The fruits of child labour, never sweet

BANGALORE: “Every tenth child in Bangalore is a victim of child labour despite the city being an endorser of conventions both national and international against the practice,” said John Devaraj, filmmaker and founder of Bornfree Art School International (BASI). On the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour, Bornfree Art School hosted a series of events for children to spread awareness on the issue of child labour and urged everyone to make a difference.“Working children have no homes and do not attend schools. These children toil for adults’ profits and are deprived of the fundamental human right to education.In India, child labour is prohibited under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child as well as the domestic law entitled the Child Labour Prohibition Act, 1986 in India. However, child labour is practiced all over India. We at Born Free Art are striving to make a statement on World Day Against Child Labour. Apart from talking about this issue, we are looking at the possibility of a cultural liberation for these children. Each and every person needs to take a step forward and realise their responsibilities toward curbing child labour. Until we take up the task of educating and empowering our children, changes in the social pattern will stay a distant dream,” added Devaraj.Art is a therapeutic means for children from such difficult backgrounds to express themselves freely, regain the confidence and self respect as well as to generate interest in education. The event that was held on Sunday morning saw kids flaunting their moves to Michael Jackson’s tunes. Well, it is a well known fact that Jackson was fascinated with Chaplin’s life. And, undoubtedly, one aspect of Michael Jackson’s deep emotional identification with Charlie Chaplin was their shared experiences of pre-maturely terminated childhoods (both entered show biz at a very young age). Chaplin himself homeless at twelve a working child, contributed to the world through laughter and humour understanding poverty, destitution, hunger, humanism without even uttering a word. Kudos to all the children who put up a brilliant performance.