Kathmandu, Feb: 29 : A number of children alight from buses at Kathmandu bus park every morning in a confused state of mind. Uncertainty and suffering can be read on their faces.
Even though the future of these poor children hailing from the villages of the terai and the hilly regions is a risky one in a metropolitan city like Kathmandu, they are anxious to try their luck here. No doubt, most of them will face hardship and even danger in the struggle for survival.
This is a problem not only in Nepal, but exists more of less in all nations of the South Asia region.
According to the International Labour Organisation office for Asia and Pacific region and ipec, around 250 million children are involved some way or other in economic activities in the underdeveloped countries of the world.
About 60 per cent of the total population of child labourers live in South Asia alone. Of these, 2.6 million are to be found in Nepal.
The emergence of child labour in Nepal is not the outcome of poverty and want alone, chairman of the Child Workers Concern Centre, Nepal (ciwin) Gouri Pradhan says. It is the outcomes of social and economic factors and cultural tradition.
In addition to the poor economic condition of the people in Nepal, the social fabric, deprivation from education and migration from rural to town areas also attribute to the problem, she adds.
The prevailing trend is that employers give priority to such migrant children whom they can employ at cheap rates and use at will. Their guardians also tend to hire them out as domestic help so that they will not be a bother to themselves.
Ten-year-old Rajendra Chaudhari who came from Siraha district says, ” My uncle brought me to Kathmandu in anticipation of room and board and money and left me with a well-to-do family to do their household work.”
I have to wake up early in the morning and do everything including cleaning, cooking, taking the children of my master to school, and I have no chance to study though I have a keen interest in it. There is nobody to share my grief and pain, he complains.
A large number of children who were brought here with promises of food and shelter have almost the same story to tell and are living in miserable conditions.
According to a survey conducted by ciwin, 60 percent of the total child labour population or 21 thousand who do domestic work are compelled to work 10-12 hours daily and 20 percent work 12-14 hours. Of them, 10 percent are below the age of 10 and 70 percent between 11-14.
Child labourers deprived of remuneration are also large in number. Some get a paltry sum. In other cases, those who brought them to their employers themselves take the money from the latter.
According to the survey, about 31 percent of such child labourers could not get any remuneration from their employers while 10 percent are ignorant of any renumeration due to them.
About 49 per cent never have a chance to go to school while 40 percent drop out after admission. However, 11 percent have made use of this opportunity. But under such harsh conditions it is doubtful if they undertake their studies regularly within and outside school.
It is foolish to insult and ill treat child labourers, social worker Sabina Koirala says. Child labour is not an inherent phenomenon but a result of the ground realities in our society and family. It is also a question of equal opportunity.
Electronic media such as radio and television and newspapers also have been highlighting this issue to a large extent, that with little effect. This shows that there in need for a human conscience rather than just prohibitory laws.
Concerted efforts by national and international organisations is a must for rooting out this social anomaly. Every family in society also has to play a role to discourage this practice.
His Majesty’s Government should adhere to the laws and regulations pertaining to the elimination of child labour as well as the international accords and conventions on child rights in order to properly safeguard the rights and interests of Nepalese children.