Morung Express Feature
Dimapur | May 19
Poverty can have a destructive impact, for it signifies not only going to bed hungry at times, but also a hammering that the human self-esteem gets. It is also important to make a note that poverty, on many occasions, is the chief cause of all domestic disputes in a family.
In reality, several parents are known to have sold off their children as they could not earn enough to maintain their family; while in a few cases, young girls have been pressed into the flesh trade by their own family members to add to the family’s fund. Young boys too have been given away to be employed as helps in hotels, shops, garages or even in the mines.
It is to shield these little ones from being dominated that the government has come out with precise laws prohibiting the hiring of children as labourers. However, in spite of the laws and the drive being taken up by NGOs, children continue being at the receiving end of poverty. At present, many young boys and girls continue to work as labourers in many sectors within and outside Dimapur district.
On the other hand, they have been cheated out of their early days, and while other children of their age group are sent to school to learn and spend time playing, it is round-the-clock work for two square meals a day and, if lucky, possibly a little monetary wage at the end of the month. In addition, it is also vital not to overlook that all children may not be fortunate enough to have kind employers.
Much can be done by the government and its agencies besides simply holding deliberations on the plight of children who are forced to live in horrible conditions owing to their poverty. Besides that, people can also try and make sure that these children get their due recognition as little ones.
