‘35,000 child labourers in city’s e-waste sites’

In Ahmedabad alone, about 35,000 childrenin the age group of 10-14 years eke a living from the hazardous e-waste sector.They are part of over 4.5 lakh children across the country who work in theinformal e-waste recycling industry, reveals a study by Assocham. The study also reveals that these kids, who are employed in various harmful activities, have to work without any adequate protection.

“According to our nationwide study, over 35,000 children are working in e-waste sector in Ahmedabad,” said DS Rawat, secretary general at Assocham, a business body that had recently conducted a survey on ‘Child labours engage in e-waste activities in India’ under their Social Development Foundation. The study was conducted in cities like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Dehradun.

However, an Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation official, on condition of anonymity said that there is no authorised segregation centre in Ahmedabad. Talking to dna, he pooh-poohed the claims and said that in the informal sector, scrap traders collect the electronics and dismantle it. Later, they send it to Delhi for segregation. “If there isn’t any segregation centre here, how can there be any child worker in this field?” he asked.

“The figure is just the tip of the ice-berg. Unfortunately, these children are invisible as no one is working in this field. There is a need to follow a proper systematic procedure to rescue them,” said Junaid Shaikh, child right activist and former member of Save the Children.

It is often the migrant children who provide for easy and cheap labourers deployed to dismantle e-waste. The scenario is almost same across the country informed Manju Negi, deputy director at Assocham. Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kolkata are top five states which has the highest number of children working in e-waste sector.

With growing urbanisation, e-waste is also increasing in the city. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan in partnership with Assocham on electronic waste management in India, the city produces 17,000 metric tonne e-waste every year.

High and prolonged exposure to these chemicals and pollutants emitted during unsafe e-waste recycling damage the nervous systems, blood systems, kidneys and brain development, respiratory disorders, skin disorders, bronchitis, lung cancer, heart, liver, and spleen damage, the report reveals.

Throwing light at the gloomy situation in the e-waste industry former member of Childline, Poonam Gupta said: “Most of the children work in proxy by using the name of their parents. Therefore, no one knows about their existence.”

“E-waste is extremely hazardous for the health of children. Many children die at an early age and others start having respiratory problems,” said Rajesh Solanki, from Centre for Social Justice.

An AMC official said there is no authorised e-waste segregation centre in Ahmedabad