The observance of June 12 as child labour elimination day brings no hope for betterment to about 22,000 child laborers employed in Aligarh’s lock and hardware units and hotels and dhabas.
Not withstanding the Supreme Court's order forbidding the employing a children as labours, the District administration and the labour department of Aligarh have failed to take effective steps to impose a ban on child labour in various lock and hardware units in Aligarh.
About 5000 lock and hardware units are functioning as semi-organized and tiny groups in industrial estate and in the city especially in Muslim populated areas here.
According to study of Sociology Department of Aligarh Muslim University, commissioned by Geneva based institute of child labour found that child labour was rampant in six of 16 processes, said Dr. Noor Mohammad, a prominent Sociologist and ex Chairman of Sociology Department of Aligarh Muslim University.
According to Nagar Nigam Survey, of one lakh workers are employed in Lock and Hardware units in Aligarh, of whom nearly 22,000 are children of these most of the children are Muslims. According to a detailed survey study. It was found that the children had been doing all sort of work in these units about 2,300 children were employed in plate cutting, 2500 in body drilling, 2170 n the manufacturing of lock machines, 2700 in casting, 2500 in the lock fitting process, 1500 in the washing of locks, 2200 in key manufacturing, 1100 in the designing of locks, 5670 in electroplating polish, 1900 in packing and 7000 in other related processes.
18 years old Mujeeb is doing work in one electroplating plant in Bhujpura area lost childhood in hazardous fume of chemicals, even this day, getting education is a mirage, for earning little sums, they pay a heavy price in terms of their health by working in closed room under unhygienic conditions.
12 year old Rafeeq of Shahjamal, suffers from frequent breathlessness after inhaling dust generated from electroplating polishing machine.
13 year old Ramesh of Surendra Nagar succumbed to nickel ailments of lungs when he was working at cutting machine now he is under treatment in TB Chest Department of J.N. Medical College.
Mujeeb, Rafeeq and Suresh are not the only ones but so many child laborers is not aware the child labour elimination day. They said that they are the third generation to be working in this lock industry. Even after having a bet of education, they had to do work similarly to earn their livelihood.
Mohammad Adnan of Saria Kalan ward a child labour of lock industry told that “I am the fourth generation to be working in this industry. I am keen interested in education but have do this work to earn money for the livelihood of our old mother and nine brother and sisters”.
There is no doubt that health of such children is pathetic. Aged between 8 to 13 years, they are engaged in closed rooms working without gloves and prone serious disease. Out of 22000 children 9 thousand suffering from T.B. and asthma due to pollution of the factories.
