Yesterday, my daughter pleaded with me to give her permission to buy sparklers. And the obstinate me would not do so, which resulted in many heated arguments and emotional breakdowns.
“How can I not burst cracker on Diwali…. All my friends bought lots of crackers…I will be the only one standing like a fool watching them having fun... oh you don’t love me…you don’t want to see me happy..”
Well, after a lot of haggling and intense debate, my daughter could see sense and peace prevailed.
Inshaallah!!!
Well, this got me thinking (an unconventional thought) - why do we associate Diwali with crackers…it should be celebrated with sweets, lights and color. The very belief that firecrackers and fireworks are used to attract — or to advertise — good luck should be deleted from our mind.
A lot need to be undone to change the mindset and this should happen from home, permeate to school curriculum. Maybe, then the legal eagles would start flapping their wings …. !!!!
A lot has changed since we were kids. I agree, we had plenty of fun during Diwali and Baba would always bring big cartoons of crackers which would lasts for a week; most of our friends would come to our house for the cracker show... well, that was before we came to know about Sivakasi and the children involved in these factories.
“How can I not burst cracker on Diwali…. All my friends bought lots of crackers…I will be the only one standing like a fool watching them having fun... oh you don’t love me…you don’t want to see me happy..”
Well, after a lot of haggling and intense debate, my daughter could see sense and peace prevailed.
Inshaallah!!!
Well, this got me thinking (an unconventional thought) - why do we associate Diwali with crackers…it should be celebrated with sweets, lights and color. The very belief that firecrackers and fireworks are used to attract — or to advertise — good luck should be deleted from our mind.
A lot need to be undone to change the mindset and this should happen from home, permeate to school curriculum. Maybe, then the legal eagles would start flapping their wings …. !!!!
A lot has changed since we were kids. I agree, we had plenty of fun during Diwali and Baba would always bring big cartoons of crackers which would lasts for a week; most of our friends would come to our house for the cracker show... well, that was before we came to know about Sivakasi and the children involved in these factories.
Today, when I was sitting out, in my balcony, my reverie was disturbed with the resounding bursting of crackers and the romantic aura of the scented candles in the dark night vanished.
I visualized those little ones, their tiny hands fiddling with those hazardous chemicals as they fantasied about what they will get to eat at night or whether they will get to eat at all…:(
Our constitution eloquently proclaims - "No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or employed in any hazardous employment".
It does just that – PROCLAIMS... the problem still persists.
Enforcement is the key aspect that is lacking in the government's efforts. Child labor is a global problem. If child labour is to be eradicated, the governments and agencies and those responsible for enforcement need to start doing their jobs.
The most important thing is to increase awareness and keep discussing ways and means to check this problem. We have to decide whether we are going to take up the problem head-on and fight it any way we can or leave it to the adults who might not be there when things go out of hand.
It does just that – PROCLAIMS... the problem still persists.
Enforcement is the key aspect that is lacking in the government's efforts. Child labor is a global problem. If child labour is to be eradicated, the governments and agencies and those responsible for enforcement need to start doing their jobs.
The most important thing is to increase awareness and keep discussing ways and means to check this problem. We have to decide whether we are going to take up the problem head-on and fight it any way we can or leave it to the adults who might not be there when things go out of hand.
7 comments:
Not letting your child burst crackers is cruel, let her have some fun and make up her own mind when she grows up. However I agree with you making your child understand, the reason why she shouldn't be bursting crackers but forcing her not to is cruel to my understanding.
Also don't forget India is not a very rich country, and there are families who can't survive unless their children work. I agree the government can still do something about it, but many times it doesn't and we not buying the products just makes it worse.
Hmmmm... if not allowing a child to burst crackers is akin to cruelty, then, what about those little hands which gets maimed for life.
Why wait for the Govt... why not all of us start in our own little way to ensure a safe future for these kids????
From the internet -
As we walk, it strikes me that the children of Sivakasi are stuck in a deadly cycle of poverty – their work is dangerous, but they are too poor to leave it.
I agree children shouldn't be working there at all, and even if adults work - safety should be first priority ..but whats the backup plan if those children arent allowed to work ?
all news articles say stop child labour..but no article tells me what other work they would be doing if not work at these fireworks factories.
Mixed emotions. One, I want the child to be happy. But at the same time, cant see children being killed, at Sivakasi.
One thought that came to my mind is, educate the child about what is happening, (I'm sure she wont understand it because she is still a child. Most adults dont understand it!!). But then, get the child a little bit of crackers, just to enjoy & at the same time, helping a child in Sivakasi go to school? Or helping a child laborer somewhere, go to school? Tell your kid also that. This way, she enjoys a bit, a child gets education also. Your kid would appreciate it when she grows up. (Ex: if you say you use Rs1000/- for crackers, tell ur child that she'd get crackers for Rs 100 & Rs 900 would go towards the education for a poor child).
One person cant change the world at the snap of a finger. But surely can start a revolution. My 2c.
Happiness at the cost of another's...NO.
Buying 100/ worth of cracker and donating 900/ for a child's education -utter crap!!Doing this, you are actually supporting those people to employ children in their factories.
Please look at the bigger problem (and not on my parenting style)- our callous attitude,misinterpretation of festivals and religious ceremony, global warming and the burgeoning population and its effect on our economy which in turn affects child rights.
This is nonsense ..... I burst crackers and get my kids and whole society where I stay to burst crackers and these are NOT made in Sivakasi.
And if you have to be stubborn about it make some crackers at home yourself for your daughter.
That's good Rangan!! Says a lot about your enthusiasm and energy... But do ponder on the bigger picture... global warming, pollution.
Think about it, our children studies EVS in school, they learn all about environment there, now, outside school,away from books, we the educated adult are teaching them to be hypocrites.
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