A brief background of CREDA's Work

CREDA has been working in Mirzapur district for over 30 years. Its activities are multifaceted, covering tasks associated with the general upliftment of people in the area. It has focussed in particular on the withdrawal of child labour from the carpet industry, and as a result of its efforts, 25 villages in Mirzapur do not have any children working in the carpet industry.

CREDA has adopted certain innovative approaches such as opening of health centres with medical check ups, arranging vocational training and organising self help groups through savings and credit. These helped CREDA gain a firm foothold in the villages to mount a campaign of social awareness to safeguard the children from exploitation.

The strategy adopted by CREDA was to target this awareness campaign at the political leadership of the village, opinion leaders, parents, loom owners, manufacturers, adult weavers and the children themselves. At the same time facilities such as schools for children withdrawn from the looms, thrift and credit societies, skill training centres for adults, pre school centres for young children and medical care were offered.

The village community and the village leadership supported the efforts of CREDA wholeheartedly irrespective of their political affiliations. They were appreciative of CREDA’s activities to improve the lives of the child workers.