Mir Abdullah
Children are seen working everywhere. These children earn money for their families. They work eight to twelve hours a day. They are maltreated. They are deprived of the joy of childhood. They are, even, deprived of their basic right to education which should be the utmost priority for them to get. There are several reasons for child labor. Firstly, poverty is the main reason for child labor. According to the World Bank’s lower-middle-income poverty rate ($3.2 per day) estimation, the poverty ratio in Pakistan stood at 39.3 percent in 2020-21 and is projected to remain at 39.2 percent in 2021-22. Currently, high inflation in Pakistan will surely raise the poverty rate which will lead to the rise in child labor. Child labor and poverty have an inevitable bond together. Usually, the destitute make their heir run the home and see financial matters. This needs to be stopped as children are not an alloy who fulfills the basic needs of the home. When an innocent child is put into this institutionalized slavery and burdened with the responsibility to earn. It is of course an irreparable loss for both the child and the family. So, one must find alternatives to eradicate poverty but children must be given the proper right to get what they deserve. Secondly, Unemployment is also one of the main reasons for child labor. One child out of three is pulled out of school to work, often in dangerous conditions. During covid-19 a large number of people become jobless but children were spotted as vendors and workers. Due to the overpopulation unemployment increases and child labor also arises. Government must take serious steps to eradicate child labor as soon as possible because child labor may aid in unemployment but it causes a great loss of talent. Thirdly, Some students have high ambition but limited resources especially the resources of education as their family doesn’t know the importance of education. Especially in villages, illiterate parents do not realize the need for a proper physical, emotional, and cognitive development of a child. As they are uneducated, they do not realize the importance of education for their children. Due to limited resources and more mouths to feed, children are employed in various forms of work in village life. Therefore, whether people are low income or high income, they should have children only if they have time, resources, and love for the child. Having a child for selfish needs should be stopped as soon as possible by educating the economically backward. This will bring quick progress to our country.
