Ayushi Agarwal
High School Finalist, Grade 9
Oak Park, California
Books, not Bricks | Education, not Exploitation.
Childhood lost:
Have you recently bought a keychain with your name on it? Or would you like a keychain for your friends? Please visit my parents’ shop if you want to see our work. A tiny frame of a boy no more than 10 years old with his shirt torn and shorts full of wrinkles came up to me. He shivered with exhaustion and dread. He introduced me to his brother who was no more than my age, trying to assemble and customize keychains. His small hands, weary of dust and particles with sweat all over his face, under the scorching sun and weather around 122 degrees Fahrenheit, were focused and determined to do his best. Those hands should have held pencils and toys but were calloused from endless hunching over a small table, trying to put the customers’ names in the keychain for a little money. The young heart that should have known laughter and play was heavy with sorrow and longing for a childhood lost.
Child Labor:
During the summer of 2024, as I roamed through the streets of India, I witnessed the harsh reality faced by millions of children in India trapped in the cycle of child labor. The International Labor Organization defines child labor "as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development." This definition includes work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful to children; or disrupts schooling. According to UNICEF India, child labor has risen to 160 million – the first increase in two decades. The UN data indicates that over 73 million children are in hazardous work. Childhood is considered the best time of one’s life, but unfortunately, this does not hold for some children who struggle to make ends meet during their childhood years.
Lesser known challenges and contributing factors:
This deeply rooted issue in India is mainly caused by poverty, lack of quality education, limited understanding of child labor, poor access to decent work, and gender disparities. When families cannot afford to meet their basic needs like food, water, education, or health care, they have no choice but to send their children to work to supplement the household income. If young people cannot access safe work, with social protection, fair pay, and equality for men and women, they often have no choice but to do hazardous work. Between boys and girls, UNICEF finds girls are two times more likely to be out of school and working in a domestic role. Educating girls tends to be a lower priority across the world, including India and thus parents with limited resources must choose whose school costs and fees they can afford when a school is available.
The Growing Problem and Impacts:
Children engaged in hazardous work are exposed to dangerous conditions that can directly endanger their health and safety. They may work with hazardous machinery, handle harmful chemicals, or be exposed to extreme temperatures, noise levels, vibrations, and other factors that can cause serious physical harm. Working in these conditions can also lead to long-term health consequences like cancer, infertility, respiratory issues, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and neurological disorders since the impact of hazardous work during childhood can have profound and lasting health effects that may only manifest later in life. According to the National Institutes of Health, child labor is associated with certain exposures like silica in industries, and HIV infection in prostitution. Additionally, as child labor is related to maternal illiteracy and poverty, children who work are more susceptible to malnutrition, predisposing them to various diseases. Child labor not only affects the individual child’s health but also has broader social implications. It perpetuates cycles of poverty by depriving children of education and opportunities for social mobility. There is a gender dimension to child labor where girls and boys may face different risks and challenges. According to the European Union, "Girls are more likely to be involved in heavy domestic work and are at higher risk of sexual abuse and exploitation. On the other hand, boys are often engaged in hazardous work in sectors like agriculture or mining where they face physical dangers such as operating heavy machinery or handling toxic substances." Additionally, poverty can lead families to hold misconceptions about child labor, viewing it as character-building rather than understanding its detrimental effects on children’s health and well-being.
Solutions:
Spreading awareness and the power of social media - Educating parents and communities about the importance of children’s education and the negative consequences of child labor is crucial. US residents can launch awareness campaigns using various channels such as social media, posters, flyers, and local newspapers to educate communities about child rights in India. People can use hashtags like #stopchildlabor (49.5k posts) and #childlabor (192k posts) to simply take a stand on the topic that childhood is for play, not for pay. They can also host a film screening of documentaries or movies that highlight the issue of child labor and its impact on children’s lives so that it draws the attention of people who can contribute to this issue.
Sharing time, talents, and money - It's important for US residents to consider supporting NGOs working to end child labor by sharing their time, talents, and money. They can volunteer as virtual mentors to tutor impoverished children through NGOs like CRY India and Teach for India U.S. Their donations can support initiatives to send more children back to school. For example, NGOs like CRY India prioritize the education of rescued child laborers by helping them enroll and stay in school. This ensures they receive a proper education and a brighter future. Hosting fundraising events, such as charity auctions or bake sales, can also raise funds for organizations working to eliminate child labor and support affected children.
Consumerism - Americans can make a difference by buying certified child-labor-free products, such as fair trade products and goods from companies with strict policies against child labor.
Discouraging people from employing children - Individuals can contribute to ending child labor by being vigilant and reporting instances of child labor to local authorities or organizations such as CHILDLINE 1098.
Addressing poverty and unemployment - Governments can provide free elementary education, mid-day meals, and other schemes to motivate children and their parents to send them to school instead of working. Additionally, providing alternative sources of income for families can help reduce their reliance on their children’s labor.
“Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
This quote by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India highlights that kids are truly capable of mighty things in life if they are provided with the right opportunities and proper environment to grow. However, in a society full of poverty-ridden children, the repercussions are far-reaching and detrimental to the nation’s progress. Both society and the government must recognize their collective responsibility to provide impoverished children with a healthy and conducive environment that fosters their development and nurtures their innate capabilities effectively. By connecting impoverished families to economic support and livelihood opportunities, spreading awareness, sharing time, money, and skills, and advocating for laws that ban this major issue, we can break the chains of this endless cycle of exploitation.