But, the answers follows and I would like the critics to answer them.
1. Why does the problem of child labor exist in the first place? (I believe that's because of poverty)
--Because common-sense. A child's mind and body is not mature or ready enough to withstand strenous work loads of the same nature. Also moral and emotional maturity of a child is completely fettered. Education becomes off-limits, enormous socio-cultural difference and lack of literacy literally destroys his growth and furthermore...life.
2. Do you people have enough schools, houses, hospitals etc to rehabilitate these children?
No, there is never ever enough of anything in India, the sheer mad volume of ever bursting population has largely affected all allocation/distribution processes of resources since 1954.
But, that does not mean the same has not been tried or ceases to exist. The below provisions and acts with specific legislations aimed at curbing the problem are there ever since.
1. Children Act (1933)
2. Motor transfer working Act (1961)
3. Prohibition of child labour Act
4. State shops & establishment Act
5. Indian factories Act (1948)
6. Merchant shipping Act (1958)
7. Motor transfer working Act (1961)
8. Bidi & cigarette Act (1966)
9. Plantation labour Act (1951)
10. Children employment Act (1938)
3. If the children and there family have nothing to eat and you stop them for working as well. What is the solution in such a situation?
4. What are you doing about the beggar problem that seems to be spreading like fire on every crossway or bridges and outside temples and mosques. They mostly have children who beg on behalf of those groups.
---I will quote here...
Also, several social programs for the rehabilitation for children who are rescued from child labour are run at the central and state level. In recent years, there has been a major emphasis on providing basic education for all children, which is a long-term answer to this social menace.
In 1988, the government of India launched the National Child Labour Project (NCLP). Initially, the scheme was implemented in nine districts with a high concentration of child labour. The scheme involves establishment of special schools for child labour who are withdrawn from work.
These special schools provide formal and informal education along with vocational training, and also provide a monthly stipend. Other facilities such as supplementary nutrition and health care are also provided to such children. The number of districts covered under the NCLP Scheme were increased to 100 in the 9th five-year plan and further increased to 250 in the 10th plan.
On August 15, 1994, the government of India launched a major program to remove child labour working in hazardous occupations, and to rehabilitate them by setting up special schools for them. Under the programme, a total of two million children are sought to be brought out of work and put in special schools where they are provided with education, vocational training, monthly stipends, nutrition and health-checks.
A highly powerful body, the National Authority for the Elimination of Child Labour (NAECL) was established on September 26, 1994, headed by the Union Minister of Labour in the government of India.
There are credible efforts being made at the administrative level to eliminate the problem of child labour. Also, there are several voluntary organizations working for the rescue and rehabilitation of child labour in India
All of the high minded people who think that people who have given them work are monsters. Kindly do take 5 mins of your prestigious life to answer these questions. And if you don't have the means to fight the poverty, hunger etc of these people. Then you have no right to stop them or criticize the people who are atleast giving them something to live for.
--No person with sane mind and a humanitarian approach would promote such menace against an excuse of poverty, proverty has ever been a problem with our country and there are means to survival, governement ,even at times being fanatically addicted to religious notions, horrible policies, taxes, corruption....still have done a great extent of work. There are still holes in society, lines drawn, social and economical discriminations, but none..none of that can agree to a child's suffering.
