Hyderabad: The education system in the country is facing an unprecedented crisis with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. More than half of the school academic year is over and yet there is no way for the schools to reopen on a fully.
The situation of children in government welfare homes who are supported by charities and various welfare societies has become even more miserable, not to mention the situation of children in orphanages. The poor maintenance of mid-day meal scheme, which has supported and attracted millions of children to schools, has led to malnutrition among many children in the country.
The perilous situation in the country, especially for financially disadvantaged children, has forced many poor students to turn towards daily wage labour. As a matter of various reports say millions of children across the world are at the risk of becoming child labourers.
Situation in India is grave
Recent international reports have made it clear that two decades of efforts to eradicate child labour worldwide are facing the risk being undermined. As per the estimates of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) nearly 27 crore people were lifted out of poverty in India between 2006 and 2016.
However, experts warn that all of this progress could be wasted due to the Corona calamity. It is estimated that if children stay away from schools for long periods of time, many of them are at risk of becoming child labourers. If the same happens, experts warn that progress made so far in school enrolment, progress in literacy, social consciousness and children's health will suffer.
The financial problems of parents who lost their jobs due to lockdown and moved to their own villages seem to be having a serious impact on their children's education. UNESCO recently reported that millions of child marriages could occur in the next ten years if the same conditions persist. It has also cautioned that poor girls, especially in Asia and Africa, are most likely to drop out of schools. The World Bank estimates that the closure of schools could cost India about Rs 30 lakh crore worth of productivity in the future.
The findings throw light on the challenges before the world's manufacturing sector in the days to come. The requirement of internet connectivity, laptop/smart-phone has made online education beyond the reach of thousands of poor students. Psychiatrists point out that the children who are now accompanying their parents to work, once get into some employment and find the taste of money may not show any interest to go back to the school.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the high number of child labourers in the Telugu states is a matter of concern. Experts warn that high levels of family responsibilities and stress in childhood can increase the risk of criminal mentality in children in the future.
Guy Ryder, Director General, International Labour Organization (ILO), said that due to the current situation around the world, more children are at risk of becoming child labourers. He expressed concern that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the income of families, many children may become child labourers to support their families. He said it was important to provide them with social security in times of such crisis and the respective governments should take immediate action.
Education is the source of confidence
A comprehensive strategic movement is needed to prevent school children from becoming child labourers in the first place. Along with the government, voluntary, service organizations, public and private educational institutions should play a key role in this important social responsibility.
Implementation of the Right to Education Act across states should be monitored. Governments should focus on controlling school fees and reassuring poor families. Workplace inspections should be intensified and the strategy of identifying and tracking down child labourers and bringing them back to school should be sharpened. Social security and financial security should be provided to poor families. The mid-day meals scheme and the programme of providing nutrition to every child should be efficiently continued.
Bringing children to education as close as possible will grant fruitful childhoods to them. Otherwise, they run the risk of remaining direct victims of the Corona crisis and a perennial source of concern to the society!
Also Read: Child labour among school going children increased in lockdown period in West Bengal
