The Hindu : Kerala News : Need to rehabilitate child labourers stressed

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Sunday, Oct 29, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

Need to rehabilitate child labourers stressed

The Central Government's notification banning child labour in more sectors including in homes, which came into effect on October 10, has been generally welcomed as a progressive step. What mechanisms will be needed in a State like Kerala to implement it effectively, while also seeking to help those children who may have been forced to augment family incomes by choosing to work? Our readers respond:

Welfare schemes

It seems that the Government does not have the details about the number of jobless children to draw up a social welfare scheme and rehabilitate them. The Government should provide support to the families of such children. The children should be given compulsory primary education and the Government should fund it. Social welfare schemes to channelise the children through suitable avenues of employment with social security should be adopted. The child labour ban is not likely to achieve the targeted aims and objectives if its social impacts are not analysed.

Joy Eapen

Vennikulam

Rehabilitate them

India has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of child labourers in the world. Official estimates say that Kerala has the lowest number of child labourers in the country. But, the number of child domestic workers in the State (especially migrant workers from Tamil Nadu) is going up. It is disgrace that child labourers form the invisible work force in restaurants, workshops, pavement stalls, construction sites, stone quarries, brick-kilns and in organised sectors such as beedi units, cracker, cashew, coir and marine-food processing industries.

Poverty, unsteady income from traditional occupations, social compulsions and rising family debt are some of the factors that prompt parents to force the children to take up jobs. The children undergo physical abuse, emotional strain and work in appalling conditions for a paltry pay. They have no choice but to work, as they are required to supplement their family income. They lose their childhood and have no access to basic education. Destitute, orphans and runaways take to beggary, prostitution, pornography, selling illicit liquor, drug peddling and even commit petty crimes for money. We need to adopt a holistic approach to eradicate child labour from society. Creating public awareness, coordinating the efforts of various government departments and NGOs, rehabilitating rescued children and initiating a mechanism for periodic verification coupled with strict vigil by law enforcing agencies are some of the remedial measures. Making primary education compulsory and implementing employment guarantee schemes will help augment the above measures.

Reghu P.L

Thiruvananthapuram

Extend support

It is a bold step on the part of the Central Government and the State should welcome the move. The first step to support the move in Kerala should be to ban child begging all over the State and strict action taken against those who force children into begging. The childline should be made functional and urgent measures taken upon receiving calls. All institutions and organisations employing children should be penalised. The Government and private schools should offer scholarship to support the children who are forced to work.

Ragesh V.K

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Part-time schools

Schools can play a major role in developing a positive attitude among children on education. Counselling centres should function in all schools to avoid dropouts and help children deal with stress and academics. Also part-time schools or evening schools can be opened for children who are forced to work during daytime to sustain their families. Few needy children can help with work such as cleaning the school premises or Government institutions during evenings or weekends. This will help them earn a livelihood while acquiring basic education. Employers should make sure the children they are hiring are aged below 14 and are receiving education, else it would be a violation of the law.

Rajasree Pai

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Right focus

To implement the prohibition of child labour the best way would be to focus on primary education. Though we have made primary education compulsory, the requirement is not fulfilled to any appreciable extent, especially among the weaker sections of society. The poor find it a financial burden to send their children to school. So, we have to increase the number of schools at the primary level and have an equitable geographical distribution so that children do not have to walk long distances. The authorities should distribute teaching material, uniforms and healthy midday meals free to children. The children will get a sound foundation to become worthy citizens and the present lopsided values of society will gradually give way to healthier ones. Child labour can be gradually checked. This will entail a substantially higher budget allocation by the Government. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should also come forward to bear part of the educational expense.

B.K.S Nair

Thiruvananthapuram

Alleviate poverty

In Kerala, most of the child workers in homes, hotels and so on are from other States. Poverty may be the main cause for children working in such establishments. Law alone cannot solve the problem. People should realise that child labour is punishable. It may be possible to send home some of the freed children, but for others there, a proper mechanism for rehabilitation should be drawn up. They should be given the required education. The Government will have to identify the places where they could be sheltered or build suitable such shelter homes.

Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

Educate children

Banning child labour should be the beginning of a social reformation. The circumstances forcing a child to seek a job should be understood. We should realise that it is owing to poverty that the children are sent to work. Their parents do not have the financial means to send them to school. Children should be provided all facilities required for schooling.

M.P. Bipin

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Vennikulam

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