
‘Mindset change to combat child labor’
Kohima/Dimapur, November 20 (MExN): Nagaland Governor K Sankaranarayanan today said poverty is the root cause of child labour and trafficking. “We have rules and regulations but the implementation part is poor. If you want to stop this, the mindset of the people should change” the governor said in his address at the inaugural function at a one-day seminar on child rights held in Kohima. Saying that prayers, law, police or military cannot stop child abuse, child labour and child trafficking, the governor said “If we have a change in our minds with a positive attitude then only we can stop it”. The governor also called for a legal framework to ensure the basic rights of children and preventing their exploitation.
Sankaranarayanan said parents want the best for their children, yet there is also the reality of exploitation. “We have had the best of the traditions and values for looking after our children. However, at the same time we also hear about exploitation of children. This is especially true for children who are orphans or destitute. Many poor and helpless children are made to work in homes and roadside hotels; they are deprived of basic education which is a basic and fundamental right now” the governor said. The governor also drew attention to the crimes committed against children. “We also hear of crimes including rape and trafficking of children. All this is very disturbing and this points to a need for having a legal framework for ensuring the basic rights of children and preventing their exploitation” he said.
Highlighting the legal rights of children and for their implementation, Sankaranarayanan emphasized sensitizing people to make everyone understand the state of child rights in the country and make sincere efforts to combat violation. Opining that ‘youth, organized through student bodies’ in the state are ‘quite aware of their rights’, the governor however said “what we require is to focus on the rights of small children who are denied the rights of education and those who do not even get to become students”.
“We know of numerous small children from the remote villages who are employed as domestic help. Many of them work in situations equivalent to child labor” the governor said. He urged for building consensus for sustained and concerted efforts to ensure guaranteeing basic rights for all children.
Also, Neingulo Krome speaking on the topic “child right is human right” called for catering to the needs of children. He said children are the worst victims in any conflict situation. “Today our children lives in the midst of internal contradictions filled with agonizing fears from within our own families that can’t differentiate between the enemy and the friend” he said. Neingulo emphasized educating children to ‘stop hatred’ while acknowledging own shortcomings.
Also, on the ‘realities of child trafficking’, Ela K, Director of Prodigals’ Home said the government is not doing enough for children who are born in poor families. On the increasing trend of child-trafficking, missing children and child labor in the state, Ela pointed out that most ‘mothers’ out of ignorance practice human-trafficking. Legislations and acts are also not satisfactorily implemented either, she said. Further highlighting on the various forms and purposes of trafficking and the factors responsible for it, Ela solicited creation of legal awareness in all sections of the society; effective implementation of legislations, Acts and discourses of child rights in all possible platforms. Earlier, a rescued child laborer, Joydeep from CEC School of Dimapur, shared his past experiences as a child laborer. He also appealed rescuing his other friends who are still bonded in labor.