So, the government has banned child labour in India. A good action; in fact, one to be lauded by all. But, I wonder whether any real thought has actually gone into this decision being made. What will happen to those children who suddenly find themselves with no income to take home? Send them to schools and provide them with food via the mid-day food programme, say the activists. Pray, where are good schools? How many government schools have proper infrastructure? How many teachers don’t play truant? What books, let alone other learning aids, do we have to give to these children?
It’s common knowledge that primary and secondary education in India is in shambles. But, we have the institutes of higher learning to focus our attention on, right – like the IIMs and IITs, where if reservation is not made applicable, the heavens will fall?
A write-up in The Hindu says eradication of poverty is not a pre-requisite for banning child labour and quotes the example of Kerala. The writer forgets that Kerala is a different ball game altogether. The people in Kerala are aware of the benefits education can bestow on their children and take great pains to send their children to the best ‘English Medium Schools’ they can afford, even overlooking the nearby government school. Such high levels of awareness are not there among the people of any other state in India. Until such awareness is created, banning child labour will only see more children out on the streets.
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