By Dr AK Srivastava
“We cannot continue to rely on children to help us do the work of grown-ups. They are our future, not our past.” – Nelson Mandela
Children are the future of the country. They are the ones who will take the nation on a path of glory and achievements in all walks of life. Hence, they are our most precious and charming wealth. It is sad that after so many years of independence, the country has not been able to eradicate the menace of child labour completely. It is high time to work together and get the country free from this peril. Lack of awareness, illiteracy, poverty and the irresponsible attitude of society are some of the factors that force children to take up jobs that are against their dignity. Children are engaged in multiple types of hazardous, abusive and troublesome jobs. They are forced to work as bonded labour, or in the carpet weaving industry, agriculture fields and in many difficult circumstances. All these experiences curb their childhood tenderness and sensitivity. They are subjected to sexual, mental and emotional abuse. Constant pressure of hard work, violence and harsh behaviour of employers causes emotional injuries which leave permanent scars on their personality. We should be pro-active to deal with this problem.
“Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labour in my lifetime.” – Kailash Satyarthi
There are numerous circumstances that compel tender children to accept jobs that are mentally, physically, socially, morally and emotionally abusive and dangerous for their growth and development. It is getting trapped in such a cycle of poverty that has engulfed them for generations. It is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. They work to fight hunger and poverty. Sometimes, they wish to supplement the meagre income of their family and other times it is purely their compulsion of family commitments that pushes them into such circumstances.
It is gratifying to note that child labour is on the decline in our country. The government is trying to create maximum awareness in this area. The conditions have definitely improved since we achieved independence from colonial rule. Both the literacy rate and public awareness have contributed to this development. But still there is a long way to go and thousands of children are to be saved so that they can lead a happy and pleasant childhood.
The government formed a committee under the leadership of Gurupadswamy in 1979 to study this problem in all its seriousness and suggest ways to tackle it. After long deliberations and discussions, the committee suggested many recommendations. The Government introduced the Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986 to deal with the problem of child labour. The act gives a list of areas and circumstances where children cannot be employed. Then, in 2016, the act was further amended, and new conditions were included to make it more forceful and effective.
UNO is also working on many schemes worldwide to curb this problem and 12 June has been declared as Child Labour Day in order to attract the attention of the world. In India, it is estimated that more than 10 million child workers of different age groups are operating according to the National Sample Survey Organisation. UP, Bihar, Rajesthan, MP and Maharastra have maximum underprivileged, orphans and poor children.
It is encouraging to note that the government has introduced the Right to Education Act for the benefit of underprivileged children. Many schemes to bring the dropouts back to the schools are also in action. Schemes like mid-day meals, free books, bags and uniforms, etc., are really a great help for people. Mobile schools or Schools on Wheels, regular health and hygiene checkups by government doctors, etc., are contributing in this direction.
We must remember that India is a vast country and most of our problems are directly or indirectly related to our massive population. All efforts are being made by the government to check population growth so that other problems also come under control. It is a matter of great pride for us that the country is maintaining a remarkable GDP, and we are heading towards being the third biggest economy on the globe.
Economic growth and political stability will address such problems more efficiently and quickly. Moreover, it is the duty of every citizen to contribute wholeheartedly in dealing with such a massive social problem. We must ignore our personal comforts and profits to end the problem of child labour.
“There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. I always help in any way I can, even if it’s just by signing an autograph. A child’s smile is worth more than all the money in the world” – Lionel Messi
(Dr AK Srivastava is Principal, DAV Inter College, Dehradun.)
