The Hindu : Sport : Child labour, a burning issue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Sport

Sport

Child labour, a burning issue

Chitra V. Ramani

Child labour in the cracker industry is not eradicated; it has simply gone underground

Bangalore: Everyone knows that there exists a special connection between children and crackers. While they are the ones who enjoy bursting crackers the most, they are, ironically, the very ones exploited in the manufacturing process.

Several families across the city have vowed to celebrate a cracker-free Deepavali to create awareness about child labour. Bhargav S., a first Pre-University student of KLE College, has resolved not to burst crackers anymore. “I knew children were involved in the cracker manufacturing industry. But that had not stopped me from bursting crackers earlier. I have grown up now and can empathise with them. That is why I have decided not to burst any crackers.”

Pragna Mohan, a third standard student, is not very sure. “I did not know children like me were being forced to work hard to make crackers. Does that mean I cannot burst them anymore?” she asked this reporter.

Earlier, several non-governmental organisations used to launch campaigns during the Deepavali season to create awareness about child labour and the way children were made to work in hazardous conditions. “We used to distribute pamphlets and hold press conferences. But this year, we have not launched any campaign as such,” said Suchitra Rao, Unicef consultant and member of Campaign Against Child Labour, Karnataka.

But the CACL had gone to schools in the city and created awareness about child labour in the cracker industry.

“The cracker boxes claim that child labour was not involved during the manufacturing process. However, there is no authentic body in the State or country to certify that claim,” she said.

What is more surprising is that child labour has now shifted from the cracker factories to individual homes. “The factories now sub-contract the cracker-making process. So individuals who take up the contract in turn employ children. Even home-based work is considered child labour,” she said.

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