We are often faced by this issue whether to buy or not to buy products made by organisations who employ child labour. The logical answer to this question is NO, we should not buy products made by organisations who employ child labour as that will discourage employers from employing and exploiting children. As per labour law, it is illegal to employ children under 14 years of age.
However, ground reality is that around 10 million children In India and 150 million in the world are engaged in part-time/ full-time employment. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, natural calamities forces children to engage in some kind of employment to either partially or fully support their families.
In such a situation, in my opinion, I think it is fine to buy products made by organisations employing children as long as they are not working in hazardous situations. Children working in these organisations should be paid equivalent to an adult. They should also be given opportunities to educate themselves.
This is not an ideal situation. As educated and aware citizen, we would like to see every child enjoying his/her childhood and is given equal opportunity to educate himself/ herself.
According to statistics reported by Save the Children, there is reduction in Child labour in India. A lot of ground still needs to be covered.
Government of India, under its National Child Labour Project (NCLP) surveys district and withdraws children under 14 years of age from child labour and rehabilitate them through vocational training, mid day meals and a basic allowance.
Various NGOs are also working to reduce child labour and give them education and training opportunities.
Child labour is not going to just vanish by working with children, but this problem is an offshoot of lot of other issues such as poverty, unemployment, failing of crops for agricultural community. A strong political will to undertake economic and agricultural reforms, to reduce poverty and unemployment is the crux of this problem. It will not happen overnight. It will take changes at the grass-root level.
Till such time that we can see our dream to see every child enjoying his/ her childhood, attending school and is free from any form of exploitation, we can do our bit by supporting organisations who provide opportunities to these children.
What can we do to help children engaged in employment.
However, ground reality is that around 10 million children In India and 150 million in the world are engaged in part-time/ full-time employment. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, natural calamities forces children to engage in some kind of employment to either partially or fully support their families.
In such a situation, in my opinion, I think it is fine to buy products made by organisations employing children as long as they are not working in hazardous situations. Children working in these organisations should be paid equivalent to an adult. They should also be given opportunities to educate themselves.
This is not an ideal situation. As educated and aware citizen, we would like to see every child enjoying his/her childhood and is given equal opportunity to educate himself/ herself.
According to statistics reported by Save the Children, there is reduction in Child labour in India. A lot of ground still needs to be covered.
Government of India, under its National Child Labour Project (NCLP) surveys district and withdraws children under 14 years of age from child labour and rehabilitate them through vocational training, mid day meals and a basic allowance.
Various NGOs are also working to reduce child labour and give them education and training opportunities.
Child labour is not going to just vanish by working with children, but this problem is an offshoot of lot of other issues such as poverty, unemployment, failing of crops for agricultural community. A strong political will to undertake economic and agricultural reforms, to reduce poverty and unemployment is the crux of this problem. It will not happen overnight. It will take changes at the grass-root level.
Till such time that we can see our dream to see every child enjoying his/ her childhood, attending school and is free from any form of exploitation, we can do our bit by supporting organisations who provide opportunities to these children.
What can we do to help children engaged in employment.
