Child Labor? Not my Cup of Tea

Child Labor? Not my Cup of Tea

What causes child labor? Is it absence of good school? Is it because of poverty? Is it because educational institutes have become money making institutions. Probably it is an consolidated factor of all these above mentioned factors, and those factors not included in here which promotes child labor in our country today. Emphasizing the fact what child labor is all about we could come to a definite conclusion that the practice of having children engage in economic activity on part time or full time basis is child labor.  The repercussion of child labor is actually seen in the child’s all round development. The practice of child labor in particular deprives the child from enjoying their childhood, they do not get equal opportunities to develop physical, emotional, intellectual, and psychological needs. The children by default are not ready to engage in tedious form of labor because they possess fragile body structure susceptible to tiredness. Moreover, the children who are victims of child labor do not enjoy a decent dietary plan. They are often poor, and just cannot afford good food. The poor condition they live in and the exposition to hazardous industrial chemicals makes the children prone to diseases.

            The irony of life in our country is we visualize a country where in there would be 100% literacy level and try to compete with other countries in the world, but on the other hand we do not make any effort to  abolish child labor. Children, who labor, can never improve their standard of living and they are doomed, from womb to tomb. This sipped truth will be true from generation to generation come what may.

            To curb this social evil of child labor our country has promulgated various law and penalties. She has also come with directives and corrective measures in order to protect the child and give it a platform to grow confidently. National policy is formed in order to protect the child and rehabilitate them. Many religious institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations have also come up sharply on child labor simultaneously; for instance, DON BOSCO’S Home in Bangalore addresses this issue by getting such children to their institutes and empowers them with education. However, in spite of all the efforts we still find a child employed in a garage as a helper, in a chai wala dukan as supplier, in the truck as cleaner and so on. All though we are aware what to do supposing we find a child employed in a particular place, we consciously ignore it and move on. Some of them even justify this act of not bringing to the notice of local authorities stating it’s not my cup of tea I am busy with my work and I have no time for it, while others say we live in a democratic country and everyone has the right to do what one wants to do. This is the trajectory of life, as long as I have no problem I can live my life peacefully. If this is, the dictum each individual embraces than abolishing child labor will only be a dream that cannot come into being. The trend of I, me, and myself, turns out to be the anthem of every individual with which we cannot overcome child labor. Well the ball is in our court, it all depends on how well we play it.  

Mascrine Lawrence Victor
MACJ