Child labour continues unabated in city

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, November 13

Even as Children’s Day shall be a special occasion for countless children who celebrate the day at colleges and schools enjoying special treatment holding functions and events, out on the streets, an alternative childhood languishes under the burden of labour and lost innocence.

Despite a plethora of laws and regulations safeguarding their childhood and promising them a right to education, many children in the district continue to reel under the burden of child labour working at dhabas, auto repair shops, tea and juice stalls in blatant violation of the norms.

He is barely 10 and expressions on his face are of worry. His day starts at 7 am and continues till the sun is down.

He is “chottu” working at a tea shop here. He is one of the hundreds of child labour employed in the city.

Meanwhile, some of the children said they worked out of some compulsions.

“There is no other source of income for my family. Therefore, I have no option but to work,” they said.

People often ask me, “Oye tu school kyu ni jata” (Why don’t you go to school?), said Raghav, an eight-year-old.

Lakhbir Singh, president, Pahal, an NGO, working for the rights of the children said, “The problem of child labour is pathetic in the city. The condition of the children working in factories and other commercial sites is worse due to the hostile and unhealthy environment there. The persons employing the children should be arrested on the spot.”

“As of now, a child rescued as child labourer was sent to the Child Development Project Officer. His parents came and take the child from there and later, a case was registered against the employer. However, due to this lax procedure, there is no fear in the minds of people,” Singh added.

Despite repeated attempts, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Sukhjinder Singh Sara, could not be contacted.