It is well said that “Small hands can handle a pen better.”
It is very imp for the people
to understand the depth of these words which people fail to do so.
Child labour is the burning
topic of today’s world. It is a work that harms children or keeps them away
from attending school.
The International Labour
Organization estimates that 215 million children between the age of 5 and
17 currently work under conditions that are considered illegal, hazardous, or
extremely exploitative. Under age children work at all sorts of jobs around the
world usually because they and their families are extremely poor.
India Is Sadly home to the
largest number of child labourers in the world .
Large number of children work
in commercial agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, mining, and domestic
services. Some children work in illicit activities like the drug trade and
prostitution which forms the worst part of it.
We know that poverty often
pushes children to work, yet it is seen that when children leave school early
to enter the labour force they are more likely to end up in occupations that
limit their chances of breaking out of poverty.
Therefore, importance of
education needs to be understood over here. It is really important to
understand that children at such a tender age should fill up their minds
instead of filling up their pockets.
It is very important to find a
solution to this burning topic of today’s world.
Child labour has also been a
subject of public interest litigations in Indian courts.
There are many steps that we as
citizens can take to fight against child labour.
Firstly, people need to abstain from employing
the child as a domestic help. As
per United Nations development report, 40% of domestic help in Mumbai are
under-15 girls. I believe
all citizens must be vigilant and if they notice any child labourer, one must
quickly report to the police. This will ensure the child being exploited get’s
timely help and is rescued.
Secondly, stringent rules must be set and
exercised efficiently by government, against firms employing child labourers.
The government must also ensure that poor children are supported and given free
education and meals.
Thirdly, people should not encourage child labour
by buying stuff from them in trains, on traffic signals etc.
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| Nikita Rathi, 2nd Year, BA LLB, ILS Law College, Pune |
Fourthly, we need to counsel the poor who have to
employ children to ensure two square meal for the entire family. In our
neighbourhood or locality we do come across poor people like our maid, milkman
etc who have got their children working instead of being in school. We need to
convince them that their vicious cycle of poverty will be broken only when
their children are educated and gain a meaningful employment after growing up.
We need to counsel the children as well who are engaged in labour.
And last but not the least, Non
governmental organisations also play a key role in eradicating such problems by
working endlessly for the welfare of children. Donating to prominent
and credible non governmental oraganisations like Child Rights And You, Bachpan Bachao Andolan etc. will ensure that these children
take up education instead of work. Additionally, we can also donate and sponsor
a child’s education. This will ensure that poor children don’t face financial
crunch and complete basic minimum education.
India continues to
suffer from massive poverty and this poverty in turn gives rise to child labour
because poor tend to increase the number of hands which can feed them. However,
we cannot sacrifice the entire generation of children to poverty while we wait
for it to end. It’s time we take oath and devote some time towards such social
issues.
Our greatest
natural resource is the minds of our children and I believe that investing in
our children’s development from the earliest age is the single most important
contribution we can make. It is important for the people to understand that
education is the most powerful weapon which people can use to change the world
and make it a better and a beautiful place to live in.
NIKITA
RATHI
