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An Indian poet has rightly stated that he would like to have childhood again and again. He explained that the child is free from all tension, work and is free to do what he likes. Normally a child studies, has his freedom, plays and is not bothered or worried of any responsibility of livelihood. I wonder how many children who work to earn their living would agree with this poet.
In the declaration of the Rights of children in 1924 there were certain principles that were put forth. The 7th principle states that the child is entitled to receive education that shall be free & compulsory at least in the elementary stages. He will have full opportunity for play and recreation. Principle 9 stated that, the child shall not be admitted to employment before an appropriate minimum age. He shall in no case be employed which would prejudice his health or education or interfere with his physical mental or moral development.
But there are some children in this society or World who are deprived of these rights. They cannot study, nor can they play. They just have to work the whole day. Yes, I am referring to the problem known as child labour.
What is the meaning of child labour? Let us understand this. Child labour means a child who has to work every day, sometimes for more than 14 hours a day and is not paid properly. Legally speaking, he is underage for work. Thus the employer can be fined if the child is below 15 years of age and is working there. Indian law prohibits child labour; but the law is not enforced.
But this child does not like to work on his own will. He has no other option and thus is forced to do so. He is poor or does not have a home; or the condition in the family is very bad and thus the child has to work. Therefore the child misses his childhood when he can play, be free from every thing. Now he has to be under tension and becomes more like an adult than a child.
India has the largest number of children at work in the world today. Some estimates put the figure at 100 million children.
These children work in industries such as ‘beedi rolling’ (cigarette making), carpet making, match making, making slates or, weaving silk. The most notorious of these is the carpet industry of Mirzapur-Bhadohi-Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh State of India. A report quotes of a recent study of these children who are kept in captivity, tortured and made to work 20 hours a day without a break.
There are several forms of labour involving children. They are:
1. Domestic servants
2. Forced and bonded labour
3. Commercial sexual exploitation
4. Industrial and plantation work
5. Street work
6. House hold work
The most vulnerable and exploited children of all, as well as the most difficult to protect, may well be those in domestic services. They are often poorly paid or not paid at all. Their terms and conditions are entirely at the whims and fancy of their employers who take no account of their legal rights. They are deprived of schooling, play and social activity, not to mention absence of emotional support from friends and family. What is more, they are vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse.
The isolation of children in domestic service also makes it difficult to establish reliable estimates of their number around or in India. Thus due to all this the child suffers from mental and physical strain that affects his life.
However in the prevailing conditions, the child is not at fault. He is forced to work, even though he does not want to.
I think there are five reasons why the child is forced to work. They are:
1. The standard of living of the family is so poor that though they are hard working, they are benefited with an extra hand. They cannot earn enough money thus the child is exploited.
2. Parents live apart and the parent with whom the child is staying is unemployed or does not work.
3. The father drinks a lot and does not earn, the child and mother have to work.
4. One of the other reasons is that the child has no home, he is an orphan. He lives on streets where ever he gets shelter, and has to earn to fill his stomach.
5. The child may also have run away from home because he is not happy or he must have problems or many other reasons. Therefore he has no one to look upon for food and money and is all alone in this big wide world.
Now as the world is developing, computers can help these children to develop their abilities, ideas and guide them. Every child has some special ability which has to be developed.
With the help of computers set up all over the country, the first step is to find out the number of children who do not have any homes and are in need of one. All the children living on street, who are begging should be collected together. The officer should keep that child for a month and get used to him. Then after knowing the child well he should put the same description on the internet. With the help of graphics, he should show the photo of the child and send it on the net and ask people world wide if they would like to adopt that child. Thus the number of children begging on the streets will lessen. One thing should be kept in mind that the family in which the child goes, should be good and should also be able to afford him.
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Maitreyi Doshi
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Comments
Maria Lanza | Nov 22nd, 2001
I can't belive tthis is happening in our times! Maria Lanza | Nov 22nd, 2001
Maitreyi,
I found your editorial really informative, like I said, I can not believe it is still happening in our day and age! What type of action has your government take to stop this if any? I think external adoption is a good idea, but my defenses rise at the thought of children being adopted by the companies that force them to work. At best, what would this look like? In the past, Canadian children have really paid the price of residential schools or orphanages that were govenment funded. We now know that institutionalizing children does not work! What about placeing children in foster homes, this solution is not the best, but at least children are in homes. Hmm, tough problem, unfortunately no simple solution!
information needd regarding your text syeda farwa zahra | Jul 23rd, 2003
gud piece n informative , aswell , can you please tell me abbout this CHILDREN RIGHTS policy ....of 1924 , was it declared for the children world wide or just for the citizens of INDIA ...
please clarify
farz_16@yahoo.com
No respect for children Geoffrey Ngugi Murihia | May 4th, 2004
Maitreyi, I have found that even in America, children are not inspired or believed in. I work at a school where I have had teachers and the principle actually tell me that they felt that certain students would never grow up to contribute to society in a positive way. I am doing my part to offset this destructive mind set. Continue to inform people about the tragic lives that the children of today face worldwide
No respect for children Geoffrey Ngugi Murihia | May 4th, 2004
Maitreyi, I have found that even in America, children are not inspired or believed in. I work at a school where I have had teachers and the principle actually tell me that they felt that certain students would never grow up to contribute to society in a positive way. I am doing my part to offset this destructive mind set. Continue to inform people about the tragic lives that the children of today face worldwide
No respect for children Geoffrey Ngugi Murihia | May 4th, 2004
Maitreyi, I have found that even in America, children are not inspired or believed in. I work at a school where I have had teachers and the principle actually tell me that they felt that certain students would never grow up to contribute to society in a positive way. I am doing my part to offset this destructive mind set. Continue to inform people about the tragic lives that the children of today face worldwide
No respect for children Geoffrey Ngugi Murihia | May 4th, 2004
Maitreyi, I have found that even in America, children are not inspired or believed in. I work at a school where I have had teachers and the principle actually tell me that they felt that certain students would never grow up to contribute to society in a positive way. I am doing my part to offset this destructive mind set. Continue to inform people about the tragic lives that the children of today face worldwide
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