As I was crossing the road today I saw a child was repairing a scooter. Judging by the face he was 10-12 years age. I decided to stop there and observe him for some time. I was amused to see him working with so much concentration. Honestly, I was ashamed of myself! Bunk his age. Even after being an engineer, I hardly can operate any machine! And look at him! Isn’t he just brilliant?

After he was done he looked at the owner of the scooter, and I clearly saw the pride in his eyes! But the moment the owner did the payment all of his pride was gone and there was a little tear in his eyes. He must have expected few extra pennies!

I don’t know why but I had an urge to talk to that poor soul once and so I did. So the conversation went like this.

Me: Babu, kadchis keno re?(Why are you crying?)
He did not say anything and gave me a blank look.
Me: kirey! bol!(say no?)
He: didi, ami sokal 9ta theke kaj korchi,ar akhon 3 tey baje, kichu khaoa hoyni, r poisao nei!(I am working since 9 a.m and I am hungry and left with no money)
Me: kano? malik poisa dayna?(why? don’t our boss pay you?)
He: hain dey! mashey 1000 taka!(he does, 1000rs per month!)
Me: taka ki koris?(what do you do with that money?)
He: amar baba nei, maa loker baritey kaj korey, boner 5 mash boyosh!(I dont have my father, my mother works as a maid, and my sister is just 5 months old!

I went speechless! I had no idea what to tell him after that, or even how to react. That much of hard work and such small amount of money? I gave him a hundred rupees cause that was the only money I had at that time. Though I know it’s almost nothing but I got a huge smile in return. It made my day!

All what I have been wondering now is if he performs such jobs so well what he can achieve in future if he gets proper surroundings and education and support. He clearly got some amazing skills and focus on his work. What if he grows interest in machine and motors. If he could have received some help, he might have ended up being a professional designer? Or maybe he could have got a variety of opportunities and might have ended up doing some other brilliant jobs.

IN several countries, lots of kids like him are going through the same phase everyday, and what we are doing as a society is pushing them in the huddles more and more in stead of educating them, and rather abusing them every moment,beating them up for not performing such tough jobs, creating disasters for them every single day, and  at worst case scenarios, pushing them towards death even! And when they are working, we are not even paying them what they deserve! 

Have we ever thought what we used to do at his age? The answer is NO! We had a better place to groom ourselves and that is all we cared for. They need education, they need food. THEY NEED LOVE,THEY NEED CARE AND SUPPORT!

Even after knowing that it is illegal, even after knowing that we are depriving them off their childhood which is a clear crime to perform, we do not bother. All we care about is cost cutting and child labors are the easiest available option one could have. So many children dies every year or end up injuring themselves while working in glass factories, gunpowder factories. They come to work without even knowing how much risk they are putting on their own life just to earn a penny and a small amount of food.

Dear the heads of this great society,
What will we do with LATEST TECHNOLOGIES if it doesn’t serve each and everyone equally? What will we do with DIGITIZATION if it can’t bring smile on a kid’s face?

Please lets a step forward! My Rs. 100/- won’t do anything, but what if we all contribute together? There are multiple NGOs working towards the safety and education of unprivileged kids. Not all of us might be able to financially support such kinds but if we see such scenarios, we should come forward to report such activities to the higher authorities. The higher authorities as well should take up the responsibilities but not only punishing the one found guilty but also they should take the child victim to proper care where the kid could get the benefits that he deserves.

If we all take one small step each, together  we could STOP CHILD LABOUR! Every kid deserves to be happy and enjoy their childhood by all means.