Content :

1. Recounting Velpur’s story in ending child labour
2. It is profit first, life and safety second

Recounting Velpur’s story in ending child labour

Global & National Context

• World Day Against Child Labour (June 12): Observed globally under the ILO to highlight the urgency of ending child labour.
• SDG Target 8.7: Aims to end all forms of child labour by 2025 — the goal remains unmet.
• Global Reality: ~160 million children are in child labour globally; ~90% are from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
• India’s Burden: As per Census 2011, 43.53 lakh children (5–14 yrs) were engaged in child labour.

Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues)

Practice Question : “Velpur’s success in eradicating child labour underscores the transformative potential of community ownership and moral persuasion.” Critically examine the role of local governance and civil society in combating child labour in India. (250 words)

Policy and Legal Framework in India

• CLPRA 1986 & Amendment 2016:
  • Prohibits child labour below 14 years.
  • Bans hazardous work for adolescents (14–18 years).
• National Policy on Child Labour (1987): Gradual rehabilitation + enforcement + implementation of NCLP.
• RTE Act: Ensures free & compulsory education for all children aged 6–14 years.

Velpur Mandal’s Transformation

• Background: Velpur (in present-day Telangana) was once notorious for widespread child labour.
• Community Campaign Launch: Initiated in June 2001 with the goal of universal school enrolment and zero child labour.
• Declared Child Labour Free: October 2, 2001, after a 100-day intensive campaign.

Key Features of the Velpur Model

• Initial Resistance:
  • Rumours of child kidnapping hindered officials.
  • Hotel owners resisted, fearing loss of cheap labour.

• Breakthrough via Dialogue:
  • Persistent engagement changed public perception.
  • Shift from official drive to people’s movement.

• Role of Employers:
  • Publicly acknowledged and released children from debt bondage.
  • Wrote off ₹35 lakh worth of debts.
  • Distributed stationery and supported schooling.

Institutional Anchoring

• Village-Government MoUs:
  • Sarpanchs signed formal MoUs with District Education Officer under A.P. Compulsory Primary Education Rules (1982).
  • Govt ensured infrastructure, teachers, and access.
• Visual Affirmation: Signboards in all villages stating: “There is no child labour in our village.”

Recognition

• Institutional Study: Velpur hj12n’model now part of VVGNLI training modules.
• National Acknowledgement:
  • Appreciated by ILO, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and NHRC.
  • Presented before Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour (Nov 2022) and praised.

Lessons from Velpur

• Community Participation = Sustainability: Success came only when the issue became a mass movement.
• Peer pressure and public accountability played critical roles in eliminating bonded child labour.
• Model for Replication: Velpur proves that local ownership, transparency, and moral persuasion are powerful tools in social reform.

It is profit first, life and safety second

Trigger Event: Bengaluru Stampede (June 4, 2025)

• 11 lives lost in a stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebration near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
• Reflects systemic failures in:
  • Public safety planning
  • Over-hyped public enthusiasm
  • Lack of personal risk perception

Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues , Governance ) , GS 4(Ethics and Integrity)

Practice Question : In light of the Bengaluru stampede during a sports celebration, critically examine the adequacy of public safety mechanisms in India. Discuss institutional reforms needed to prioritize safety in public spaces. (250 words)

Profit Over People: Commercialization of Public Events

• Cricket as Industry:
  • IPL and similar events are profit-driven ventures.
  • Crowds are encouraged to swell beyond venue capacity for revenue maximization.

• Licensing Loopholes:
  • Approvals often not based on genuine compliance but influence and favours.

• VIP Culture:
  • Elite dominance over best stadium seats.
  • Example: RCB vs CSK match dispute between IPS and IRS families over free VIP seating.

Insensitive Compensation and Inequality

• Meagre solatium offered to victims’ families despite massive profits.
• Value of life undermined—those lost are treated as statistics, not humans.
• Disproportionate impact: The poor and daily wage earners suffer, while elites benefit.

 Neglected Safety Norms

• Event Licensing for Small Venues: Strict norms for hall size, exits, medical staff, etc.
• Large Public Events: Often violate safety protocols—unchecked crowds, poor infrastructure.
• Examples of negligence:
  • Amusement park ride failure in Chennai—visitors stranded.
  • Food fairs with open wiring, fire hazards, and no crowd control.

Everyday Public Space Hazards

• Road safety crisis:
  • No pedestrian infrastructure or lanes for slow vehicles.
  • Stray animals, broken pavements, reckless drivers add to citizen vulnerability.

• Lack of accountability:
  • Tragedies dismissed as karma or fate.
  • Usual pattern: suspensions, transfers, and eventual reinstatement.

Need for Systemic Reform

• Scientific crowd management audits must be institutionalised.
• Safety measures should be mandatorily implemented, not discretionary.
• With a population of 146.39 crore, India cannot afford such recurring disasters.

Recommendations & Way Forward

• Introduce crowd management audits for large public events.
• Mandatory caution deposit by organisers to ensure crowd security and state preparedness.
• Public safety in urban planning—pedestrian zones, slow vehicle tracks, and hazard-proof event designs.
• Cultural change needed: Safety must be viewed as a right, not a privilege.

Conclusion: A Call for Accountability and Equity

• Tragedies like the Bengaluru stampede must serve as a wake-up call.
• Without structural reform and respect for human life, the rich-poor divide in safety access will only worsen.
• “Profit first, safety second” is an unacceptable national ethos for a democratic society.

Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed here are based on the original article published in THE HINDU and do not reflect the official stance of Legacy IAS Academy. This content is provided solely for educational and discussion purposes.