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A breath of fresh air

Out of bidi factories, 374 teenagers in Kushtia get tools for self-employment after training

AMANUR AMAN, Kushtia
It was a different day for 374 teenagers who once were engaged in hazardous jobs at tobacco factories. Brought out of factories, they were given equipment for selfemployment after training.
It was a simple but solemn occasion that will change their life and be an eye opener to many in eliminating child labour in the country.
"I am very happy and I dream of a good future", a delighted a 14 year-old Rumia Khtaun told this correspondent after receiving a sewing machine and accessories at the function.
Born to a poor family at Boiragirchar village in Daulatpur upazila, she was among the 374 boys and girls of her age taken out of hazardous tobacco factory jobs and trained in different vocations.
They were trained under a USDOL (United State Department of Labour) project to eliminate child labour from hazardous jobs with assistance from ILO (International Labour Organisation) and the US government.
Sujeewa Fonseka, Chief Technical Advisor of USDOL, distributed the tools including sewing machines and kits for electrical work and light engineering work. Sahidul Islam, MP from Kushtia-2 constituency was the chief guest at the function held at Bheramara Pilot High School premises on Friday.
The project titled PEWFCL (Preventing and Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour) was launched November 16, 2001.
The project was implemented by three local NGO SETU, PIPASA and BTUK (Bangladesh Trade Union Kendro).
According to a survey by the NGOs, at least 5000 children and teenagers between 5 and 18 were engaged only in eight big Bidi factories in Kushtia known as the biggest tobacco producing and processing area in the country.
In three years, the NGO's took out total 2586 of them from the hazardous jobs. Of them, 1848 were enrolled at schools after orientation at 51 pre-school centers and 591 of them were trained in different vocations including
tailoring, paper bag making, nursery raising, electrical work, elementary engineering, food processing, cow fattening, goat rearing and running small trade. Of them 374 were given tools and equipment and the rest 217 were already attended with different jobs.
Meanwhile ILO also signed agreement with eight Bidi factories---that they would no more employ child labour in their factories. The factories are Mansur Bidi factory, Monmohon Bidi factory, Kalam Bidi factory, Sonali Bidi factory, Nasir Bidi factory, Akiz Bidi factory, N.Jaman Bidi factory, Banani Bidi factory.
The ILO also have initiated to bring the poor parents of the children under income generating programmes so that they are not forced to send their children to tobacco factories. It also formed 53 mother groups with children's mothers to create awareness among them not to send their children to tobacco factories.
According to M.A Kader, executive director of SETU, about Tk. 29 lakh has been disbursed
among 549 poor parents and which have attained success in keeping their children out of Bidi factories.
Now no child labour in the Bidi factories in the district, sources of the NGO's which was contacted to implement the project told to local journalists on Friday.
Meanwhile, the project time of ILO has been ended. ILO will close its three years project this month.
On the occasion of conclusion ceremony, last agreement has been signed between the Bidi factories and PFC (programme facilitating committee), a forum nominated by Bangladesh government headed by local union parishad chairman.
This PFC committee now will work as watch dog so that no Bidi factory employ any child labour in their factory. If any factory do so this government nominated forum would take steps against the factory in help of local administration.