

Banjaras are a nomadic tribe primarily found in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. They are engaged in cattle rearing, daily wage labour, and construction work. They live in makeshift tents without permanent settlements, and their occupations and living conditions often keep them illiterate. Due to their nomadic lifestyle, local communities view them with mistrust, leading to social tensions when they settle on common land. This insecurity prevents them from sending their children to school. Similarly, a large number of Banjaras in Jodhpur work in stone quarries, where they face harsh and unsafe working conditions. Children are often exploited, working in hazardous environments for low wages. Due to a lack of identity documents and social exclusion, children are unable to access formal education. Instead of attending school, many are forced into child labor in quarries, engaging in stone breaking and other dangerous tasks. The issue is a grave socio-economic problem that undermines the basic rights of children while also perpetuating cycles of poverty. The program focuses on building awareness, early childhood education, and rehabilitation of children from the Banjara community. The multi-phase approach will begin with community engagement and non-formal centers.