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| Unfortunate childhood, between devil and deep-sea | | Rehabilitation scheme yet to take off | |
JAMMU | NOV 21
With which swiftness and tempo, the Child Labour Act, banning child labour was implemented in the country, the less attention was paid to the rehabilitation scheme provided under the law as a result of which the children who have been deprived of their livelihood under the Act have been forced to take other avenues to feed themselves and their families. Apprehensions are being expressed that non- implementation of the rehabilitation scheme may sooner or later make the Act redundant.
The young chaps after having relieved from working in small shops, restaurants, workshops and factories have taken up new avenues detrimental to their health and the society.
Raj Shree (name changed) a small orphan of hardly 13 years who used to work at an eatery in the famous market of “Bahu Fort” to run his livelihood and shoulder the responsibility of his younger brothers and sisters is now found wondering with a plate of coconut pieces in the hands with “Giri- Giri” on his dry lips. The sudden change in the profession came with the result as the Child Labour (Abolition and Prohibition) Act (CLA) which came into force on October10 last banning child labour below the age of 14 years in eateries, hotels restaurants, bars, workshops, factories and provides a scheme for their rehabilitation.
So far as implementation of the law is concerned no ground- work is visible and the rehabilitation scheme is yet to take off. The concerned authorities are least concerned about the future of the teenagers who have been deprived of their livelihood under the new Act.
Raj Shree is not the only case of its kind, hundreds of children below the age of 14 can easily be seen in the Bahu Fort market begging for money, food and cloths in the name of Maha Kali and Maai Sheran Wali. They seem totally ignorant about the education and are more concerned about today than tomorrow. Most importantly, neither any governmental nor any non-governmental organization has come to forefront for their rescue, when they are hopeless and dejected. While speaking to the EARLY TIMES, Pt. Santoosh Khajuria, President of the market at Bahu Fort, Maha Kali Mandir said that since the new law has come into force, poor children are in the deep trouble. Hotels and eateries have snatched their jobs and now they are compelled to beg on the roads for their bread and butter, he said and added that till now no one has come forward to help of ill-fated children. He further added that there are around 200 such children; of these 50 are those who used to work at small shops. The most horrifying thing that he disclosed was that some locals from surroundings of the Mandir come in the early morning and leave their children there to beg and in the evening they carry their children back home, which is a routine for them to earn money and make merry at the cost of their children. Early Times tried to contact Corporator of ward number 48, Asha Devi, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, but her husband expressed ignorance about the new law and if so the government must provide habilitation and education to such children. Meanwhile, Labour Commissioner, Pritpaul Singh Betab when contacted avoided to talk saying that he was over busy with some other work.
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