Sulito Chishi (Cl IX)
2nd Prize
Delhi Public School
“Honor and shame from no condition rise, act well your part, there, all the honor lie”
Child Labour is a harsh reality, fostered by socio economic and historical compulsions. It is believed that poverty, unemployment, population growth and illiteracy are the main reasons for malady and that their redress is a prerequisite for eliminating child servitude.
Many Governments’, especially in the developing world, lack an adequate system for obtaining accurate data on child labour. Nevertheless the ILO has estimated that 100 to 200 million children are laborers. According to ILO 95% of labours come from developing countries. Asia being the largest continent contributes 50% of the child labours in the world.
Though there is no known official census of child labour in Nagaland, it is roughly estimated that around 10,000 to 25,000 children are laborers; A fact very hard to digest indeed.
The reasons why children work are complex. Many frequently point out that poverty and survival are the two driving causes that finally lead to child labour. However, that is not the end of it. Though poverty is a contributing factor other factors must also be taken under consideration. Two of these factors are:
1. Economic self interest of factory owners: they overwork, under ay and otherwise exploit vulnerable child workers.
2. The Government’s inadequacies: Labour inspectors that lack experience, expertise and accountability.
In summary children work to survive, while others simply because there is an absence of a proper, meaningful educational alternative. Although children work because they are victims of poverty by working instead of educating themselves only tends to perpetuate the cycle of poverty.
There is a consensus among the experts that chills labours are usually less demanding and more obedient making it easy for others to take advantage for them. They have few, if any rights, are bullied and are often abused.
In spite the fact that child labour still looms as a big threat towards society, a number of organizations such as the UNICEF and the ILO are taking major steps to eradicate and combat child labour.
Let us all take inspiration from them and take a stand against this disease that is spreading faster with every passing day.
Let us all remember, “A small helping hand from us towards these children today can help remould, rebuild and restructure some fortunate child’s life tomorrow.
