Did you ever think what would happen to you if you were forced to do work at the age of 10 when actually you are supposed to live your life to the fullest?
It is that age when we are carefree, fun-loving, learning, playing and enjoying the life. Child Labor should not be considered any trivial issue of our country because on every street you see child begging, having a huge sack on his back, polishing shoes or taking drugs!!
Whenever we go back in time to our childhood, there are always beautiful memories but there are many who hate their childhood. The target of child labor tries his best to get out of the everyday torture by others. Some manage to get out and make their lives better, but many continue to stand where they are, not out of choice, but forced. Having been forced to kill their aspirations, dreams and other wishes, they are pressed to earn a living for themselves and for their families.
Every year, millions of children across the world are becoming helpless targets of atrocities. They are the sufferers of ill-treatment, exploitation, and brutality. The consequences of child abuse are overwhelmingly disturbing. It denies a child its basic right-education. Often child who are being abused in their childhood are more likely to abuse their own children in future, and due to the deep impact in the future generation, they would do the same thing and hence the cycle goes on.
It is universally accepted that poverty is the cause of child labor. However it is seen that some child workers are from relatively affluent families are engaged in this business for excitement and pocket money. In this country, Pakistan, education is not the priority but they want their children to succeed. Here, people have the concept that more experience means more money. Think about it. How can a person earn enough money if he doesn’t have its basic know how?
There is an old saying that “child is a father of tomorrow”. It simply translates that childhood is the stage at which a child can develop its senses. It is the stage when a child wants a “Right guide” so that he may explores his creative mind. Child labor is a crime against humanity. It is an inhuman practice that stops the physical and mental growth.
When we go to any restaurant to have dinner, When often see many children working there. Those innocent children do not clean those tables happily. Instead, those children who have spark in their eyes are forced to work there by their parents. The twinkle or spark shows that they also want to live their lives like other children. But, unfortunately, they are never exposed to the real happiness of childhood. After all how can he live when he is being shown the wrong path?
When we meet a boy like them, we often give him a pat on his back and press a five-rupee coin on his palm as a formality to satisfy our guilt. But we never sit with such a child and give him advice. We never make him feel that we are really there to help him, so that he may feel comfortable in telling us his problems.
If we want to do anything to prevent child labor then we have to target these children, not their parents. These children are not mature, they are not sensible enough to choose their path. If we want any change, we have to target the main segment.
Child labor is a complex issue that raises questions that are difficult to answer. The solution to child labor could come only with a change in our hearts. We have money, we have courage, we have strength, but what we don’t have is the space for these children in our heart. We need to educate people that how unfair and unjust is to employ a child labor.
If a child is born in a poor family, it doesn’t mean that his future will always be poor. He must have some aims and ambitions. Narrating a quote, “Achievements are not only for the rich, but for poor also”. This quote simply says that dreams are not only for the rich! Poor can also have them. They can also aim for something. They only want a support to achieve them and no doubt, we can be the support for them-supporting, not by employing them but by educating them, as education is the key of success.
The “least” we could do as an individual is that whenever we find a child in any kind of complexity, we help him. We have ample amount of pocket money to spend on ourselves. What if we give half of it to the one who really deserves? Now, you may think that no one deserves. But, do you really know their lives?? Do you live with them?? Try to put yourself in their boots. If you try to find one, you`ll definitely find one!
My World! 