by Saraswathi, Gangadhara, Vanaja, Manju, Chandrawathi, Praveena and Pramoda.
At first we tried to remember the history of Bhima Sangha by discussing together. At times we forgot things or got confused. But it was useful to look back and identify both the good things and times when things went wrong.
The suggestion of recording our history using drawings came from Mr Paul. The drawing was quite difficult. We really had to use our brains and work hard. But we all enjoyed it. It took a week to complete.
When somebody sees these drawings, they will believe that Bhima Sangha has achieved all this. In a report all you can say is that somebody ‘participated’. But through a drawing you can use your imagination to show how and where a person stood, how they spoke etc. That is definitely an advantage.
Through this exercise we have come to know how Bhima Sangha was, where we are now, what we are doing and where we hope to go in the future. It gives us a clear picture. We will draw these pictures on the walls as well. It is easy to show to people who want to know about Bhima Sangha. We have plans to paint it on cloth too, so that it can be folded and carried wherever we go.
Some of Bhima Sangha’s objectives…
To identify and organise working children
- To provide a forum for sharing our needs and hopes
- To ask for fair wages
- To end the various kinds of exploitation we suffer
- To shape our own future, rather than letting elders do this for us
- To be represented in all decision making processes concerning us, from village to international level
1. Belonging to Bhima Sangha
Here are our flags, the ID cards which we wear and our yellow headband.
2. Walkathon
This took place in April 1990 when hundreds of children walked for 8km to bring various problems to the attention of government officials. The problems included the lack of drinking water, access to schools, lack of crèches, disappearance of forests, lack of street lights and hospital facilities.
3. Ayodhya Hotel incident
In 1992 one of the waiters working in the Hotel Ayodhya Bangalore revealed the bad treatment given to children working there. CWC and Bhima Sangha rescued the children. Some were reunited with their families and others were given training. Children from Bhima Sangha protested outside the hotel owner’s house.
4. 1996 regional consultation
The first regional consultation of working children for the whole of Asia was held in April 1996. There were many workshops and activities. About 5,000 working children came, some from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
5. Building programme
Children and community members worked together to build the Extension School at Belve, Kundapur Taluk. The sight of girls nailing the roof provided a powerful illustration of their desire to have equal opportunities.
6. Makkala Panchayats (children’s councils)
Bhima Sangha children were involved in planning, conducting and monitoring elections to children’s councils in April 1997. These were held in five panchayats in Kundapur Taluk. Children filled in ballot papers.