'I don't want to starve to death'

Published June 12, 2014
An Indian youth carrying a toddler counts money collected by begging from commuters at a busy traffic intersection on the eve of World Day Against Child Labour in Mumbai. - Photo by AFP
An Indian youth carrying a toddler counts money collected by begging from commuters at a busy traffic intersection on the eve of World Day Against Child Labour in Mumbai. - Photo by AFP
A Syrian boy works at a garage in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. - Photo by AFP
A Syrian boy works at a garage in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. - Photo by AFP
A Syrian boy works at a garage in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. Conflict in neighbourhoods of Aleppo, which has been shaken by war for nine months, has put an end to childhood for most youths and it is not uncommon to see young boys working in the streets. - AFP Photo
A Syrian boy works at a garage in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. Conflict in neighbourhoods of Aleppo, which has been shaken by war for nine months, has put an end to childhood for most youths and it is not uncommon to see young boys working in the streets. - AFP Photo
An Afghan boy carries a flask as he works in a poppy field in Khogyani district, eastern Nangarhar province on April 6, 2013.  Poppy cultivation is expected to increase in both eastern and western provinces of the country, though will remain at a much lower level of cultivation as compared to Helmand and Kandahar provinces, the United Nations office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) said in its 2012 report. - Photo by AFP
An Afghan boy carries a flask as he works in a poppy field in Khogyani district, eastern Nangarhar province on April 6, 2013. Poppy cultivation is expected to increase in both eastern and western provinces of the country, though will remain at a much lower level of cultivation as compared to Helmand and Kandahar provinces, the United Nations office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) said in its 2012 report. - Photo by AFP
An Iraqi boy paddles a boat in the marshes near the small township of Chebayish, on the left bank of Euphrates, near Nasiriyah, 300 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, on April 6, 2013. The inhabitants of these ancient marshes are today suffering from the slow suffocation of the marshes due to drought which is altering their fishing patterns and the migration of birds and the breeding of water buffalo. During the regime of the late leader Saddam Hussein, sections of the marshes were drained. - Photo by AFP
An Iraqi boy paddles a boat in the marshes near the small township of Chebayish, on the left bank of Euphrates, near Nasiriyah, 300 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, on April 6, 2013. The inhabitants of these ancient marshes are today suffering from the slow suffocation of the marshes due to drought which is altering their fishing patterns and the migration of birds and the breeding of water buffalo. During the regime of the late leader Saddam Hussein, sections of the marshes were drained. - Photo by AFP
A Syrian boy sells sweets in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. - Photo by AFP
A Syrian boy sells sweets in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. - Photo by AFP
A boy works at a poppy field in Jalalabad province April 7, 2013. - Photo by Reuters
A boy works at a poppy field in Jalalabad province April 7, 2013. - Photo by Reuters
Syrian boys look at fish in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. - AFP Photo
Syrian boys look at fish in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 6, 2013. - AFP Photo
An Afghan boy sits on his cart as he waits for customers in the old town of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, April 7, 2013. - Photo by AP
An Afghan boy sits on his cart as he waits for customers in the old town of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, April 7, 2013. - Photo by AP

World Day against Child Labour is being celebrated throughout the world today, including Pakistan, in order to save young children from the harsh pains of labour and pave their way to schools so they can obtain an education and go on to become productive citizens in society.

The World Day against Child Labour is usually marked with seminars, walks, conferences and other events organised by different social organisations and attended by experts who give lectures on conditions that are produced as a result of child labour.

Globally, millions of children are forced to work due to impoverished conditions at home. These children are mostly aged between five and 15 years. Due to poverty, they are deprived of a decent education and adequate diet.

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