Save the children: Child workers voice their woes in Ahmedabad

'I want my lost childhood where I can play again with toys and go to school with my friends. Is it not possible?' asked a child labourer yesterday during a talk conducted at Sardar Patel Smarak Bhavan, Shahibaug, by NGO, Save the Children.

Of the 600 child labourers who were present for the talk and declaration thereafter, 24 spoke about their plight. They worked in various industries like BT cotton farming, rag picking, agarbatti making, forestry, salt pans, animal husbandry, ship-breaking,collection of scrap material, fisheries, jeera farming and cotton, wheat and paddy fields.

All of them voiced their concern about their troubles, while eminent speakers talked about the need to remove child labour completely.

Director and professor of economics, Centre for Development Alternatives, Indira Hirway, said: "There are two things needed to bring about a change in Gujarat: The basic requirement of food, fuel, fodder, water, child care and wages. The wage rate in Gujarat is very low, in spite of the state's prosperity."

Talking about police action to close down child labour units, former DGP, SS Khandwawala said: "Police have to take stringent action against those found guilty. In fact, all police stations in the city have been informed that strict penalty should be imposed on industrial units found practicing child labour. Safeguarding the child is an all-round effort, and parents have to be informed about not sending their children back to work."

Former chief secretary, government of Gujarat, PK Laheri opined: "When there is 19% unemployment in adult category, why hire a child? We are exploiting children."

According to actor Swaroop Raval, "Primary education is not enough. They must have education till secondary level at least, for only then can education benefit them. I don't mind if a child works for an hour or so and the rest of the time goes to school and spending some time at home with parents. Of course, if that one hour leverage is given, we may end up again exploiting the child and hence the practice should end.”