A group of rural development professionals joined their hands to establish an organisation, which can professionally respond to issues which are affecting lives of poor and marginalised people of Jharkhand. As an outcome “Life Education and Development Support” (LEADS) came into existence on 14th Dec 2005. LEADS is a not for profit, development organization registered under Trust Act (1882) on 14th Dec 2005 at Ranchi, Jharkhand having all legal registration to work for development. LEADS works directly in more than 3000 villages across 18 districts of Jharkhand, indirectly through 7 partners, promote network on education, livelihood, clean energy, SDGs, and provide professional services to various government, non-government and donors in our country. Major thematic work is on education, women empowerment, livelihood, environment, clean energy, PRIs, health and our referral group is children, women, women farmers, single women, STs, SCs, adolescents, Farmers, Dibyangjan etc. At present LEADS is working on SDGs in Jharkhand/India. And, Also a proud partner in Protection of children from Child Labor-Supported by TDH Germany

Major Activities planned under the ‘Pilot Project To End The Worst Forms of Child Labour in Mica Mining in Bihar & Jharkhand’ with regard to child labour elimination

• Access to education is ensured for children in the project region
• Bridge classes for working children, early school leavers* and children who attend school irregularly will be established in 30 children’s centres in the project region (1 centre covers 2 villages).
• The voice of working children and young people from the project region is heard at local, national and international level A total of 30 children’s groups (one per village) with 900 members (50% girls/50% boys), i.e. about 30 children per group, will be established in the first quarter of the project. Likewise, 30 youth groups (one per village) with a total of 450 members (50% girls/50% boys), i.e. about 15 members per group, are founded and supported.
• local health care in the project region for families working in mica mining is improved working children in the project region often suffer from work-related illnesses and do not have access to an adequate local health system. This situation has become even more acute as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has placed a heavy burden on the Indian health system.
• Families (especially women) who have worked in mica mining have access to alternative and fair sources of income and employment In order to increase the possibility of families to earn money outside of mica mining, women are strengthened as entrepreneurs. To this end, 60 groups of women entrepreneurs with a total of 600 members will be founded from the 2nd project quarter onwards
• Cooperation between civil society, political authorities and traders at local and national level is strengthened
• The project pursues a multi-dimensional approach in which advocacy work is networked at local, state, national and international levels. The long-term goal is to end the exploitative working conditions in mica mining. The participation of the affected actors, in this case the working children, is always at the center of the activities.
• Baseline study – Baseline survey was conducted by 3rd party, but the LEADS team supported in the process of the survey which included arranging the visit of the surveyors to the villages; gathering the community; helping establishment communication with PRIs, anganwadi workers, teachers, block and district officials, etc. The team itself was involved in conducting household survey on Google form developed by the 3rd party which numbered 102 in Koderma, 78 in Tisri, 26 in Gawan.
• Child Centered PRA – Child centered PRA was conducted by LEADS. This started with resource mapping and social mapping of the village, which was followed by mapping of children issues through interviews and possible solutions to these problems, was discussed with the villagers as well as the children. Depending on the understanding developed we discussed possible intervention of LEADS with the villagers.
• Establishment of 30 Bridge Centers
• Training of Tutors – Teachers for these centers were first identified during the visits of field facilitators who had sufficient knowledge to take these classes, which was consented-with by the villagers. Their 2-day training was conducted in March, 2021.