Almost 12% of all the children in India are pushed into work instead of going to schools. The incidence rate in the country is one of the highest in the world where children drop out of schools or never reach their classrooms because they are busy working in inhumane, dingy conditions that take a toll on their mental and physical wellbeing at a very tender age.
A child’s future is darkened when he/she works in a dangerous fire cracker factory or in a wretched coal mine instead of going to school or playing in the park because he/she is probably earning some extra money for the family. Families of such labourers find themselves in a dilemma as they don’t have enough to educate their children and the children end up working and earning money instead, when they should ideally be learning. Who is responsible?
CRY-Child Rights and You, an Indian NGO that believes in every child’s rights to a childhood says, “Under the Amendment Bill the provision for punishment to the offending parents/ guardians has been suggested. Are we looking at punishing parents for situations which they may not be able to control and therefore have no option but to send their child to work?”
Should Parents Who Send Their Children To Work For Money Be Punished?