May 13, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, May 12: Children working in the city’s labour market to earn a livelihood for their own survival and to supplement the incomes of their families are a sight that makes one feel distressed.

Deprived of educational opportunities, these children live in abject conditions throughout their life and the chains of poverty and darkness are never broken.

There is no foolproof method to ascertain the number of children working in the market but they are found in trades like carpet weaving, shoe making, carpentry, restaurants, workshops, street workers, beggars, vendors and rag-picking. These informal sectors are not covered by labour laws and laws protecting the rights of children.

The variety of work done by children is almost limitless and many occupations, normally associated with adult work, attract children.

The work that is widespread amongst children is that of scavenging for recyclable rubbish. These children are easily identifiable by the large bags they carry to hold the spoils of their labour. Their work starts from early in the morning until evening collecting paper, cardboard, glass, bottles, bones, bread, metal, wire and other things, which they sell to junk dealers.

These self-employed children go about their work completely oblivious to the dangers they are exposed to. They walk long distances on rough roads and rummage in dumpsters containing all kinds of sharp and dangerous materials without any protective measures.

Many children also end up working in auto workshops. Child workers are attracted to the auto workshops because of their proximity to their houses and the fact that these workshops present a potential for acquiring a useful skill.

Here they are responsible for getting the workshop ready for the day ahead. They sweep the floor, tidy up the workshop and tools and fetch drinking water, first thing in the morning.

Children face several dangers in these workshops. Petrol and kerosene constantly surround them; they even use these liquids to wash their dirty hands. These substances are not only bad for the skin but also run the risk of damaging the eyes and lungs if breathed in too often.

Ten-year-old Hameed, who was searching for his livelihood in a heap of garbage, told Dawn that he belonged to a very poor family and could not afford to go to school.

He said his father was ill and he was able to earn Rs40 to Rs50 per day to support his family.

He said he goes to a Madressah for two hours and for the rest of the day remains busy in his work.

He said he was passionate to join school but the circumstances of his family did not permit that.

Commenting on child labour, Asad, who is associated with an NGO, said larger social, political and economic forces combined to marginalise the children and bring them to the workplace. He said child labour was the result of flawed development model which focused only on the few and the rest remained neglected.

He said it was basic obligation of the state to provide an opportunity to every child to develop himself fully, so that he can play his role in the development of society.