September 24, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 30, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

RAWALPINDI, Sept 23: Plenty of children do not find their way to schools and work in different sectors in the city to earn a livelihood for their own survival and supplement the incomes of their families.

Denied to educational opportunities, these children land in abject conditions for whole life and the chains of poverty and darkness are never broken.

There is no proper method to ascertain the number of children working in the market but they are usually found in carpet weaving, shoe making, carpentry, restaurants, workshops, transport, beggary, vendors and rag-picking. These informal sectors are not covered by labour laws and laws protecting children. The variety of work that is done by these children is almost limitless and many occupations, normally associated with adult, attract them.

Scavenging for recyclable rubbish is widespread amongst the children. Easily identifiable by the large bags they carry to hold the spoils of their labour, these children work from dawn to dusk collecting paper, cardboard, glass, bottles, bones, metal, wire and other things, which they sell to junk dealers.

These self-employed kids 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 repair 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.

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 Zakir, 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.