It was the year 1979
the year, UNESCO proclaimed
as the "Year of the Child"
As college students, in the then Madras
we took to the streets
carrying placards, raising slogans
denouncing 'child labour'
exhorting its termination!
Next day, the ritual, optics completed
we were back in college
and it was business as usual
four decades later, problem of child labour
is hardly gone, still very much there!
Going to the basics, is the need of the hour
eliminating child labour possible
only when underlying economic issues are addressed
solutions for "why children are compelled
to work in the first place"? ....
Today's child has lot more added
to the list of challenges
more competition for securing future
more risks of sexual abuse
more peer pressure to fit in
more pressure, from a demanding social media...
Growing up challenges need solid support
from all quarters- parents, Government, NGOs
mere lip service won't do
there's a need for awareness and action
at the grassroots, on the ground!
NB: This poem was composed for the special (August) monthly meet of the Bangalore poetry circle(BPC) in collaboration with Slam Out Loud, an organization working for Child welfare and growth. The featured theme for the evening was "Growing Up'
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteA heart acher of truth! It is one of the errant parts of human nature that in a world of change, such things never change... unless the will for true change is produced. A poem that needed writing! YAM xx
Weii expressed. We feel nostalgic about childhood, but today's children have a lot more issues in growing up.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the subject Mona!
ReplyDeletePurging of social evil is an ongoing process both legal and practice but the child labour is posing tougher challenges for variety of reasons. Educated minds won't allow it but brute society is acting otherwise. Proper education with the metrics of economic development of the poor will enable them in the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much sir for sharing your thoughts on the subject!
ReplyDelete