Child Labour; Let us stand together against this crime against children.”;Engnieer Dhaneswar
BY AKSHYA ROUT
JAJPUR, AUG 23: Engnieer Dhaneswar Samal Said( Child Labour)Let us stand together against this crime against children.” Samal Said Child labour is called to the employment of children in any work. Children being deprived by child labour loses their childhood, their right to go to school, contribute to the economy of a nation. Besides these, child labour affects mentally, physically, socially or morally.
The Constitution of India stated that no children, below the age of 14 years, shall not be employed to work in any factory or mine or any other hazardous employment. But in rural India, it is common to see children of poor families are working in fields or elsewhere to contribute to the family income.
These children are deprived of educational opportunities and lost in the depth of poverty. Children should belong to schools, not to workplaces. Child labour seduces children from their Right to Education and reinforces intergenerational cycles of illiteracy.
There are many reasons for child labour and exploitation. Poverty is considered to be the most vital cause of child labour. Poverty leads to growth as unskilled workers and enables a person to earn low wages in adulthood. So, parents force their children to go to work to increase the volume of income. Thus, a child-labour trap is formed. Due to getting involved in a job, these children loses the opportunity for education, which reflects in the literacy rate of India.
Many households, factories, mines exploits children as workers with low wages. For decades after decades, this phenomenon has been accepted in society, silently. With the equipment of advanced machinery throughout the world, adults are losing their source of income. Then, they force their children to go for income, even at low wages. Many countries in the world have refugees in their areas.
These refugees are poor enough to feed themselves. So, children from these families make habits to carry out labour to contribute to their family income. In the historical and sociological documentation of early Indian civilisation, the upbringing of children for labour is found.
They were brought on account of caste, kinship, age, gender, etc. Rulers like Chandragupta Vikramaditya, Ashoka tried to control it by propounding moral edicts in which obedience towards parents and respect for elders was praised. However, the point to show loyalty and obedience to one’s elders was moral, socially approved and valued behaviour.
Later, the Arabs, Turks, Afghans and the Mughals invaded India and forced people to impoverish and degenerate. The foreign invasions have destroyed the wealth and socio-cultural ethics of India.
Due to the economic deterioration, the children too faced adverse vicissitudes along with the adults. Families were unable to afford wholesome food and amenities for their families and children. Emphasis on elementary education faded away with time. Elementary education was restricted to the higher castes in society. Girls get an education hardly in comparison to boys. No one took any remedial steps.
