http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2010/09/22/commonwealth-stadium-built-using-child-labour/
In this article we see yet another aspect of Indian societal issues highlighted by the Games. Throughout construction of the stadium there were claims of low payment and “sub human” living conditions. It seems that there was also a bribing system to encourage workers to bring their children to the site with them. In August a 2 year old was killed on the site, bringing the death toll to forty-five. While there was a budget it $8 million for the welfare of the laborers there is a report stating that only $5,000 was spent.
While there is a law making the employment of children under 14 illegal (except in family owned enterprises) child labor is a widespread issue across the country. Poverty, migration, and lack of access to education have all fed into this problem. In the case of the CWG the desire to finish cheaply and quickly is once again highlighted over quality and human rights. This can be seen as similar to the US and children working in factories during our Industrial Revolution. These issues combined with India’s strong push for economic development will continue and it will take a powerful movement to end this common practice.
This is really sad. Is there a new opposition against child labor laws in India? Or is this overlooked as well?
ReplyDeleteIt seems there was a revision of the law a couple years ago, but that it is not enforced by the state police. There is also issues with domestic workers which are often invisible to authorities.
ReplyDeleteStacy this is a great article and it may correlate into the issues I posted last week associated with child trafficking in the modern day slave trade. This is still a prevalent issue in India.
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