Comments on: Children as Chattel: Child Labor & Trafficking in India

By: Bhuwan Ribhu

Bhuwan Ribhu — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:04:54 +0000

Good article. I was extremely pleased with the way you have built the argument in favour of children. Please keep me posted on the book and your other work. By the way, Om Prakash stays with us and continues to do the good work at Bal Ashram.

JWT - an average american can demand a child labour free product - a carpet, embroidered clothes , soccer balls, etc.. You can also help organisations workin in this field. On my quote”children cost less than cattle”, the parliament of India had debated to bring a change in policy to effectivelt prevent trafficking and ensure rehabilitation so a beginning has been made but how it translates into action remains to be seen.
For any details please contact us at : info@bba.org.in or bhuwan@bba.org.in

By: S Ghosh

S Ghosh — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:15:07 +0000

Aparna you are very true but we have to do something can we people unite together and form a NGO to help these children we will be from different parts of India so we can do something in a broader prospective, kindly contact me at sbghosh05@indiatimes.com

By: aparna

aparna — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:08:42 +0000

This is a very serious issue to deal with our children who are the future of nation are staying in dark age why can’ t be there some more positive programme to deal with it. It really hurts to see children on the streets begging for one or two rupees. children who are soft emotionaly and physicaly should be given love and education so that they could also see the dreams for the better future otherwise they will only stay with SMALL EYES BROKEN DREAMS

By: ahumanbean

ahumanbean — Sat, 24 May 2008 15:20:55 +0000

I’m Indian, with Indian middle + upper middle class friends who use child labour in their flats. I cannot express how awful I feel when I see tese families going out to India’s new flashy malls, their own spoilt brat kids in tow, with the “child helpers” trailing at a respectful distance.

Typically, the child helpers are purchased from their parents living in villages for a lump sum - say Rs 5000/- for 6 months - and made to live on the floor in their flats.

The helpers get food and clothing but- no company, no education and always know that they are there to work - from sunup to late at night. Often they are barely older than the kids they ‘care for’.

It’s a highy sensitive topic. And the worst of it is, it’s not a subject easily discussed with the chatterati “but we’re helping them rather have seeing them begging on the streets” attitude.

Sickening.

By: Olivia

Olivia — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:22:53 +0000

this is so terribly disturbing.
my firend and i are currently doing a school campaign to help these poor children.

i hope we are able to make a difference.

Olivia and alice.

By: jollibee

jollibee — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:16:55 +0000

I am writing an editorial and doing a presentation on slavery, child labor, and sexual exploits. I am hurt by the fact that our children must suffer this from the people they were told to obey.

By: The Words That Haunt Me « Stop Child Slavery

The Words That Haunt Me « Stop Child Slavery — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:57:52 +0000

[...] last post, “Children as Chattel: Child Labor & Trafficking in India“, is worth a serious read and reflection. I commented on it, stating that one of the [...]

By: JWT

JWT — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:33:05 +0000

Shelley… this paragraph above is what haunts me.

“Child laborers and prostitutes exist in such large numbers for a very simple, yet horrific, reason: they are cheap commodities. Children cost less than cattle; a cow or buffalo costs an average 20,000 rupees, but a child can be bought and traded like an animal for 500 to 2,000 rupees. They can be paid the least, exploited the most, and due to their largely invisible status have virtually no power against their oppressors.”

It is horrific at a level I’m unable to get me mind around. You are there, seeing it, feeling it. How does the average American begin to help? How can they effectively create change?