Who else is responsible for Child-Labour?

Who else is responsible for Child-Labour?

 

 June12, 2010, was observed as an Anti-Child Labor day, but how successful are we in preventing Child-Labour? Is it not a matter of pride but pity on us?

 

 Although, the government is making new policies overnight to curb this anti-social activity, so far it has failed to achieve its goal of guarding the interest of these children. Administrators have launched many schemes like Agan-wari schools, compulsory education till class 5 for girls, free food in government schools; however, there has been negligible difference between the drop-out ratios and enrolment ratios in the state's educational institutions over the last five years. Moreover, the instances of child labor are much higher in urban areas as compared to rural ones: mainly, because of the increasingly greater number of migrant workers in the cities.

 

 Whosoever is against child-labour, Administration or NGO's, always blames the rich for making children work as a laborers, either as domestic help, or at the office. It was stated in one leading newspaper, that any person found engaging a child for work will be charged a penalty of Rs.10,000-20,000—but, no one actually goes to check if it's the wealthy, who visit the house of the poor to bring their child for working stretch hours, or is it the other way around? Without doubt, the practice is inhuman, no matter who initiates it; still, nobody dares to acknowledge the truth about it.

 

 While Government, NGO's, and social workers, all stand up in unison to accuse the "high class" sections of society, so to speak, what about checking on the parents of those children who send their wards for work which is not only illegal, but evil. Each and every individual is after money these days, and we can't curse the lower stratum of population when they don't think of holding back. They too share in the chase, and are lured by the cash they get, even at the cost of their kid's future. Today's slogan: "Education is a fundamental right of every child"; how many parents of such children are educated enough to weigh these words properly?

 

 These people send their children for domestic help, and dhaba's, hotels, or motels situated outside the MC belt, often sighting inane excuses, as described by one of the maids taking help from her daughter:

"keya kare gi jada parh ke bibi ji, panchvi kar li hai, ghar ka kaam seekh le gi to kuch paisa hath mein aa jaye ga".

"yehi nai bibi ji kaam karma aatta hoye ga to shadi karne mein koi diqkat nai aye gi" says another maid.

 

 To get rid of the problem, we need to make some amendments in our approach. Instead of only targeting the rich, there should be a provision to prevent poor parents from getting involved in, or encouraging, the menace of child labor practice. They could be penalized for sending their under-age children for work as well. NGO's and social workers, apart from educating this less fortunate group, should also help the government to implement the kind of regulations that would uproot activities like child labour.

 

Karanpreet

Public Health Activist