They Say it is a Child labour----------
We feel it is
an early training………Selva
On a Sunday, I was working in the farm land, rather supervising the farm
work, trying to make use of the time bound electricity that is being supplied
by the department. The worker who promised to return after his meal did not
return and I (a retired Principal from a reputed college located in an urban
centre and nothing to do with agriculture except boasting myself that I too
from an agricultural family) was bit anxious to use the opportunity to water
the land that was being prepared for planting onion the next day. I was told
that if you miss watering it now then it would be rather waste in getting women
to plant it the next day as there won’t be sufficient work for them and we need
to pay them full wage.
The agony doubled – one to save the time to use the opportunity
to get the electricity and second to save the wage. I myself ventured into the
field and switched on the motor and watering
the field without knowing the technique of breaking and rebinding the bunds in
such a way that make the required water fill the particular area of the land.
Water was over flowing and bunds were not binding together in spite of my
earnest hard effort, already prepared bunds started breaking one by one and merging
with one another and I felt irritated and cursed myself and like running out to
stop the motor.
There appeared Selva, a young lad with Saravanan and Satheesh (finished
their day exam and came early to the unit) laughing at me and Selva took the instrument
‘Manvetti’ from me and started binding the bunds with ease. I told him better
leave it and go to the room. My academic mind from school of social work labeled
his action as child labour and suggested him to leave the place stating that it
is a child labour.
Selva laughed and said “Ayya avanga ithai kulanthai tholilali
ambanuka ana ithu ennkku aramba payirchi” (Sir, they say it is a Child labour
but for me it is a basic training). It was an educative experience and an eye
opener which made me to re think about the concept of child labour. Of course
Selva is not losing any of his child hood pleasures, he goes to school
regularly, doing good academic work, play all games, take part in all
activities and also take interest in farm work. He says he would like to be a
good farmer in future. Any one who sees Selva only in the farm land would label
him as child labour but in reality he is not. Such an understanding requires an
overall view on his development which people rarely have nowadays.
Dr.P.N.Narayana Raja
Facilitator
