Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Removing child labour

Removing children from labor in shops and giving them opportunities for normal growth and education is significant. The recent step by Government o0f India is welcomed. But one wonders why this move is limited to business establishments and households only. Entertainment is an Industry and on what basis a child working in movies or TV serials or ads. different from a child labouring in a dhaba???. This is not to undermine the heinous form a child labour/abuse that exists in many small hotels. But when children are used for profit how this is not child labor??. Children are used in appalling and regressive TV serials, ‘game’ shows-where they are counting gold coins of a particular brand!! (This is different from fun filled programs for children by children of some foreign channels. They make learning entertaining). Many ads use children (even babies) blatantly.
In entertainment industry if ever it is about creativeness then children shouldn’t be compensated with money. That is a business transaction and should be deemed as child labor. Bottom line is you cannot use children for profit and this should start from advertisements, greed programs and so called entertainment.
Patronizing poor is a nice occupation but first keep your drawing room clean. Stink could be in the posh neighborhood as in Dhabas.