Welcome to India- a country struggling with Child Labor.All of us know deep down that Child Labor is wrong, right? But it’s looks to me that we’ve given up. I had. I used to think it was an unsolvable problem. Or something that was the government’s responsibility.It is a difficult problem to solve, agreed. What doesn’t help is our attitude towards it.We do not believe that we can do anything to solve this problem- that it’s too big for any one person to solve.I thought so.We think that even the Government hasn’t made much progress.Or has it?We don’t know. But we’ll believe that the Government is incompetent.I used to think that.
So, you’ll buy those low-quality pen from whatshername in CP, like most of my friends have done, when she’ll give you the trained puppy-dog-face. And you’ll probably buy some stickers in Kamla Nagar.Perhaps you’ll tell yourself that they’ll at least use the money to eat something and that would cheer you up a bit. But this is not helping, dear friend.
We can do so much better! There are mafias who use these little kid’s innocence to make you buy sub-standard goods. And you’ll only be encouraging them to buy more kids from villages and putting them to work in dil-waalon ki Dilli
What if I told that you that if you’re willing to have some trust, in the Government and the various NGOs that work to protect these children, you can make a difference too?
This is what you can actually do:
Observe:
Are there begging children at the entrance of the Metro station you use daily? Take a few moments and observe. Figure out if there is an adult around who is supervising these kids.Try to gather more info. Go visit the place at different hours of the day and see how/when the kids are brought in and when/how they are picked up.
For example: As my friend observed, 20-25 kids are brought in to the Vaishali Metro Station early morning along with an adult supervisor, each day. Perhaps you’ve seen those kids around.You can make a small 10 sec video from your mobile phone as evidence of the working child.
Communicate:
Take a moment and talk to a kid. Ask them questions like “Who is making you do this?” The child has been trained to give your answers that they belong to a low-income home or that they’re an orphan. And that they have to work.Don’t listen to these answers. Whatever the circumstances, there can be no justifications for a working child. Eventually, the child will tell you the truth in bits and pieces or run away.Perhaps it will be the way they talk, or the way they look at you. You’ll realize that they’re being forced.
If you are able to locate an adult supervisor, go talk to them and tell them that it is illegal to force kids into Child Labor. Be careful to ask questions politely, otherwise they’ll get angry at you.Ask them whether the kid is their family member or if the adult has been contracted to him/her for work.If a shopkeeper is employing a child, tell them that they’ll have to pay a fine of Rs. 20,000 and they can also be sent to jail. This shall scare them a bit.
If the parents of the kids are around, go talk to them and explain the situation.Maybe they’ll nod their head and change their ways.Maybe they won’t.But imagine a world where people keep going up to these people and telling them about their illegal act.Today, you point it out.Tomorrow, I shall.Day after, your friend shall.And the next day, my friend shall.Don’t give up easily.A child’s future is at stake.Eventually they’ll change.Keep questioning.
Never accept Child Labor.
Call for support: 
Call the Child helpline at 1098.
Keep the kid engaged in conversation, and volunteers from the nearest Child Helpline center shall come within 30 minutes to rescue the child.In case the Child Helpline is unable to reach you (according to my friend, around 25 people in Delhi work with the Child Helpline right now),try to counsel the kid yourself.
Give them a toffee someday, or a balloon, teaching them a poem someday, or a dance step on another.Share a Chai with them on cold days or a Coke on hot ones.Share your tiffin with them.Slowly get to know the kid more and pursue them to refuse to work and ask for an Education.
If the child is employed in a shop, the Child Helpline will talk to the owner.Once a child is rescued, she/he shall be sent to a Shelter Home.You can stay in contact with the Child Helpline and keep in touch about the status of the child.You can also contact the shelter home and visit the child periodically.
If the kid is an orphan, then it is the Shelter Home’s responsibility to educate, counsel and take care of the kid till she/he becomes an adult.Also, the kid shall be given at job when they’re 18.
If the kid has parents, they would be called.The child will be allowed to go with her/his parents on bail, with a warning.If this happens, you must keep a check whether the child has come back to work.Child Helpline performs such checks as well.
Rally for the Cause:
Visit the Bachpan Bachao Andolan Offices, meet lawyers and the NGOs that are working for the cause.Make Nukkads, perform Slams, write articles, put up posters and set up a group in your college.Spread the word using whichever medium you like.There is so much to do only if you believe that things can be changed and you trust the system a bit.
My friend’s college Theater Society Memesis (Daulat Ram College) has been performing their annual street production “Kehne ko…bachpan” for two semesters now.I’ve seen the play twice.Most of the girls are fighting off tears while performing in front of the audience.The intensity of the play, makes me teary eyed as well.There are always a dozen people crying in the audience
That’s how they are spreading the word.This article is how I’m spreading the word.Choose your medium and spread the word.
Volunteer:
You can volunteer with the Child Helpline or any of the Shelter Homes.You can raise funds, you can give kids vocational training, or even just go and spend some time with them each week, sharing stories or singing to them.
Just don’t go once and put up selfies on Facebook.If you really care, act responsibly.Imagine how you would feel if someone came to you and spent a few hours with you, and it was wonderful.Then they promised to come back and never came back.Be a proud volunteer.
Don’t just ignore these kids on the streets.Believe that they can have a better future.And believe in yourself and your ability to help these kids achieve that future.Fight everyday for these kids, their safety, and their happiness.Have some faith in everyone working for the cause.And, don’t stop believing.