If you look at the objectives of the organizations –

Butterflies objectives

Child Development Bank’s objectives

They both stress on a rights based approach to the problem. The idea is not just to provide a context in their current lives. Its about empowering the children to fight for their rights. Child labor in any form is a human rights issue. If you employ a child without the consent or understanding of the child, in effect its exploitation.

Having said that, to go out on an all out ‘BAN’ without providing alternatives or understanding of the context/reasons for the predicament would just amount to an insensitive political move.

These organizations are doing a wonderful job and approach the issue of child labor in a holistic way. The idea is not to let child labor continue. Its more about providing the children the right environment in demanding their rights – once that happens I don’t think the children would demand to be exploited.

i’d rather employ a 12-year old in my home or have her stay with me, rather than say, ‘she’s a child and should not be employed by anyone.’

at the same time, we need to find ways to send them to school and make them independent, capable adults.