CWC Newsletter – Issue 13, May 2020
Responding to COVID-19
The Concerned for Working Children, May 1st, 2020
www.concernedforworkingchildren.org
The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) is renowned for its work in Children’s rights and political decentralisation. It has been thrice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. CWC is also working closely with elected local governments all 29 rural districts of Karnataka, supporting them to be responsive, proactive and empathetic to communities, with a special focus on the most vulnerable. CWC is working with over 2300 elected local government representatives (Grama Panchayat members) of 1047 Panchayats belonging to 23 Districts and 105 Taluks of Karnataka. In urban areas, we are coordinating with over 2,500 migrant workers, working children and adolescents and their communities. More details about our work are available here: www.concernedforworkingchildren.org.
CWC has worked closely with the following constituencies in relation to Covid-19:
- Children below the poverty line not enrolled in anganwadis or government schools
- Children of migrant communities in transit
- Children enrolled in anganwadis
- Children enrolled in government schools
- Working children and working adolescents
- Children in Child Care Institutions
- Migrant workers (children, women and men) in their place of work & Urban poor
- Migrant workers in transit (children, women and men) to their places of origin
- Workers enrolled under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
- Rural Communities, with a special focus on the most vulnerable such as Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, persons with disabilities, women-headed households, persons with ailments and elderly above the age of 60
- Gram Panchayats across the state of Karnataka
Read more on the brief update of our work in our programme regions in Bangalore, Udupi and Bellary districts and virtually with over 1,000 panchayats across Karnataka here: http://www.concernedforworkingchildren.org/news/2020/04/the-concerned-for-working-childrens-multi-pronged-response-to-covid-19-pandemic-crisis-situations/
PROTECTING AND UPHOLDING THE RIGHTS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
Petition for Corona pandemic response required from the Government of Karnataka
A week into the lockdown in Karnataka has brought to the fore agony, anguish, uncertainty and vulnerability of the most marginalised communities in our country, the brunt of which they began to bear a fortnight before March 23rd. They have had to face extreme humiliation to the extent of having disinfectants sprayed on them and the scale of the horror they are collectively experiencing is unprecedented. The medical crisis created by COVID-19 has taken on gigantic proportions due to the unpardonable degree of lack of foresight, empathy, planning, coordination and commitment to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable of the citizens. The overall systemic cracks are showing up as ravines and large sections of our society in the country and in our State have been irretrievably hit. Irrespective of what we do now, it is already too late, and millions are teetering on the edge of survival.
However, the situation is undoubtedly going to further worsen if the government does not step up speedily, with appropriate immediate, intermediate and long-term measures. It is clear that holistic robust responses with attention to minute details at every level are urgently required and there is not a minute to waste. In the midst of all the chaos, it is important to sincerely appreciate the support of the medical and other essential service providers and to acknowledge the progressive steps taken by Karnataka. Commendable work of several officials who are firefighting and facing the brunt of the delayed actions of the Central Government are appreciated. Civil society groups are rising to the challenge, but there is still an enormous level of disconnect in their response at this point in time.
The primary onus to address the challenges lies with the government hence our recommendations are addressed to the State Government of Karnataka.
Read more in detail about CWC’s recommendations submitted to the Government of Karnataka here: http://www.concernedforworkingchildren.org/news/2020/04/petition-for-corona-pandemic-response-required-from-the-government-of-karnataka-the-way-ahead/
A sincere appeal for contribution from team CWC
