NEW DELHI:
Child labour is a deep rooted problem in India. The fundamental cause of this evil is poverty that forces families to push their children to work for a living. Though laws have been formed by the government, stricter action still needs to be taken to tackle this problem.
June 12 is observed worldwide as ‘World Day Against Child Labour’. The International Labour Organisation launched this day in 2002 to tackle the global issue of child labour.
Here are 6 things you can do to help eradicate child labour:
* Report if you see a child working
Often at grocery stores and tea shops, we come across small kids running errands. We could try to persuade the shop owner to refrain from employing kids under 18 years of age, but these pleas often fall on deaf ears. The best step is report such cases to the police directly so that necessary legal action can be taken.
* Educate parents of child workers
Parents who work as labourers may push their children into similar jobs to earn money. They avoid sending their children to school, either because they cannot afford to or because they feel it is a waste. Parents must therefore be educated about the importance of education in a child’s life, as well as the various government initiatives to help underprivileged kids study free of cost.
* Work with NGOs
A large number of NGOs actively work to rehabilitate and save children from being trafficked into child labour. You can either join such an organisation or assist the NGO in other ways.
* Do not employ children as house help
We see small kids working in homes, either cleaning the house, washing utensils and even taking care of toddlers. When questioned, people's usual resppnse is that that they are providing financial help by employing these children. But does it actually help? To truly help these kids, we must refrain from employing them and make efforts to help them get an education.
* Let others know about the existing laws
The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986, amended in 2016, defines a person below the age of 14 years as ‘child’ and prohibits employment of a child in any kind of employment (such as domestic help). It is a cognizable criminal offence. eople who employ children must be informed about The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) of Children Act of 2015 which could land them in prison.
* Fund a poor child’s education
If you want to do a noble deed, you can fund a child’s education. You can get also be associated and donate funds to organisations that help underprivileged kids by bridging the gap between poverty and education.
