GUWAHATI, Feb 11 � They have different names � Kamala, Rubina, Deepali � but they all are sharing a similar fate in the gateway to the North East. Despite the numerous legislations passed by the government, they are languishing within the confines of high rises, sprawling mansions and in other middle to low end residences. Engaged as domestic help, they are within the age group of 6 to 14 and suffer the same kind of emotional dilemma � separation from their families which they have to accept because of economic conditions.
A UNICEF supported mapping project of domestic child labour in the capital city undertaken by the Society for Social Transformation and Environmental Protection, has found that most of the domestic child labourers experience acute pangs of loneliness, but have no means of reaching out to their parents. As most of them have brought to the city by middle man, they are not certain when or how they would be able to meet their parents.
The project nearing completion has covered 474 domestic child labour in 16 wards in the city. It has looked at the migration pattern, working conditions, type of work and health of the domestic child labour. The project coordinator Panchalee Tamulee informed that the children engaged as domestic help in the city are mainly from conflict hit areas and the tea belt.
�It is very unfortunate that children are being brought to the city by middlemen and they do not know when they would be meeting their parents,� said Panchalee stressing that there should be a law making it mandatory for registration of domestic helps, periodical profiling of their conditions, educational facilities, help lines available etc.
During the project, the members of the Society for Social Transformation and Environmental Protection also could see that many of the child domestic helps did not have access to education.
�Books are the windows through which these children can see the light of this vast world of ours. But the windows are closed to them and they are like prisoners,� observed Panchalee.
Majority of the domestic child labour are girls and employed full time. Boys are employed part time. These children are cleaning, washing, cooking and baby sitting. Deprived of care and love of their parents, these children are being made to work harder by their employers than their emaciated bodies can bear. At the end of a back breaking day, they get nothing but ill treatment as their reward. Though they want to go home, they know the road has been lost.
GUWAHATI, Feb 11 � They have different names � Kamala, Rubina, Deepali � but they all are sharing a similar fate in the gateway to the North East. Despite the numerous legislations passed by the government, they are languishing within the confines of high rises, sprawling mansions and in other middle to low end residences. Engaged as domestic help, they are within the age group of 6 to 14 and suffer the same kind of emotional dilemma � separation from their families which they have to accept because of economic conditions.
A UNICEF supported mapping project of domestic child labour in the capital city undertaken by the Society for Social Transformation and Environmental Protection, has found that most of the domestic child labourers experience acute pangs of loneliness, but have no means of reaching out to their parents. As most of them have brought to the city by middle man, they are not certain when or how they would be able to meet their parents.
The project nearing completion has covered 474 domestic child labour in 16 wards in the city. It has looked at the migration pattern, working conditions, type of work and health of the domestic child labour. The project coordinator Panchalee Tamulee informed that the children engaged as domestic help in the city are mainly from conflict hit areas and the tea belt.
�It is very unfortunate that children are being brought to the city by middlemen and they do not know when they would be meeting their parents,� said Panchalee stressing that there should be a law making it mandatory for registration of domestic helps, periodical profiling of their conditions, educational facilities, help lines available etc.
During the project, the members of the Society for Social Transformation and Environmental Protection also could see that many of the child domestic helps did not have access to education.
�Books are the windows through which these children can see the light of this vast world of ours. But the windows are closed to them and they are like prisoners,� observed Panchalee.
Majority of the domestic child labour are girls and employed full time. Boys are employed part time. These children are cleaning, washing, cooking and baby sitting. Deprived of care and love of their parents, these children are being made to work harder by their employers than their emaciated bodies can bear. At the end of a back breaking day, they get nothing but ill treatment as their reward. Though they want to go home, they know the road has been lost.
