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India: Exhibition uses tools of child labour |
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Urgent issues
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World Vision India and NalandaWay observed World Day against Child
Labour by organising an exhibition titled ‘At the Cost of Childhood’
that showcases the ‘tools of the trade’ of children involved in child
labour.
The exhibition consisted of creative and artistic
installations that highlight the various implements and tools used by
child labourers and was inaugurated by Dr. Prateep V Philip, Inspector
General of Police for Social Justice and Human Rights today in an event
attended by NGO leaders and child labour activists.
“Child labour is a complicated challenge that not only
steals away the precious gift of childhood from these children, it also
mars their identity,” said Dr. Jayakumar Christian, World Vision India
who was present at the event and delivered the opening address. “This
is symbolised by the fact that each of the installations have the face
of the child covered by an article that represents the trade he or she
works in.”
“We can see child labour everywhere, if we care to look,”
said Sriram V Ayer, Founder and CEO of NalandaWay Foundation and Ashoka
Fellow, “‘At the cost of childhood’ is an exhibition that attempts to
touch the conscience of society that is indifferent to child labour by
showing them the ‘tools of the trade’ of children who are forced to
give up their childhood and work because of poverty and injustice.”
World Vision India launched a report on a recent social
audit conducted by children from around the country on the
implementation of the ban on children below 14 working in the domestic
and hospitality sector. Titled ‘Every Child Counts’, the report found
that while lack of access to education is one of the main reasons
children are forced into child labour, a lack of awareness among labour
and police officials supposed to enforce the ban and unclear
definitions meant that not a single case was filed under this
provision.
Accepting the first copy of the report Dr. Jayakumar said
that “Education is the most appropriate and ‘right based’ response to
end child labour. In observing this World Day against Child Labour we
should do everything possible to ensure that the ‘right to education’
of every child is realised.”
The International Labour Organisation’s theme for this
year’s observance of this day is ‘Education – the ‘right’ response to
child labour’. |
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