subject: Child labour and what it could mean for us [print this page] Child labour and what it could mean for us
Child labour is one of the evils afflicting the masses of the world. The root of the evil lies in poverty, whereas the dominant mentality of the society to divide the masses into classes and groups based on their affiliations to a particular caste, class or even gender could be given as another amenable reason for child labour. Repayment of debt taken by parents, and the inability of governments to provide enough facilities for education could be some of the factors responsible for child labour. Many children work to supplement the family's income. Children find themselves as the bread-winners for their families at a time when their innocence and freshness should find expression in their actions.
The problem affects about 13 million children across the globe, with India hosting about 14 per cent of the afflicted children. Child labour could never be said to be confined to a single society. It is a social evil that affects all societies of the world in a negative manner. The apathy is that incidents of child labour are increasing every day, and yet very few are being reported. The efforts of the United Nations to combat the menace found expression in its Convention of the Rights of the Child, ratified by 190 countries in 1989 are applaud able in this case. The efforts of the International Labour Organisation for the eradication of child labour were highlighted when it designated a minimum age for being employed. Several organised movements like the Global March Against Child Labor have been organised to counter the potentials of child labour to destroy the society. June 12, 2010 was observed as World Day Against Child Labour to bring about an awareness among the denizens of the world about the matter. The inability of governments all across the globe to formulate laws potent enough to prevent the incidents of child labour is being hailed as a reason enough to give rise to such incidents.
Child labour works out as a violation of the tenets of human rights. Historically, the issues of child labour emerged during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. This was a period when production in factories was reached a zenith and demand for skilled and unskilled labour too touched a zenith. A huge gap between supply and demand of skilled and unskilled labour gave rise to search for alternatives. Children were seen as an easy and cheap alternative to the work force that occasionally put up demands before the management. This was probably the beginning of the degradation of the society through employment of children. Children were made to work in inhuman conditions by their supervisors or overseers.
Children are chosen to work on repetitive and tedious aspects like weaving carpets and polishing shoes that are usually shirked by adults. Many instances of child labour go unnoticed as children are employed in households to work on domestic chores and odd jobs. The contention seems to be uncontrolled as incidents of children employed as soldiers or even as prostitutes comes to light. Children are even deployed by family to churn money for the household by dancing, singing and acting on the stage. Almost all countries of the world specify an age before which it would be illegal to use children for any sort of work. The US sets the age at 16, while the Indian government sets out 14 years as the age at which one could seek employment. This is the age at which one begins to think logically and can decide what is good for oneself. Concerted efforts by the governments of the nations of the world are being supplemented by non-governmental organisations pooling in their efforts to counter the threats before children.
These efforts add to the prevention of incidents of child labour in the world. This form of labour needs to be curbed to enable and initiate a proper development of children. The legislature ought to formulate stricter and stronger laws to put a check on the exploitation of the future of humanity. Proper education and literacy could be proposed as viable solutions to the mess created by this social evil. This would be a step towards removing the factors responsible for child labour.
The malaise could be tackled effectively if equal opportunities are provided to all children irrespective of their birth, colour or caste when it comes to opportunities as with education. it is often seen that children resort to working in factories or households because they don't find avenues of education like schools. Lack of infrastructure for education could be cited as the prime reason for this.
The solution could lie in the creation of adequate infrastructure for education of children. This way, the world could head towards a solution of the problem.
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Child labour and what it could mean for us
By: Faisal Zafar
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