Child labour: Video leaves Indian officials red-faced
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LUCKNOW: Officials in one of India's most populous states were left red-faced on Monday after a video emerged showing children cleaning up a medical college in preparation for a top politician's visit.
The video, broadcast on the NDTV network, showed children as young as 10 cleaning and sweeping the college grounds in Uttar Pradesh state before the arrival of its chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
The footage comes just weeks after India's child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize, which shone an international spotlight on India's high levels of child labour.
One of the children told the NDTV they were being paid “200 rupees” ($3.20) ahead of Yadav's arrival at the college in Kannauj city on Sunday to address a seminar.
A spokesman for the Uttar Pradesh government told AFP the incident would be thoroughly investigated.
“Though it is not in my knowledge, it indeed is a deplorable thing. The matter will be probed and the guilty shall be punished for sure,” Rajendra Chaudhary said.
The head of the college said action was already underway following the incident, adding that cleaning was conducted by a separate body which had probably outsourced Sunday's job to a private vendor.
“I would like to clarify that the college administration has nothing to do with this,” said college dean V N Tripathi.
Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 204 million, has one of the country's highest levels of child labour, according to NGOs and official statistics.
Satyarthi, 60, was this month jointly awarded the Nobel prize with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage education campaigner shot by the Taliban in 2012.
The Indian activist, who argues that poverty should not be an excuse for child labour, was recognised for doggedly championing children's rights in his home country and worldwide for decades.
India's mega cities such as Delhi and Mumbai are particular targets for criminal gangs whom police say traffic children in much the same way they sell drugs.
Most of these children end up as construction or domestic workers. Others take up rag-picking, agricultural work or industries such as fireworks, tobacco and carpet weaving.
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On DawnNews
Comments (51) Closed
Oct 27, 2014 07:00pm
This will continue to spoil millions of children lives until our leadership learn to invest on its people in general and on children in particular instead of spending on weapons to acquire regional supremacy.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:13pm
Our Indian brothers always keep their eyes closed and look away when it comes to facing the reality!!!
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Oct 27, 2014 07:16pm
Indians should make politician's children do that work as compulsion. Shamefully 10 percent of Indian children still work for living. Country that has highest billionaires after USA. Such a Shame!
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Oct 27, 2014 07:17pm
With congress at the helm for the last 67 years, the government paid no heed for the need to bring children to schools and ensure that they live better. These corrupt practices and greed of congress leaders and private contractors now have no easy run with Modi exposing each of them one by one. I trust Modi to get these things fixed with the changes in laws ensuring that the states and their law and order people are made responsible and action initiated against those not willing to implement in its true spirit. Time to stop this unworthy practices with effective governance.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:21pm
What does Akhilesh Yadav have to say in this? If he takes an initiative to punish the culprits in public, the same will not be repeated . It is very shameful.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:22pm
Child labor is VERY common in India.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:28pm
This is an open secret in India. All the hard dirty work is done by Women & Children. In the steel mill where I worked, the men had all the cushy union jobs while the women did the back breaking work of breaking used moulds with sledgehammers. In the paddy fields, the man is on the tractor or in the boat while the woman is walking in knee deep water transplanting paddy plants with her kid on her back. on the tea estates, the women are the ones who pick the tea leaves
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Oct 27, 2014 07:38pm
@concerned_kashmiri Its very common in Pakistan too, specially in brick kiln industries.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:40pm
Most of these child labour are from muslim community. They keep on having kids and literally throw them on roads to either beg or steal.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:49pm
We Indians accept our child labour problem & try to rectify it.
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Oct 27, 2014 07:59pm
Let's hope that India can get rid of this scourge completely within the next decade.
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Oct 27, 2014 08:03pm
Thank you Dawn for covering this story. Aklesha Yadav is one of the worst politicians in India led by caste vote bank! He will have no chance in the next elections. Having said that, i mainly blame us citizens of India for doing this to our children, Shame on us for that! We have to force the government to change its attitude regarding Child labor, we cannot sit back and simply blame the government this is our own failure.
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Oct 27, 2014 08:07pm
akhilesh yadav- most shameless, communal, votebank aimed, uneducated, uncivilized politician with other goons who think he can win with yadav and muslims with his votebank politics. his samajvadi party is the most communal, shameless, terroristfriendly, uncivlilzed party in India
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Oct 27, 2014 08:27pm
Being an Indian, I would say we deserve all the abuse and insults on this matter. We are sorry for the plight of these children and we must take full responsibility and work with renewed efforts to eradicate poverty. My suggestion to Pakistani freinds, Pakistan is no better and I hope your country also should make eradication of poverty as your priority.
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Oct 27, 2014 08:30pm
It is good that we the Indians got rid of the corrupt Congress. We hope and pray that very soon we will get rid of this scourge.
