Can Children Influence Policy? A case study of Bhima Sangha

This thesis focuses on the high incidences of child labour proliferating across the world commanding worldwide attention. While a number of competing explanations have been providing, what is lacking are the experiences and voices of working children themselves in the whole debate of child labour. Facilitating children to participate the debates surrounding child labour has thrown up a whole range of questions, which challenge our commonly taken assumptions of childhood,work and the relations between children and adults. By reviewing literature on working children's movements and their struggle against child labour, the research provides pragmatic perspectives on the appropriateness and capability of children to participate in decision making processes and play a role in the struggle against child labour.

Poonacha Nadikerianda completed his Masters of Philosophy in Development Studies in 2009 from Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand. His research dealt with the problem of child labour and the role of working children's unions in emancipation movements. He is based in India and wants to work with kids who are labouring.