Sunday, June 15, 2008
Rescued child workers should be treated as bonded labor
Rescued child workers should be treated as bonded labor for better rehabilitation and a better tomorrow, says Shantha Sinha, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) .
Calling the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act "weak" because it does not guarantee rehabilitation, Sinha said the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976, would provide a stronger framework.
"The Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976, ensures statutory benefits; it provides rehabilitative benefits of Rs.20,000 ($ 465) to the family of the rescued laborer. Rescued child laborers should therefore be treated under this rather than under the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act," Sinha told IANS in an interview.
Although the Indian government puts the number of child laborers in the country at 12.6 million, child rights activists estimate that the number is around 60 million. As against this, in the eight years between 1997-98 and 2005-06, there were just 670,000 violations of the law detected and only 22,588 convictions, according to the labor ministry's annual report 2007-08.
Agreeing that the low conviction rate under the child labor act had failed to be a deterrent for people who violate the law, Sinha said the NCPCR had urged the labor ministry for strong and continuous enforcement of the law until it started discouraging people.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Calling the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act "weak" because it does not guarantee rehabilitation, Sinha said the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976, would provide a stronger framework.
"The Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976, ensures statutory benefits; it provides rehabilitative benefits of Rs.20,000 ($ 465) to the family of the rescued laborer. Rescued child laborers should therefore be treated under this rather than under the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act," Sinha told IANS in an interview.
Although the Indian government puts the number of child laborers in the country at 12.6 million, child rights activists estimate that the number is around 60 million. As against this, in the eight years between 1997-98 and 2005-06, there were just 670,000 violations of the law detected and only 22,588 convictions, according to the labor ministry's annual report 2007-08.
Agreeing that the low conviction rate under the child labor act had failed to be a deterrent for people who violate the law, Sinha said the NCPCR had urged the labor ministry for strong and continuous enforcement of the law until it started discouraging people.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: bonded labor, child labor, child rights, child workers, childern, convictions, NCPCR, Rescued
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Banner year for children in major national competitions
This has been a banner year for Indian American children who began showing their talent at national competitions back in the mid-eighties. This year, they again excelled in major competitions such as the National Spelling Bee and the National Geography Bee. On May 30, 13-year old Sameer Mishra of West Lafayette, Indiana, walked away with $40,000 in cash and prizes when he won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the word 'guerdon' which appropriately means 'something that one has earned or gained', especially as his victory came after a grueling competition. Thirty five South Asian American students reached the finals, and five of them did their families and communities proud, ending up in the top 10 finishers.
Just ten days before the spelling bee, 11-year old Akshay Rajgopal of Lincoln, Nebraska, won the National Geographic Bee, securing a college fund of $25,000 and other prizes.
Following are the final results of the National Spelling Bee:
Sameer Mishra, 8th Grader at West Lafayette Junior High School, kept up his great sense of humor during the competition. The 13 year old loves to read and is part of his school's book club. Inspired and coached by his sister Shruti, who also participated in the Bee in earlier years, Mishra enjoys playing computer, video and board games, has played the violin for four years in his school orchestra, likes to do what his peers do ride his bike and hang out with his friends. His favorite subjects are science and math.
He participates in contests such as Spell Bowl, Academic Super Bowl and Indiana State School Music Association. He wants to be a neuro surgeon.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Just ten days before the spelling bee, 11-year old Akshay Rajgopal of Lincoln, Nebraska, won the National Geographic Bee, securing a college fund of $25,000 and other prizes.
Following are the final results of the National Spelling Bee:
Sameer Mishra, 8th Grader at West Lafayette Junior High School, kept up his great sense of humor during the competition. The 13 year old loves to read and is part of his school's book club. Inspired and coached by his sister Shruti, who also participated in the Bee in earlier years, Mishra enjoys playing computer, video and board games, has played the violin for four years in his school orchestra, likes to do what his peers do ride his bike and hang out with his friends. His favorite subjects are science and math.
He participates in contests such as Spell Bowl, Academic Super Bowl and Indiana State School Music Association. He wants to be a neuro surgeon.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: childern, contests, Indian American children, national competitions, National Spelling Bee, participates, Sameer Mishra, science, Scripps National Spelling Bee, talent
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
'Me and You for Children of Myanmar': Bilaal Rajan, 11, rallies schools, others
The new shoes you just bought or the GameBoy you are about to buy, could save the life or educate a child somewhere in the world, says 11-year old Bilaal Rajan, of Brampton, a UNICEF Child Ambassador, who put out a call May 13, to children to begin fund-raising for their Burmese peers hit by the May 3 Cyclone Nargis. Hundreds of Havenwood Public School children in Mississauga, Ontario applauded Bilaal's speech launching the campaign he is calling 'Me and You for the Children of Myanmar.'
Rajan's challenge encourages every child in Canada to raise up to Myanma $105 for UNICEF Myanmar Cyclone Appeal. Children can participate in school-based fund-raising activities, download information and a challenge poster at the UNICEF Canada Web site at www.unicef.ca, or engage in their own fund-raising with family, neighbors and friends.
Even though News India-Times interviewed him just the day after the launch, Rajan said the response had been tremendous.
"All Peel Region schools are doing it, and New market, Aurora (townships). And we're still spreading the word," he said. (Peel Region covers Brampton and Mississauga in Greater Toronto where a significant South Asian population lives.) As this went to press, government estimates placed the dead as close to 40,000 but U.S. Charge d'Affairs to Burma, Shari Villarosa, told reporters on May 15, that the number could rise to 100,000.
UNICEF has been distributing food, water, medicines and shelter equipment since then, and says the lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation, inadequate shelter and poor nutrition pose particular threats to children.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Rajan's challenge encourages every child in Canada to raise up to Myanma $105 for UNICEF Myanmar Cyclone Appeal. Children can participate in school-based fund-raising activities, download information and a challenge poster at the UNICEF Canada Web site at www.unicef.ca, or engage in their own fund-raising with family, neighbors and friends.
Even though News India-Times interviewed him just the day after the launch, Rajan said the response had been tremendous.
"All Peel Region schools are doing it, and New market, Aurora (townships). And we're still spreading the word," he said. (Peel Region covers Brampton and Mississauga in Greater Toronto where a significant South Asian population lives.) As this went to press, government estimates placed the dead as close to 40,000 but U.S. Charge d'Affairs to Burma, Shari Villarosa, told reporters on May 15, that the number could rise to 100,000.
UNICEF has been distributing food, water, medicines and shelter equipment since then, and says the lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation, inadequate shelter and poor nutrition pose particular threats to children.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Bilaal Rajan, campaign, childern, Cyclone Appeal, distributing food, Flooding, medicines, UNICEF, UNICEF Child Ambassador, water
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