INNOCENCE IN DARKNESS (Editorial)

In todays age of globalised economies and aggressive human rights activists operating in various countries around the globe campaigning for various causes, Child labor can still be seen as a very common practice especially in developing economies like India where many laws are made and amended relating to child labor. The reality though is, these laws are useless unless seriously implemented.. The victims are hardly aware of these laws mainly because of illiteracy and poverty.. and the perpetrators do not want to create awareness for want of their own selfish needs.. how will dhaba walas or chai walas get cheap or free child laborers if they follow these constitutional laws? Or lets put it the other way, how can a child survive poverty if he doesn’t do jobs??.... well, the whole situation is so complicated because of our corrupt systems... We live in a very selfish and materialistic society….even in the so-called V.I.P colonies, almost every dhobi wala has a child running errands for him. When certain laws have been formed to abolish child labor then provisions for their implementation must also be enforced.

Sometimes one cant help but feel sorry for the children begging on the streets despite knowing the hard fact that that most of these children are well trained professionals in the art of begging. ..And they cannot or in many cases do not want to experience the other world - a world where they would not have to spend most of their childhood begging for alms.. a good example would be the Community Centre at new New Friends Colony, Delhi, which is a favourite haunt for beggars. It is a known fact that if you walk out with any snacks from McDonald or any other restaurant..you have to be prepared to be surrounded by these groups of small kids who will then pester you for burgers or Ice Creams..as Money isn’t the only thing they are interested in.. my sister who is an artist.. decided to make some sketches of these small children at that Community Centre,but seeing these thin small children with torn and dirty clothes begging for whatever you can give them made her feel so sad that she started handing out sweets and drinks,the children too reciprocated her gesture with love. They started to pose for her.. but the parents were not too happy with the children wasting precious time when they could be out on the streets and earning some money by begging. ..The children on their part were so touched by the little affection that was shown to them that they constantly touched my sister’s hands as if they are touching something very unique.. When she returned home her dress n hands were dirty but she did not care, she was just too emotional with the whole ordeal.. From then onwards whenever she goes to the Community Center kids surround her, give her flowers or greet her with affection.. It is true that these children are now so well adjusted in their profession that they they ignore the beautiful part of world where they can gain education and better lifestyle..and that little education may change their mind.. they might learn to dream big..