I don't think many people (Saligaokaram included!!) realize the seriousness of this issue. It only takes a little thinking to figure it out....one simple question (to oneself) "What if that were my kid?" (I'm hoping that would work!!)
Reading the extremely sad details below reminds me of how one young (Canadian) boy - Craig Kielberger, (whose brother, Mark, later joined him) - spearheaded an organization that has now spread to several parts of the world. Free the Children came into existence precisely because of child labour issues. Unfortunately, Iqbal's story, if I recall his name correctly, did not have a happy ending. When he tried to run away, he was caught by his 'owners' (carpet manufacturers) and killed. This is what inspired Craig to not think twice about doing something for kids like Iqbal, immediately! (Craig was just a kid himself when he read this article in the local newspaper.) ________________________________ From: muriel&mario <[email protected]> To: saligao-net <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 3:18:57 PM Subject: [SALIGAONET] Fwd: [socialissuescalendar] 12th June is World Day Against Child Labour. Dear Saligaokaram, Saligao has a history of Child Labour, especially domestic child labour that was *bought* by a mother-son pair in Chinchinim and *sold* to prominent Saligao families. In the late 80s, along with a group of 7 courageous Saligao children we rescued Kamla, a 12 year old child labourer from the vaddo in which the children lived. The oldest child, the only boy in the group, was 13 and the youngest a girl, 6. The 'servant' was bought, repeat *bought* not brought, from the Chinchinim child-traffickers and incarcerated in a large house here. When the 'patrao' and family went for Sunday Mass, they imprisoned their 12-year old 'slave' with a dog chain, in order to prevent her from coming to the window to be contacted by the 7 children. The children in turn, found their own ingenious ways to get chapatis and other food from their homes to their little prisoner friend. Although the family had only one dog, the 'servant' was ordered to cook dogs food for 2 animals. The family pooch was one. Kamla was the second! If her work was not up to expectations she was burned on her legs with live sticks of firewood from the 'chulla' on which she cooked the dog's food and hers, in one vessel. The police were finally brought in to conduct a raid, the 12-year old was rescued and kept temporarily in Lourdes Convent (thank you Sisters, once again!). Here parents were informed and came in from Karwar. They took her home to live happily ever after...hopefully! The Redemptorist Fathers who work with domestic workers finally bust the trafficking racket in Chinchinim. They still work with domestic workers and regularly rescue those that are 'enslaved'. Contact Fr. Desmond De Souza (Saligao's and Nigvaddo's very own son) there on 2417586, if you would like to help. Child labour exists even today in Saligao. 3 years ago we resuced a boy from an upholstery unit and got him into a school run by the Salesians, near Ucassaim. Another has been working in a fruit stall just outside St. Ann's Chapel, but he and his employers keeps lying about his age. And we do see, on occasion, some domestic 'servants' in villagers' houses, looking suspiciously underage...under 14. M-m-m-m-m! Constructions sites and road digging gangs in Saligao all have children labourers (see last attachment, where a 3-year old girl is washing cement 'gamelas' with her mother, after the day's work here in Sonarbhatt!). Anyone under 14, working in your home or elsewhere is a child labourer. We sincerely hope that Saligao can be enlightened enough to keep our village Child Labour FREE! Thank you GoaCan for your Social Issues Calendar and for reminding us about these problems, so regularly! Warm regards and solidarity. M&M. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Goa Desc <[email protected]> Date: 12 June 2013 20:17 Subject: [socialissuescalendar] 12th June is World Day Against Child Labour. To: socialissuescalendar <[email protected]> ------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help other CONSUMERS to be better informed. ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- 12th June is World Day Against Child Labour --------------------------------------------------------- 2013 Theme:- No to child labour in domestic work ! ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.un.org/en/events/childlabourday/ http://www.un.org/en/events/childlabourday/background.shtml http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58009.html http://www.ilo.org/ipec/programme/lang--en/index.htm http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/wdacl/lang--en/index.htm http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/wdacl/2013/lang--en/index.htm http://www.cry.org/index.html http://www.haqcrc.org/ http://www.butterflieschildrights.org/ http://www.childrightsgoa.org/ http://www.childlineindia.org.in/ http://www.crin.org/index.asp ----------------------------------------------------------- Source: GOA DESC Social Issues Calendar 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------- GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Email: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------- __._,_.___ Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use • Send us Feedback . __,_._,___ -- Our blog anOTHERgoa is nowactive... ................................................................ there *is* anOTHERgoa at <http://www.anOTHERgoa.blogspot.in> & <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' muriel & mario, c/o FULKAR, 6/22, sonarbhatt, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 <anothergoa AT gmail.com> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' -- -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. 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