Sylhet Correspondent :
To restore child rights, many non-government organisations (NGOs) have been working in the district for a long time, but the actual scenario has remained the same. The child labourers are still increasing day by day.
A major portion of minor children under 14 years of age are engaged in different risky and hard jobs due to poverty. They supplement their parents by selling their physical labour.
During visit to upazilas of the district, a lot of children between 10 to 14 were found doing various works such as collecting waste papers, pulling rickshaws and vans, working in hotels, and helping in wielding shops, buses, mills, filling stations and other hazardous works.
It is observed that the street urchins have no particular place to live. They are seen lying on roadsides and bus terminal and are busy at market places for their livelihood.
Every year different organisations observe the “World Children Day” with high enthusiasm in a befitting manner where the speakers underscore the importance on implementation of United Nations Charter of Magna Charta for child rights. After that no organisation is found to come forward with effective steps for the welfare of the ill-fated children of the society.
There is an office of District Children Affairs in Sylhet, but it keeps no information regarding children of the district.
NGOs claim that they are working for upholding children rights, but, in fact, their activities are limited to discussion meetings and taking photographs to attain the gratification of the donor agencies, it is alleged.
There is no monitoring from the government side because the officers responsible are happy after getting invitation as the chief guests in the discussion meetings.
Belal Ahmed, Executive Director, Sylhet Samajkallan Sangstha (SSKS), a voluntary NGO, said, the demand for child labour is also increasing as cost of child labour is comparatively less than that of a matured labour; lack of social awareness and family feud are also the causes behind it.
