Bhopal/Panna – In Madhya Pradesh's Panna district, the heavy burden of firewood on the heads of tribal children is not only crushing their innocent childhoods but also their future and constitutional rights.

These tribal children, aged between 8 and 12 years, walk 5 to 7 kilometers every day to collect firewood from the forest, which they sell in the city to meet the basic needs of their families. Children, who are at the age of playing and attending school, have their little shoulders weighed down by this heavy load. The lines of responsibility are clearly etched on their innocent faces.

These children walk barefoot on forest trails, far from the joys of childhood and education, struggling to fend off their families' hunger. This ground report investigates the lives of the tribal children in Panna district.

Article 21A of the Indian Constitution grants children the right to free and compulsory education from the ages of 6 to 14. Additionally, Article 24 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 in hazardous and difficult tasks. But the condition of these tribal children in Panna raises the question—are these constitutional rights merely confined to paper?

In the tribal areas of Panna, young children who are entitled to education are forced to carry the burden of firewood. The day for these tribal children begins with the rising sun. Barefoot, without slippers, they set off from their villages toward the city. A heavy pile of firewood rests on their heads, and the struggle is visibly etched on their faces.

The Mooknayak team met with some of these children. An 8-year-old tribal girl from Maja Laliya village, located 7 kilometers from Panna, said, "We bring firewood from the forest every other day and sell it in the city. My father works as a laborer, but he doesn’t get work every day. Selling firewood is how we manage to buy food for the house."

Her eyes carried the deep shadows of exhaustion and despair, reflecting the violation of her rights. In her local dialect, the tribal girl told us, "Time is running out; let us go, we have to take the firewood home, or else how will we make bread?"

We also spoke with another tribal child. The child was around 10 to 12 years old, but his words reflected the maturity of someone much older. The child told The Mooknayak representative, "The roof of my house has broken due to the rain. Water is leaking into the house. We need to fix it. We need to buy new tarpaulin (plastic sheets)."

In response to our questions, the tribal child shared that he had four siblings and he was the eldest. His father used to break stones for a living but now comes to Panna for labor work, taking whatever jobs he can find. In his Bundeli dialect, he said, "Instead of playing in the village, it’s better that I sell firewood and earn some money."

In villages surrounding Panna district, such as Khajuri Kular, Taprian, and Janwar, selling firewood is a primary source of livelihood for tribal children. These children collect wood from nearby forests and bring it to the cities to sell. Due to the difficult geographic and social conditions in these villages, there is a lack of education and other basic facilities, making childhood a struggle for these children. Selling firewood becomes the only option for meeting their families' economic needs.

Sachin Agarwal, a local hotel owner in Panna, told The Mooknayak representative, "These children come to the city every day and sell firewood. This has been going on for years. Due to unemployment and poverty, these children are forced to work to help their families." His statement highlights the fact that government schemes and policies are poorly implemented in these areas.

Apathy of the Administration

Despite the nationwide schemes like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' and 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan,' their impact on the tribal children of Panna seems minimal. While these children are enrolled in schools, education remains out of their reach. For impoverished tribal families, survival takes precedence over schooling. This compels the children to face life’s hardships at an age when they should be enjoying their childhood. Article 46 of the Constitution mandates the state to take special care of the economic and educational interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but the reality on the ground is far from this mandate.

The Mooknayak contacted Udal Singh, the Women and Child Development Officer in Panna, regarding this issue. He said, "We were not aware of this problem. It has come to our attention through your report, and we will take it seriously and send an investigation team soon." This response reveals how disconnected local officials are from constitutional responsibilities and ground realities, exposing the lack of enforcement of constitutional rights and the adverse impact on the lives of tribal children.

Ajit Khare, a local journalist in Panna, said, "The condition of tribal children here is pitiful. Government schemes exist only on paper, and there's no visible impact on the ground. These children are deprived of education, and their rights are being violated. While their names are enrolled in schools, the reality is what you see before you."

The Responsibility of Government and Society

Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees the right to equality for all, but for the tribal children of Panna, this equality remains confined to words. The government should have worked seriously to provide better opportunities for education and life, yet the apathy of the administration is clearly evident here.

These tribal children not only need education but also a safe and dignified life, as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, which provides every individual the right to life. Instead of carrying firewood, these children should be holding pens, and their faces should show smiles instead of struggles.

The plight of the tribal children in Panna highlights the deep chasm between the constitutional rights enshrined in law and the reality they live in. Until the government and society come together to improve the lives of these children, this gap will remain unbridged.

Note: All the tribal children mentioned are minors, and their identities cannot be disclosed.