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Paul CHERUTHOTTUPURAM, Kolkata says,

Daring Rescue of Children and then...?
By C.M. Paul

360° VIEW

Kolkata, Jun. 15. BIS Mumbai, June 15: World Anti Child Labour Day (June 12) instituted by the International Labour Organization, to remind people of the atrocities against children, 12 children all below the age of 18 were rescued from Sakinaka, Chandivali Mhada, Yadav Nagar near Kherani Road in the Andheri area. The rescues operation was spearheaded by Bal Prafulta (BP), a Don Bosco Organization, with the assistance of the Labour Department, Police and the BMC. [ ....]
On the day of the rescue operation, we made arrangements for hiring a bus. The police officers had to be convinced that the children up to the age of 18 cannot be employed. Journalists and television reporters were informed about the whole process of rescue and rehabilitation of the children...
Read the full story on the site link given below.
http://www.donboscoindia.com/english/bis/default_ms.php?ps=0&newsid=2045&pno=1&newsidlist=,2045,2044,2043,2042,2041,2040,2039,2038,2037,2036,

From the Devil`s Advocate
This is one of the most exciting news reports that I have read in the BIS over the years.

What happened to the rest 30 or so children who were counted as child labourers by the BP Rescue Team...?
Sending them to Govt run Children`s Home may not be the best solution?

Who will rehabilitate them with some gainful job after they are released from the remand homes? If government can`t ensure that, it is better to leave them where they find them.

I guess, BP guys could do more than arrange for daring rescue operations for the media!

For a change, why not tell media to run human interest stories on the plight of these children being shouted at, kicked around, over worked and under paid with no time for play nor school?

What Don Bosco Did
How did Don Bosco (himself a child labourer who worked as farm hand to pay for his schooling) tackle the same problem some 150 years ago?

He visited the work sites, kept in touch with the ``harsh employers`` and ``exploited boys`` making sure of the kids welfare. On Sundays and holidays he kept open house (festive oratory) where he welcomed and cared for them.

Instead of ``booking the hapless employers under the Penal Code (Section 374), Juvenile Justice Act (Section 23 and 26) and the Child Labour Act (Section 3) and then produced before a metropolitan court and then later let off`` making a mockery of justice.... Don Bosco made deals with the so called ``mean employers`` that they should be kind to the boys, respect the hours of work, pay the children just wages and allow them time for play and school.

Don`t Ape the West
In a country like India and other developing countries, poor children need to learn and earn to fight poverty. Obtaining a small work is great boon to families living below poverty line...

We need not ape the welfare societies of the `west` where children are ensured free education and ``the poor`` are taken care under ``welfare schemes``.

We DB guys today need apply new models to fight poverty in a very humane and enlightened way, where both children and their families are helped.

Email contact: cmpaul53@gmail.com

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Article written by
Paul CHERUTHOTTUPURAM(Kolkata) cmpaul53@gmail.com

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