Jamshedpur, June 12: On the occasion of �World Day Against Child Labor,� slum children aged between eight and 16 years participated in a wall panting drive on Sunday.�The event was organized under guidance of social workers of Adarsh Seva Sansthan, Sonari.
Children from various slums around Kadma and Sonari participated in the campaign. Some of them were from Ramjanam Nagar, Pratima Bagar, Gandhi Basti, Nirmal Nagar, Birsa Basti, Balram Basti and others.
The United Nations (UN) observes the �International Day Against Child Labor� on June 12 every year. The theme for this year is on child labor and supply chains. Launched in 2002 by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the �Day Against Child Labor� is observed to draw global attention on the issues faced by children across the world and to take effective measures to eliminate it.
The slogans on the walls included “Ghar ghar ko jagana hai,� �Baal mazdoori hatana hai,” “Bal mazdoori hatana hai,� and �Bachchon ka jeevan bachana hai.�
It is unfortunate that child labor laws are being blatantly violated for more than a decade after June 12 was declared �World Day Against Child Labor.�
�I was forced to work long hours and got Rs. 50 each week. I would be beaten up if I made a mistake, or if I asked to go back to my parents,� says 10-year-old Imtiyaz Ali who worked at a factory. Imtiyaz added that he would get chapatti, and stale rice sometimes, to eat. Sometimes, he said, there was no breakfast. �My employer told my parents over the phone that I was very happy and that I was studying a lot. I was never allowed to talk to them,� the unfortunate child said.
Things took a turn for the better after another police raid. Imtiyaz and the other children at the factory were finally rescued.