WORK, WORK HARD MY CHILD

A leading daily recently carried an article, which stated that the British fashion retailer Primark has dropped three of its Indian suppliers for sub-contracting companies that use child labour. The clothing, considered ethically-if not commercially- unpalatable to the British consumer, has been removed from Primark’s 170 UK branches. Isn’t this a national shame that India cannot protect its own children? We have to depend on outsiders to open our eye.

Majority of the child population in India still suffers from malnutrition, poverty, disease, cruel exploitation through forced child labour and beggary and on top of all, illiteracy. These children lead a wretched life, ill clad and hungry, sleeping on the pavements, picking rags, begging or allowing themselves to be exploited in different trades and occupations. Much against their wishes street children are dragged into mafia underworld, drug peddling, and prostitution. They are shunned by all: parents, society and government. Huge sums are spent every year in India to focus on the plight of the child, but millions of children still continue to live a miserable life. The only care they get is tonnes of lip-sympathy (sic).

The situation of child labour and child abuse is worse both in the rural and urban places of India. Poverty, illiteracy, social backwardness of parents, a lacklustre educational system, the indifferent attitude of the educated citizens, irresponsible government officials and other compelling factors force millions of children to carry a burden too heavy for their frail, tender shoulders. Child labour is necessary for the poor family’s survival, but the crux of the problem is not desirable in the interest of either the family or society. Child labour creates a work force, which is ill equipped in terms of skills to compete in today’s globalized economy, besides destroying and tainting the innocent and young lives.

Children are the responsibility of the home, the community and the government. None of us has any right to trifle with their future. Just as tender plants require liberal dose of sunlight, water, manure and proper fencing to protect them from stray animals, the children need care and congenial atmosphere and support to grow. If the future of the child is bleak, can we hope for a better tomorrow? So the next time you see a child working in a factory or under unhygienic and dangerous environment, make sure he/she works hard…NO not in the same working conditions but hard, trouble free and persistently in a school.