Long working hours in freezing conditions in the seafood-processing unit is now history for seventeen-year-old Aruna. Premamaya ADP works with more than 1500 girls who work in similar environment in the fish processing units and tobacco grading units.
Andhra Pradesh has the most number of child labourers in India according the 1991 census and Prakasam District alone has close to 75000 children who work.
Exposure to drought and cyclone pushes the community to extreme poverty and often children end up supplementing the family income. World Vision’s Premamaya ADP works in Singarayakonda, Jarugumalli & Tangutur Mandals and focuses especially on girls who are working in the tobacco and seafood industries through the Girl Child Education Project.
It is very exploitative industry where girls work long hours shelling, peeling and grading prawns in freezing temperature without any safe accessories. They are exposed to occupational hazards like pneumonia, skin ailments, asthma, anemia, irregular menstruation, cuts and wounds, body pain, backache etc.
World Vision’s dream is to facilitate better livelihood options through education and skill training for 1564 girls who are working in these industries.
Aruna is one of the 125 girls who have undergone non-formal education, medical care and skill training for six months. 'With the active participation of the Spurthi Women’s Society three work centres are in place where the girls start to work and we are trying to establish bulk orders for stitching from the Social Welfare Department of the Government' says Dr. Prasad, Programme Manager.
Girls like Aruna now work in these centers to earn their income and live with dignity. 'Many children have taken up higher education in nursing and other under graduation courses. Some have gone back to schools,' says Dr. Prasad.
Girls in these centres love to laugh with each other, get to learn about their rights and life skills, about HIV and AIDS and above all embark on a journey towards a life with dignity.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender.
