THIS young lad who should have been in school, is out of school. At this tender age, he, compelled by circumstances, had to become a child labourer because his father, also a poor labourer himself, couldn’t afford his education expenses with his meagre income. The fact of the matter is, the income his father earns, after toiling for hours everyday, is hardly enough to provide three square meals a day to his family of seven, said 8-year-old Omar.
At the outset, I was reluctant to hire his services when I was at the Sunday (Itwaar) Bazaar today to purchase weekly grocery. But due to his persistent pleading, I had to ultimately give in and hire his services to carry my groceries in his trolley. Omar was very happy, I finally did.
I was deeply saddened to see the plight of this poor child. He was working at this age not because he wanted to, but because circumstances compelled him to do so. He was labouring, so that he could strengthen the hands of his poor father in maintaining his family.
When I saw Omar wearing just a plain shirt in the cold weather of Islamabad, I felt profoundly sad for him and bought him a warm jacket that he immediately wore, as can be seen in the picture. The expression on his face was naturally of gratitude. When I told him that he was looking very smart after wearing the jacket, the glee on his face was worth watching. I also paid him more than what we mutually agreed for the service he rendered. He was obviously very happy.
There are thousands of children like Omar who are toiling day in, day out to strengthen the hands of their poor fathers in managing their large families. They are doing all this not by choice but by compulsion.
It is indeed a matter of great shame to see children who are the future of this country, in such hapless state. Who is responsible for this utterly pathetic state of affairs? On whose shoulder lies the responsibility of ending the menace of poverty in this country, and assuring a respectable future to these children of a lesser God? Naturally, those at the citadel of power (government of the day) in the country is squarely responsible for this awfully sad situation. Will the government in saddles take serious cognizance of this profoundly grave issue, and take concrete measures to rectify it with unparalleled sense of responsibility? Only time will tell.
—The writer is a columnist and analyst based in Islamabad -Pakistan.
Email: geniousfazal@hotmail.com
