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Child labour-a curse for society
Undernourished, with a starved look, aptly describes a child who has been made a commodity and an article of commerce. Such is the sad plight of many children, whose childhood is not a period of enjoyment but is spent in trying to make both ends meet. The reason for many children working as labourers can be attributed to factors like illiteracy, our population and of course poverty. These three factors result in many children taking up jobs in factories, which snatch their childhood and force them, to work like adults. The unhygienic conditions, late working hours and above all being subjected to the atrocities of hard taskmasters make them lose their mental balance and make them misfits in today's society. Child labour is cheap and the employers exploit their innocence and make them work for many hours at a stretch. The atmosphere is not congenial and these children are given jobs in hazardous industries like manufacturing glass and crackers. The Supreme Court had decided to ban child labour and passed orders to implement the decision strictly. But will banning them from working, send them to school?
Cheryl R. Massey, X
New Delhi: Queen Mary's School
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