Child labour

The amendment to the Child Labour Act, banning employment of children aged up to 14 years in any form of industry, is welcome. Primarily, children are sent to work to augment the family income or fund the needs of an alcoholic father. For two years, I have seen a girl of about 10 doing acrobatics perched on a rope, balancing with a pole in her hand. Her family seems to be dependent on her income. She could be a potential Olympic champion in, say, gymnastics. Such children should be sent to school, given training in sports and their families given financial support.

R. Ganesh,

Chennai

While the amendment will eradicate child labour, it will also hopefully end the menace of domestic violence against children. This will translate the Right to Education, hitherto a dream, into a reality and transform the lives of millions of children across the country.

P.K. Varadarajan,

Chennai