Srinagar, June 12: Shouting out the names of locations where the Tata 407 mini bus treads with a hoarse voice that doesn’t match his tender age, Shabir Ahmad, a 13-year-old child, works as a conductor on a local bus.
Shabir, due to his strong hold on mathematics, had aimed to be an engineer, but destiny had stored something else for him. He unwillingly had to take the tough job of a conductor after his father passed away due to a long-term illness.
Months after the death of his father, who was the sole breadwinner of a family comprising four members, Shabir had to leave his studies halfway to shoulder the responsibilities of his family. He has been associated with this profession for the last four years.
“I never thought that life would take such a horrible turn. My dreams were leveled to the ground, and I had no other option than to take this dirty job as my profession,” he says.
Today, child labour in Kashmir is widespread, mostly in the automobile sector, handicraft sector, hotels and restaurants, and domestic labour. A huge number of children can be seen working as waiters, domestic servants, at petrol pumps, in car parking areas, and selling flowers or dusters on the roadside.
On June 12, authorities also celebrated World Day against Child Labour.
In his address, Labour Commissioner Charandeep Singh said the abolition of child labour is enshrined in the Constitution, and laws have been enacted on the issue. Recently, India has ratified the two main conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on child labour, which mandate countries to take immediate effective measures to secure prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency, he added.
Charandeep Singh said that despite legislative measures and efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations, child labour remains prevalent across the country, particularly in rural and informal sectors. He emphasized the importance of conducting extensive awareness campaigns besides ensuring continuous monitoring and strict enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with child labour laws and swift interventions in cases of violations.
In India, under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, the employment of children below the age of 14, except for certain work as child artists and in family businesses, is prohibited and termed illegal.
Adil Ahmad, 14, said that due to financial strain, he was forced to quit his studies. “We were on the verge of begging when my father passed away three years ago. I quit studies and started working at a mechanic shop to feed my family,” said Adil.
Add a comment
