Children are a supreme asset to any nation. Their nurture and moulding are our responsibility. Children’s programme should find a prominent part in our national plans for them to grow up and become robust citizens, physically fit, mentally alert and morally healthy endowed with skills and motivations needed to survive in the society.
But during the recent years the exploitation of children in India has always been an area of concern. While official sources estimate the number of child workers to be 17.36 million, others have placed the figure at the much higher level of 44 million. High as they are, even these figures do not reflect the real tragedy of the working children in India. Most children work in highly exploitative conditions and all are deprived of even the most minimal educational facilities.
The phrase “child labour” conjures up a particular image - we see children chained to looms in dark mills and sweatshops. They are also engaged in risky and hazardous jobs. In reality children do a variety of work in widely divergent conditions, which is palpably destructive or exploitative. We note that child labour is increasing substantially.
Another shocking report is the sale of children. The phenomenon of the sale of children is universal nowadays. Children are not only sold or exploited at the national level, but they are also trafficked across frontiers far and wide. With regard to the sale of children, one UN document limits the notion to sale for adoption, sale for forced labour and sale for prostitution. On the other hand one non-governmental organisation’s report includes the sale of children as their sale for
- Adoption and marriage
- Prostitution and sexual exploitation
- Pornography
- Cheap bonded labour
- Begging, stealing and other criminal actions
- Organ transplants
We know that hazardous child labour is a betrayal of every child’s right as a human being and is an offence against our civilization. So, as YCS/YSMers, what’s our role in eradicating child labour? To see behind this big picture the need for reliable measurements of the prevalence of child labour is paramount. It can and must be abolished here and now. Above all, we need to know how many children are involved in detrimental work. This is the group of children that our programmes and plans need to reach most urgently. Without this clearer information the true magnitude of the problem will remain unknown. What has been long hidden in the shadows will only emerge into the light fully and finally, when we can measure it and thus systematically eradicate it.
Our lodestar must always be the best interests of the child. On this there can be no doubt. Work that endangers children’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development must end. So we all need to put a lot of efforts on this massive task.
As YCS/YSMers, lets plan and execute some initiatives. There are a number of measures, which should be implemented.
- Information campaigns to raise awareness about problem.
- Educational and vocational training for children involved in child labour.
- Social action to help affected families and their children
- Development aid
- Stipulation and application of labour standards.
We are aware of child labour and its threats to the society and still are we just going to remain silent and think it’s not my problem. But why can’t we turn out to be a beacon of light for those who toil in darkness? Can’t we lead at least one child to a better path? So let’s start today and work together for a bright future. We’ll succeed. Good luck!!!.
- Sofia R. Juliet (National EXCO, T.N.)