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Oct 27, 2014 08:43pm
@ghanshyam In this case they are working, is this not what news is telling? 14% of total population, 40% inmates (jailed) are Muslims and 4% representatives in current Modi Govt. are Muslims.
I am thankful to my ancestors who migrated. Are we better off? Probably not but we tried. Aasman se gira aur khajoor mai atka. This is the story of poors vs. rich, has nothing to do with country or religion. Same stories here in North America where I am living for 20 years.
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Oct 27, 2014 08:44pm
@ghanshyam What a terribly bigoted statement to make. They are simply poor kids from all communities. Do you have any data to back up your assertion?
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Oct 27, 2014 08:49pm
@ghanshyam What a stereotyping comment you have given. I assume if you own a computer, you might be a literate but your comment totally opposes that. Instead of accepting right as right, you are pointing fingers on Muslims. That is way too pathetic. I believe that your comment has no background nor survey, just mere hatredness towards Muslims. If this is what you call PROGRESSIVE india, then goodluck living in it. Just accept the fact and try to improve it. You will actually feel good from the inside.
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Oct 27, 2014 08:50pm
Akhilesh Yadav and his Government has very high regards towards Pakistan. Just so you know. He always emulates most of the reforms/policies/schemes from Pakistan... just like laptop scheme. Uttar Pradesh is a very progressive state in India with very impressive employment rate and no crimes at all. It's the envy of all other states in India. So much so that employment starts at age 5. God bless UP.
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Oct 27, 2014 09:23pm
At least they were paid Rs. 200; yes they can be forced by the local administration to this job free also. Over population is the prime problem in the sub continent. Mr. Modi must emphasis population control prom but not like that of Congress government earlier.
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Oct 27, 2014 09:25pm
@ghanshyam Sarcastic statement; shame on u; a child is a child whether he is muslim or Hindu
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Oct 27, 2014 09:26pm
@Shubs Yes it can be done with Mr. Modi's inspiration.
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Oct 27, 2014 09:38pm
This is not an easy problem. Child labor is bad however a child's life may become worse if he/she does not work and make a living. Unless we have thought about an alternative to fight the hunger the child may face; it is meaningless to worry about his/her labor; at this provides them with a honorable livelihood.
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Oct 27, 2014 09:53pm
And they shout about Mars!
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Oct 27, 2014 09:54pm
While the Modi is busy in his Space and Arms Race, People are dying out there!
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Oct 27, 2014 10:35pm
@JackDomm Technological developments will one day remove poverty. Your jealous is understandable...
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Oct 27, 2014 10:52pm
@Sunil "Its very common in Pakistan too, specially in brick kiln industries". Of course it is. But we are not a super power and we are not shining...remember? We are a third world country stumbling along on the way to progress.
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Oct 27, 2014 11:13pm
@Akram , I agree, the Indians always like to deflect attention from themselves to Pakistan if they are portrayed as a star, a desperate effort as usual, be it a poverty or caste system, they don't miss the opportunity to brag how big their economy is.
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Oct 27, 2014 11:14pm
It's beyond shameful.
Rampant poverty, along with absence of any institutionalized social security in the developing societies, create such horrible, inhuman situations. Nobody knows for sure, what is the solution for poverty and all associated ills.
May be, India should adopt China's one child policy for next 50 years or so. The unevenness of distribution of wealth in India is startling. Around 100 million are very rich. 200 million more are rich. 500 million middle class, and remaining 500 million - almost beggars.
We must start building a social security infrastructure for poor. It will be a long way ahead, but we can start doing something about it. We cant expect govt alone to do everything. If every rich family of India start supporting one poor child each, we can make a lot of difference.
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Oct 27, 2014 11:26pm
@JackDomm As a Pakistani I'd say that your comments are emotive and invalid as much as I dislike some of the things that our neighbour (and we do too) does to create a propoganda barrier against us (each other). Trying to relate aspiration in science, technology and defence has nothing to do with child labour in the unregulated sector. What you should seek & inform yourself on the level of abject poverty that exists in pockets of the richest nation in the world in terms of GDP - Obamaland. However 2 wrongs don't make a right. We should be the last to 'throw stone' considering we too, like many aspiring nations in the world 'live in glass houses
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Oct 27, 2014 11:26pm
Child labour, child prostitution or abuses is every where in the asian countries, its not only a indian phenomina, you can find every where from africa to mideast to far east, and now a days in east europe/russia too!
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Oct 27, 2014 11:30pm
This is good news for India. More these kinds of things and people behind it are busted and exposed, the better it is for India. It is when you sweep the dirt under the carpet, problem arises. Exposure and transparency brings honesty, self-inspection, and eventually corrective actions.
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Oct 27, 2014 11:32pm
@ghanshyam :: What a bigoted, senseless, hateful, and baseless comment. There should be no place for people like you in the Country of India. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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Oct 27, 2014 11:46pm
@Ajay vikram Singh Very nice idea. and probably do able. Can't agree with your more.
