Son of
a software engineer working with a
MNC |Age -10 years| student of one of
the top 5 schools in the city, studying
in class 5th.
He
has branded clothes to wear; toys
and sport items to share with his 5-year younger sister.
He
is up to date with latest electronic
gadgets. Enough food to eat and to left in the plate if he do not want to
eat anymore.
Different
kind of health drinks, mineral water
and so many other things he wants; he needed or he don’t, but he have.
More than his parent are
worried about his future; they are worried what
their child do not having.
The condition of child is
the same. He is in the depression, he don’t have latest gadget, latest trend
dress, he had not been to Papa Jones and KFC
from so long time. Managing timings
for dance class, cricket and other classes.
*****
But I am not a son of any software engineer or any other
government/public/private job employee.
All say that my parents are there with the God.
But they couldn’t take me and my small sister with them, so we
are here.
I don’t know about any of
my relatives also.
No
one is there to give us food or to make our bed to sleep.
I don’t have money to buy
food and no one give us food without
money.
I started working in a
nearby dhaba. I use to clean
the tables and utensils and in return gets money, food and a place for me
and my sister to sleep in the silent
nights.
Like earlier I don’t have to make my sister sleep on
footpath with the dogs and puppies.
I
want my sister to be with me always smiling. I want her not to
suffer from hunger ever and wish her to go to school to get good education.
I
save the money I earn, for my
sister.
Everything was going
fine...
14th November|
6 pm
A
group of people came to our dhaba. It was the group of journalist and social workers.
They
were making videos and were taking snaps of our dhaba. Someone told they
are making a documentary movie on
us.
I
saw those people talking to the owner of the dhaba, who looks sad and scared too.
“Sorry Chhotu, you can’t
work here. You are too small to work. They (journalist and social worker group)
gonna complaint against me for keeping you as a child labour...”
I
pleaded-cried-requested, but I had
to leave. I lost my job.
My
eyes were full of tears; I couldn’t understand
what has happened, what is happening and what
will happen to me and my sister.
Only
one thing was clear-I don’t have a job now-no work-no money-no food-no place to sleep.
All dreams were vanished.
After ten days...
6pm near a mall
I
was with my sister on the footpath, begging to the people crossing to give
some money or food to eat.
Everyone
was ignoring us. However, I was not
giving up.
From
morning, I haven’t got anything to eat or single
penny.
From
past ten days, I was collecting the leftover food in the plate, thrown in the dustbin near the food
stall for my sister and to cool down the starving
fire of my stomach too.
The
food stall vendor was kind enough to let
me do so, as there was no theft to his profit ratio.
Meanwhile,
a black Skoda stopped nearby. Around
4-5 people got down. All were so well dressed. I hoped to get at least to arrange dinner for my sister (couldn’t gave her even one time meal today).
“Sir, me and my younger
sister are very hungry. From morning we didn’t had even a single grain. She
will die sir, please give something to eat.”
Those
people ignored me. I looked at my sister,
tears rolled down. My sister was
lying on the pavement; she was not able to open her eyes also.
I
followed them. This time they abused me roughly. “Go away-this is their all time drama and a new story everytime. Just go
away,” One of them shouted.
“Can’t they do some work to get some money in
return, but the easiest job they find is begging and cheating other with their brilliant
emotional stories.
They work in a hidden big
organisation, having all sorts of facilities; we should find out, this will be
rally big news.”
And
they went inside holding the hand of
their small son and daughters with
their beautiful, groomed wives.
The
guard of the building bowed before them as they entered.
These
were the same journalist and social
workers.
They
don’t want us to work with dignity
and peace. They don’t want us to beg
outside, as well, they don’t want to
give us food or any basic amenities..Necessities to help us.
What the hell
they want with our life. Only they want to
use us a and our life to make
stories and big time news to discuss over child beggary, child labour, poverty, over population, compulsory child
education, responsibilities of the government, responsibilities of the people toward the nation and under
privileged population...
...snatching our job, keeping us hungry,
making us homeless...
I
too want to study and play likes
other children. Eating good food and
give such life to my sister, as I have to bring
her up as my daughter too.
No one else
is there in my family to earn bread for
us.
No one give us a shelter to hide in the freezing
winter and roasting hot summer weather.
There
is no one to bring food for us daily,
we too feel hunger.
We too are human, we are
also kids. Our basic needs are like others. For other
children, they have their parents
and some lucky orphans have NGOs
with them..But for us, they all together
protest if we work to earn one time bread for self and my small family.
They say,
we need education.But I says, before
education, we need food to eat and a place to hide myself and my family
too.
No
one like beggars.... I don’t like begging.
...But
they say, “Working of the children is illegal....”
[ Here I am not favoring the Child Labor. But going against it and depriving them from the work will never solve the problem.
We need to find out all the real causes, why the small children are being forced to work in such a tender age.
Need to understand their perspectives.
..why children work??
Provide them an alternative....
...and then say, child labor is illegal...
Please think on the other side too ]
Life is not to only see it and enjoy
Life is there beyond the horizon.
