"Pratidhwani" web edition: Tenth Issue

Vox Populi

Issue: 8

The Unspoken Dream
(Child labour in campus)

It is impossible to eliminate child labour by the enforcement of stringent child labour laws. Since it is related to the financial condition of the family, the only way out is to take concrete measures for eliminating poverty which in turn reduces the need. If we cannot provide a better life for a child, we do not have the right to stop him/her working. But their exploitation should be prevented.

- Prasanth T K
Ph.D, Aerospace Engineering, santh@

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Exploitation of children as daily wage workers or in the form of regular house maid or servants at several places like canteens, motor transport (MT) and employees’ residences can be seen easily. Most probably the motives behind all this exploitation are getting labour at lower cost and once the child becomes adult he is replaced by another child to optimize savings. If the people engaged in this are not punished, the least that can be done is discourage child labour in IITK.

- Ashok Kumar
Ph.D, Materials Science Programme, ashokku@

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A child's dream is always special since it is adorned with naivety, groomed with lot of expectations. In our country, improper family planning shackles the child to realize his/her dream. Despite chasing his/her dream, a child is exposed to the family burden at a very early stage of life. Every individual in this country is entitled to certain basic privileges and denial of these based on financial grounds is unacceptable. If getting a child is a blessing, then, it is equally sinful, when the parents are unable to offer food, shelter and basic education. There should be an awareness program to educate the public that a need of the child should be felt only if there are adequate facilities to raise it. Further, the employers should ensure that child labour is not entertained. For example, I do get to see some kids in our canteen shouting "chayeee". A healthy society can be built without the hassles of socio-economic problems if we could help a child to realise his/her naive dreams.

- Anand Baskaran
Ph.D, BioSci. and BioEngg, banand@

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In a country of more than one billion, where more than 30% of its population lives below the poverty line, and where getting two square meals a day is a struggle for many, child labor is a reality and IIT Kanpur is no different in this regard. The problem is more acute in Hall canteens, where children as small as age 10 work inhuman hours for very little. Its really a pity that a place like IIT Kanpur which converts dreams into reality for all of us, is killing the very dreams and aspirations of these kids by doing nothing for them. Instead of working at such a tender age, these kids should be getting an education which one day might help them to get into IIT Kanpur itself, not to work but to get an education which will set them for a bright life. It’s high time that the institute administration issues an order banning any child under the age of 14 to work on the institute premises.

- TVVSS Padmanabha Rao
M.Tech, Civil Engineering, paddu@

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The fact that children are forced to work as bonded labourers is totally atrocious and should be undone with. However just banning child labor is not the solution as many of the children have to work to support their families. It would be better if it is ensured that the children are not exploited physically and that they receive adequate remuneration.

- Aaditya Agarwal
M.Tech, Chemical Engineering, aadi@

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Guest Editor

Barath Palanisamy E101, barath@
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Quote of the Week:

The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.

- Alfred Hitchcock

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Cricton Fiction

Crichton is one of the most prolific writers of the 20the century.He is a class in himself as the one author who uses/does prodigious research data for his novels, seasoned with his wit thereby educating the reader unknowingly.Since 1960 he has articulated his thoughts much effectively and which have crytallized into compelling books and successful movies.
His stories start and end with a open ended question which the reader is left to ponder.Christened the angel of doom he foresees destruction from the so called 'Frontiers of science'and though some of his books make a deep impression the autonomy is left to the book lover for inspiration.
His recent book "state of fear" wherein he says that there is no such thing as global warming caused a deep impact within me and has resulted in this small tribute to him from my side. Herein I have tried to convey the crux of his books.

Barath Palanisamy E101, barath@

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