MADRAS: Criticising the Wardha Scheme under the caption “The Wardha Scheme or Sweated Labour” the “Liberator” in an editorial says:- The basic principle of the Wardha Scheme was that children between the tender ages of five and twelve years should be given compulsory education through a basic craft in such a manner as to help pay its own way! In other words, while the capitalists are accumulating more capital, while the industrialists may be opening more industries with the help of unearned increments … the poor innocent children are to be used as sweated labour and forced to work, such that they may pay for the luxury of a so-called basic education!

To one with a heart and an understanding of child psychology, the very idea is revolting.

The paper continues: It is, therefore, consoling to note that this pernicious principle which was not disdained in the original report has been given a decent burial in the report of the Central Advisory Board. “The Board however, are unable to endorse the view that education at any stage and particularly in the lowest stages can or should be expected to pay for itself through the sale of articles produced by the pupils…”

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2019