Don't "Kid" Around

The beach is where one goes to catch up with old friends, enjoy the sea breeze, experience the peace and tranquility, listen to the waves whistling or at times when you want to be alone. While doing all this fun stuff, you don’t want to see anything unpleasant; something that might disturb you. Unfortunately, it happened to me.

It was around 4.00 p.m on a Sunday and a few of us decided to go the Besant Nagar beach. Right next to the shore, there was a tent-like structure constructed with the help of solid, thick rods with a rope connecting both sides. I was very amused to find something like this so close to the water. However, to my horror I found a little girl, probably 6 years of age, comes out from nowhere and starts doing her famous cartwheels. For a second I thought I was hallucinating. Her next stunt was to come in and out of a small hula hoop. She wriggled in and out of it like she was made of elastic. She twisted and turned her limbs in all directions possible like the rubber man.

All this was still okay; of course not acceptable though. The kid starts getting ready for her “hit performance”. She decides to climb on to the tent-like structure, gets hold of a pole like structure (for balance, I suppose) and starts walking on the line. I was astonished at this sight. There is a limit to which people can use children, but this was not fair at all. There was heavy breeze blowing. There were all chances that she would fall off the line, head first. But of course, nobody cared about that. They just got entertained. At one point, I was so angry with myself for not being able to do anything about it. Then again, there was nothing I could do without any official; either a police officer or an NGO representative with me. Finally she decides to balance a bottle on her head and spin a steel wheel in her feel and roll to the other side of the line. Then she gets down and heads off to beg!

We have seen these stunts by kids in some big signals in and around the city, but I was thoroughly shaken to see something like this in such close proximity. Even if we did see them performing at the signals or even at the beach, most of us chose to ignore it conveniently. This, according to me is a form of child labor. She is used by her family to entertain the beach and finally earn a rupee or two from the crowd. On one hand, we have different laws and policies coming about in our country and on the other hand, we have people like this girl’s family violating it.

Child labor can have a lot of adverse effects on the child as well as the nation. India, a country that is constantly creating milestones in every field has child labor and abuse as two of its major black marks. It is our responsibility as citizens of this vast country to take the lead and do something about the condition of children in our country. It would be silly one’s part to say that we can put an end to the crime of child labor and abuse. Therefore, try and do what you can. If ever you see any form of child labor in your locality, call Childline: 1098 (Day and Night)

Every drop makes an ocean. Prove this saying to be true by doing what you can for these kids as an individual. Show them you care.

What can you do to help?

• Never employ a child at your home for domestic work.

• If you find a child working under very bad conditions, call Childline immediately.

• If you find a child being abused, do not hesitate to call Childline or the police.

• If you find your neighbor employing a child for domestic work, make an attempt to tell them what they are doing is wrong.