“Put them in classes, not in tea glasses” read a placard held by a young girl at a campaign to observe World Day Against Child Labour here on Wednesday.
The campaign, organised by Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (BOSCO), an NGO working with child labourers and children in distress, saw rallies and flash mobs at various malls and prominent locations across the city.
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“Poverty and illiteracy among parents, family’s social and economic circumstances, and lack of awareness are the major causes for child labour,” said an official from BOSCO.
Rescued children shared their stories. Nirma (name changed) had to endure violence after her parents sent her off to work as a domestic worker in Bengaluru at the age of 10. “I used to work from 6 a.m. till 11 p.m., and my parents never came to meet me. Moreover, the money would be sent to my parents directly and I wouldn’t get anything. I missed the most important part of my childhood,” she said.
“Child labour cases in Bengaluru have decreased over the recent years, and this decline is because of the cooperation and hard-work put in by BOSCO and the city police,” said Santosh Hipparagi, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Division 2, Bengaluru.
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