Subash Gurung
Kathmandu, December 19: About 72 percent of Nepalese people are under the line of poverty. They have a pitiable state and they can hardly manage their basic needs (foods, clothes and shelter). They work for a whole day even though they are unable to meet with their basic needs. As a result their child are enforce to be a labor; to work in factories, industries, hotels, vehicles and other’s house.
Child labour is a basic social problem in Kathmandu valley. Generally children are seemed working in a hotels and factories. In addition, they are even serving as a maid/servant in the houses of rich and filthy people. Children are even found in the embankment of rivers as a stone breaker in rural parts of Nepal. So, why are they there? Is this the time they must work? Don’t they wish for going to school? Do they get paid for labour? To which way their future leads them? Is this the new Nepal? Is the Government is conscious about this social evil?
It is Sushma Pariyar; a worker at local hotel in Boudha tells that she runs so to escape her father’s married a second wife after the death of her mother when she was 10. I am paid 800 a month.
Devika Tamang a housemaid tells that she was brought up in Kathmandu by one of the ‘Didi’ and she was kept their since last 2 years. She has a very bitter experience, as she claimed that she was severly beaten by ‘Malikni’ for the very small mistakes she have done unwilling. I am paid Rs 1000 a month.
Anu Tamang, claims that her mother is a drunkard and so her father makes them live apart. So, she is complied to live in others house as a co-worker. She’s a bitter experience of washing dishes/clothes and polishing shoes even at the age of 9.
Hari Chaudhary, so called Kale a worker in hotel at Chabahil, says it’s hard to work in hotel. I need to wake up at 4, sweep the hotel, scrub the floor, and wash the utensils, help the cook Dai, serve the customer. I am unable to make a minute leisure. I am paid RS 700 a month.
Binod Pariyar a khalishi of route Sankhu-Baneshowor is bit happy to be a khalishi. He has a family at Mahankal: sewing is the job they do. I am by my will in this work. I can earn a good sum daily. I hate studying. I even give money to my family as a support.
So, it’s all about their compulsion they need to work as a child labour. The major reason is poverty which enforced the entire child to work even though they didn’t desire.