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Oct 27, 2014 11:56pm
Most shameful is that a large population takes it for granted that a little child is toiling all his/ her childhood. While GOVT should do more, we need to do introspection. Are we doing enough?? Atleast begin by giving money generously to children on street.
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Oct 28, 2014 12:02am
@Madhu dont blame pakistan for this issue for heaven sake. Child labor is wrong anywhere, and it is deplorable
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Oct 28, 2014 12:10am
@Sunshine (USA) Punishment yes, but punishment never stops the crime. People find more devious ways to circumvent. The answer is to ensure children are in school of one kind or another until the age of 18. Caregivers of these children should be accountable.
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Oct 28, 2014 12:22am
@not good I didn't think Mumbai and Delhi, and Calcutta are in UP. Child labor is all over. UP has the largest population of any state, therefore larger number of child labors.
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Oct 28, 2014 12:27am
@Masud Khan, It is not correct that Indian close their eyes with reality. The fact is just opposite, we are ashamed of child labor and condemn as well. Just a few days ago you might have heard that an Indian Kailash Satyarthi was awarded Noble peace prize and his work area was child labour. Indian government has started for a few years mid day meal program so that street children could go to school and get food with education. There are many welfare program like minimum wage and minimum employment program, ........
The problem India has is exponential population growth, corruption, child mortality rate due to which poor believe in producing more babies so that some will survive....... . Trust me we as Indian know all these problem if you ask me honestly I see situation is improving with good pace and we hope to reduce it to an acceptable level. I don't think it can be totally eliminated. In fact even in America children work after age of 12 as a baby sitter, newspaper delivery etc.
You may not trust what I'm trying to convey but I can give some example like Polio, measles have totally been eliminated from India and soon malnutrition problem could be solved as well.
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Oct 28, 2014 12:57am
Modi thumps his millionaire chest but he should also look back at these slum dogs.
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Oct 28, 2014 01:42am
@ghanshyam ...it shouldn't matter what community they are from!!! they deserve better than this.
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Oct 28, 2014 02:00am
@War&Peace so thats absolutely perfect. Right
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Oct 28, 2014 02:03am
Child labour is very common in Pakistan too. Even in Karachi I had seen that people would employee young boys for domestic help because they are easier to manage than young girls.
We had a bengali housemaid for years. she used to bring her eldest son to our house and we used to teach him. There were and probably today as well many people that were helping the needy people.
India has become very vocal about women's rights and they are likely to tackle child labour issue seriously too. Children in which ever part of the world they may be are the ones that must be fully protected. Way to go India.
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Oct 28, 2014 06:21am
It is sad to know about it. These small children instead of having books in their hands are collecting dirt from the street. It is all across south Asia from Afghanistan to srilanka . Out of utter poverty these children are exploit to hard labour. Not only our governments should make tough laws but also implement it strictly and we as the citizens of our countries also contribute to the welfare of these children.
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Oct 28, 2014 06:30am
@Akram No Indian has ever claimed to be super power but we are progressing on all fronts-more rapidly on some and slowly on others. World acknowledges our progress. But Pakistan is going backwards. In context of child labour- the enrollment is steadily increasing after Right to Education act being enforced in India while in Pakistan, as published in Dawn a few days back, the number of children out of school is on the rise. India is an open book and we do not live in denial. We may be over claiming but things are slowly improving.
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Oct 28, 2014 07:03am
Child labour is a worst kind of curse to poor children from developing world. India, Brazil and Pakistan are in similar stats. So, this is an issue to collaborate and work on it and not for bringing nationalism in it. It's and equal shame for all countries where such a bad practice takes place.
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Oct 28, 2014 09:34am
@Faizan Gilani request you to please ignore his comments, he is one of that minority bigots who try to see and bring in religion in everything, majority of the Indians arent like him..and the news and reports that you read mostly belong to this minority...else how do u think India with so many diversities in culture, language and religion can sustain so long...thats the proof we have...cheers
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Oct 28, 2014 11:25am
They all are still thinking of Labour Laws.
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Oct 28, 2014 02:51pm
Child labor is a sin. It's a black spot on any society. But, good thing is that we start taking it seriously. I remember when 10 year before it's so common that even Welfare department can't recognize something wrong going on if they find a child working. I have fully trust in new government and several NGO working in India that it will vanish in 4-5 years.
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Oct 28, 2014 04:03pm
@Shamsher Singh Bajwa Acknowledging the mistake only proves your worth . Good response , neighbor ! May India get rid of this menace as soon as possible !!!
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Oct 28, 2014 04:05pm
May India get rid of this menace soon. Children are our future . I only hope that our children would see a better world and would actually treat other with respect . Enough of this Pakistan Vs. India mentality already !!
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