Bengaluru: Why simplistic understanding of child labour is dangerous
A heart-wrenching documentary film titled-- Forgotten On the Pyjama Trail-tells us why a simplistic understanding of child labour results in negative consequences for children. The film was made by Bengaluru-based NGO the Concerned for Working Children (CWC). The film was released on June 12 recently.
"The film is inspired by true events that took place in Morocco. Forgotten On The Pyjama Trail is a story narrated by a little girl, Fathima, who works in a Moroccan garment factory in order to support her family. She is one of the children who experiences a 'ban' as international communities gear up to rescue her and her ilk," said a press release issued by the CWC.
The
city-based
NGO
has
the
distinction
of
being
nominated
for
the
Nobel
Peace
Prize
in
2012,
2013
and
2014.
The
animated
docu
-
drama
stresses
on
the
need
to
have
a
holistic
view
on
the
entire
issue.
The
story
of
Fathima
focusses
on
importance
of
engaging
child
labourers
to
address
their
problems
and
concerns.
Otherwise,
most
of
the
times
decision-makers
forget
to
take
the
opinion
of
these
marginalized
children,
resulting
in
negative
consequences
for
working
children.
"It stresses on the need to listen to children and understand their experience of work from their unique contexts. The objective of the docu-drama and its release on the day that is globally observed as World Day against Child Labour is to highlight the challenges faced by working children and to lay emphasis on how important it is for the voices of children to be heard in policy formulation as opposed to the simplistic approach of demanding a ban or boycott of products in the production of which working children are involved. There is a need to re-open the debate and discussion around child labour and to involve working children in these processes," adds the press release.