort, Bhima Sangha conducts workshops for representatives of working children in which they provide information about child rights and unionisation of skills.

In addition, Bhima Sangha was a member of the organising committee for the first international meeting of working children. It was one of the unions representing Asia in the child labour conferences in Amsterdam and Oslo. In addition, Bhima Sangha is one of the founding members of the International Movement of working children and is presently its Asian Regional Co-ordinator.