By Mathew Korattiyil
Pune, May 2, 2022: A two-day drive against child labor and beggary has reached thousands of people in Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra state in western India.
Pune-based Sarva Seva Sangh (union at the service of all) of the Divine Word Society conducted the April 29-30 program at four places in the city as part of its observation of the National Anti-Child Labor Day.
The Catholic NGO’s study on the issue shows that India has more than 12.6 million child laborers.
The awareness drive began in the morning of April 29 at Shivaji Nagar (Wakdewadi) state bus stand. In the evening the program was conducted at the city bus tops near Pune station. On April30 morning the awareness was at Swargate state bus stand and in the evening at the city bus stop and at the crowded Pune Railway station.
A team of social workers and field workers of Sarva Seva Sangh displayed banners and posters and held placards containing slogans in English, Hindi and Marathi.
Slogans such as “stop child beggary,” “stop child labour,” “uproot child labour from society,” “child labor is a business,” and “stop giving money to begging children” displayed. Handbills with information on child labor and child beggary in English and Marathi were also distributed to people for more information.
Sarva Seva Sangh, active in Pune for the past four decades, is managed by the Divine Word Society’s Mumbai province for the rehabilitation and capacity building of children at risk.
An excellent move started very late. We must repeat it all over the State, at least in major cities where child labor is prevalent. To eradicate the menace of child labor, everybody should cooperate. Let us wait and see how the movement progresses.