MVF has a strong grassroots presence in many parts of the country. However, they believe that the problem of child labour has to be fought at the macro level for a systemic change. It is in this context that MVF’s advocacy is seen as an integral part of their work. MVF has initiated and supported several campaigns as stated below:

1. Total Abolition of Child Labour

Public Interest Litigation filed with the Supreme Court of India jointly with HAQ Child Rights Centre and Social Jurist. The Supreme Court responded as under –

NOTE ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF 12.12.2005
The Supreme Court on 12.12.2005 issued notice to the Centre on a PIL filed through Advocate Ashok Agarwal seeking enforcement of the right to education of every child in the age group of 6 to 14 by abolishing child labour in all its forms. A three-judge Bench comprising of Justice Ruma Pal, Justice A.R.Laxmanan and Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued the notice on petition filed by Prof. Shantha Sinha of Hyderabad University; HAQ: Centre for Child Rights and Social Jurist. Mr. Ashok Agarwal argued that Article 21-A of the Constitution mandates compulsory education for every child in the age group 6-14 years. Even after 57 years of Independence, out of 200 million children of this age group, nearly 100 million were estimated to be out of school and engaged in labour. It was also argued that the failure of the existing laws on child labour to completely prohibit such labour was causing continuous violation of all human rights of children. The petitioners sought a declaration that child labour in any form up to 14 years was unconstitutional.

On inquiry from the Hon’ble Judges whether any of the States has legislated the law as contemplated under Article 21-A of the Constitution, Mr. Agarwal informed that no State has so far done any thing in this regard despite the fact that Article 21-A was inserted in December 2002.

2. Financial and Political Commitments for Children in 0-6 years age group

A Parallel Workshop on ICDS on Convention on Children’s Right to Food was organised by HAQ: Centre for Child Rights and MVF on 7th April 2005. The workshop on Financial and Political Rights was planned to discuss the commitments and subsequent manifestations in the budget made so far towards improving nutritional status of children below six years of age through ICDS. The discussion focussed essentially on the recent commitments made in the common minimum programme (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and the Supreme Court directions, vis-à-vis the present status of the programme. It also highlighted how our parliamentarians have expressed their concerns regarding the non-fulfillment of the commitments in parliament.

3. Right to Education

MVF has supported the cause of making education a fundamental right for every child. The collective efforts led to the 86th amendment to the Constitution of India in 2002. The bill was passed making education a fundamental right under article 21(A) of the Constitution which stated free and compulsory education for all children in the age group of 6-14yrs. MVF in its various campaign meetings and national consultations has passed the following resolutions:

NATIONAL MEET ON ABOLITION OF CHILD LABOUR AND ON RIGHT TO EDUCATION, 25TH & 26TH AUGUST 2006

RESOLUTION

The 86th Amendment to the Constitution of India has guaranteed a fundamental right to education in 2002. This Constitutional Amendment provided for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years as a fundamental right under article 21A “in such a manner as the State may, by law, determine”. In view of the State’s obligation to its children:

• We demand that the Parliament of India ensure that every child enjoys her right to education and enact the Act on ‘Free and Compulsory Education’ as mandated by the Constitution of India at a national level.
• We oppose the Central Government’s decision to intimate to the State governments to enact a law on the basis of a “Model Bill” and shelve the Bill altogether at the Parliament. This is against the fundamental right to education as guaranteed by the Constitution.
• We demand that the Parliament protects the rights of 250 million children in the 6-14 age group and 160 million children up to 6 years in India as they too are citizens of the country and take full responsibility for them.
• We demand that the Parliament abolishes all forms of child labor to ensure that every child enjoys her right to education.
• We demand that the government has a systematic policy for rescue and rehabilitation of children withdrawn from work and provide all the amenities and facilities to enable children participate in full time formal day schools.
• We demand that the common school system is introduced and the principles of equity and justice are reflected in every clause that is introduced for protection of children’s rights to education in order to constitute India into a “sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic”.

4) Stop Child Labour Campaign

‘Stop Child Labour – School is the best place to work’ is a campaign of NGO’s and unions from 6 European countries who are co-operating closely with a number of organizations from developing countries, including India. ‘Stop Child Labour’ has the firm conviction that abolition of child labour and the realization of the right to education are closely interrelated and that every child has the right to free, full-time education up to at least 15 years of age. MVF as an NGO partner provides technical support in implementing the campaign in various Central American and African countries. MVF also provides training in the various aspects of the campaign to abolish child labour and universalize education.