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| January 10, 2003 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 6, 1423 |
Child workers highlight problems
PESHAWAR, Jan 9: Working children presented enjoyable skits and delivered speeches and national songs to highlight the hardships faced by the children engaged in labour.
Organised by Human Resources Management Development Centre (HRMDC), in collaboration with Unicef entitled “Convention for working children” drew a lot of working children who enjoyed every bit of the proceedings here on Thursday.
The students of six centres recited Naats, sang national songs and delivered speeches. The HRMDC had established six schools at different locations in the city where the children get education after they finish their work. The students have also been provided with the opportunities to develop their skills and provide them with recreational facilities.
Director of labour department, Zahoor Khan, said the convention would bring much-needed awareness among the people regarding the hardships of the working children. He was of the view that the people gave no importance to education of their offsprings, which caused problems for the parents and their children in future.
He said the education played very vital role in making of a good society and urged the need for the children’s education in order to make them useful citizens in future.
Mr Zahoor said labour department would implement laws to alleviate the sufferings of working children and asked the people to play their role, because government alone could not do anything. He called upon the society to join hands with government in this regard to eliminate the child labour from the society.
Taj Nabi, additional secretary of primary education said: “Our province is extremely backward in education,” adding that it was a right step in this direction.
He maintained that it was the duty of every individual to impart education to minors. He added that improved educational to children was a reward.
He said he would hold meeting with the provincial education minister and secretary to upgrade one of the working children centres established by the HRMDC. Philanthropists should come forward in helping financially the poor children so as to educate them for bright future.
A large number of working children entertained from the performance of their colleagues. Also, children displayed posters and placards in their hands inscribed with various slogans and demands made from the government and society at large.
Farooz, Rehmanullah and Izat Khan expressed their sentiments and helplessness. Nihar said: “My father is a mechanic and I can not join school.” He said: “My in charge is a strict man not ready to allow me to go to the centre.” He added that he worked to help his family, otherwise it was his dream to get maximum education.
A working child, Farooz said: “Now I can write my name both in English and Urdu and can read billboards.” However, he lamented that he could not spare enough time for education. “My father has died, I am working in a motor workshop and earn ten rupees per day,” Rehmanullah stated. He said his elder brother got admission in school and now “I also go to school for one hour.”
Another child, Izat Khan pointed out that his father was selling beans and he was engaged in a motorcycle mechanic workshop. He added that he worked for at least 12 hours and also spared one hour for the school.
Certificates and prizes were distributed among the children performed in skits, songs, speeches and position holders in the examination.
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