CHILD LABOUR

 

       Whenever we go out anywhere, whether it is an eatery, shopping centres or tea stalls or railway station or any such places we all of sudden become parents. In mean parents of those children who almost forget their names and become “Chotu” or “Beta” just for us. Yes of course we can be parents but definitely not by promoting Child Labour. I am not talking about #awareness, because only talking is going on in the name of awareness. Everybody is aware from the child who is working the person who is making them work. So as this is high time we should oppose it strongly not only as an ‘Employer’ but also as a ‘Consumer’.

          Whether it is Mumbai or any smallest village only a fist full of people who with a motive of eradicating it from society. You don’t appoint a child under age at your workplace that is appreciable but the moment you go to that nearby tapri / tea stall and say “Chotu chai lana” then you don’t have the right to say that you are against child labour. They work in the need of money sometimes and are sometimes forced to work for their profit because they work without complaining and at less pay. As they are young it becomes our responsibility to stand by them. Unless we stand for them they will take whatever is served to them.

          Even some Educated and Elite families don’t feel ashamed when they themselves have such children working as their house keep and outside the talk about opposing Child Labour. I recall an incident at my home, once my maid-cook had brought her daughter as it was some holiday. While cooking she asked her daughter to wash the resins. When I and my husband saw this we immediately stopped her from doing it. Similarly Nobel prize winner for Peace Mr. Kailash Satyarthi who has this principle where he doesn’t even drink water of the place if he finds a child working there which I would reques everyone can follow.

          When we think about Mr. Kailash one can easily recall the kind of honour and respect that is been given to him, agree he deserves it but at the same time this will not bring the change. If you really want to support and praise him then come forward and join equally in all ways Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Financially. Doing this would bring a change otherwise One man himself is an Army. At the same time I don’t see a problem if an Army joins for the cause.