The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : Urban elite taken to task for `employing' children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Urban elite taken to task for `employing' children

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, MAY 4. Contrary to the popular expectations, the elite and enlightened of urban areas are less sensitive to the issue of child labour than their rural counterparts.

This is amply evident from the fact that children were being employed in the houses of very influential people considered to be "progressive and modern.'' "Besides being kept away from their parents, the children are being denied education which is essential for improving their future prospects,'' says noted social worker and Magasaysay Award winner, Shantha Sinha.

Ms. Sinha was here on Tuesday to forge a tie-up with M & M, a business outlet in the city, which came forward to contribute its share for eradication of child labour.

Addressing a press conference on the occasion, Ms. Sinha also dismissed the argument of the urban elite, employing the child labour, that they were taking care of children they had employed. In fact, the children were subjected to the "worst kind of exploitation'' by their employers on the pretext of helping them and their families. But for taking up a few programmes, the Government, on its part, was also not forthcoming in adequate measure to rehabilitate the child labourers. While there were 35 lakh children still out of school, the Government records put them to be at only 5.5 lakhs.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

New software to help police monitor cases

VMC bid to check malpractice in payment of water charges

Urban elite taken to task for `employing' children

18 persons held for selling gutkha

Around the City

In Vijayawada Today