Say NO to Child Labour

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.

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