Suria KLCC mall holds many high-end fashion labels and it also
has an outstanding outdoor park, but the best part about it, is that it has an
art gallery. The Petronas Gallery is the place for those are lovers where they
could indulge in the moment of silence and serenity. With soft background
music, spotlight and comfortable atmosphere to sink into the art work that has
been published for auction or purchase. The GALERI PETRONAS is a non-profit
visual arts gallery established in 1993 to promote the art works
designed/created by Malaysian artist.
Most of the artworks are usually
published by freelance artists or also from the personal collection of Petronas
Art Gallery. The visit to the gallery was a rather interesting one because,
this time it was all purely from the collection of Petronas Holdings. Most of
the art that were displayed had reflected on the Malaysian history in dept. as
to my interest there were nothing that really caught my attention. I found the children
artwork was so much more interesting compared to the ‘talented’ artist.
The artwork by Children
Fortunately, ONE artist did catch my attention. The essence of his artwork that
grabbed my attention was that he had taken old photos (black & white) from
the National Museum Malaysia and put himself in them, as if he was apart of the
photos. His action and positions in those shots were remarkable. Through that
collection of black and white photos, he portrayed himself with a little color
yet with the contrast of the 1939 feel!
India is well knows for its abusive use
of child labour. The children in India engage in day-to-day economic activity,
which are threatening to their mental and physical wellbeing. Child labour
usually occurs in an undeveloped country, where the law does not shelter
children. Politically, India is unstable, as the politicians are largely
corrupted and this causes intellectual growth retardation among citizens. This
social stigma cause the occurrence of child labour and it is not taken as a
serious issue among the elite and the ruling party. Poverty is another factor
that feeds the growth of child labour, because the country will lack of proper
schools, citizens health funding, death due to starvation, lack of water, and
the main victims are the low cast communities who are often discriminated.
Child labour in India can be divided
into many categories, the first one would be against their will, which is being
kidnapped and sent away far from home to work in factories. Another category,
is where their[children] mentally or physically unstable parents or guardian
force them to work and bring some ‘bread’ back home, if not they[children]
would be physically abused. In some family, the parent would be terminally ill,
this situation forces the child to work in order to support his/her parent
medical bill or even to sustain other siblings, because the corrupted
government does not support them. Bad unemployment rate is another factor that
forces children to work, it is so much cheaper to employ a child compared to an
adult. Plus, standstill of a countries economy creates an environment where a
school is a luxury only catered fro the rich and influential.
Child labour is on the rising bar in
India, the government is strict about children under 14-years-old working. Only
those aged between 14 to 18 years can work, but NEVER in hazardous industries.
This rule falls under the Child Labour (Prohibition
and Regulation) Act, 1986, which allows 14-years of age eligible to be working.
But not in hazardous industries such as the tobacco, stone crushing, mining,
cement and chemical industries which can cause harm to their mental and
psychical wellbeing.
Child labour is on the raise, the
Indian government is set to debar the employment of child labour. In their
[Indian government] policies, a child between the age of 14 to 18 can work but
NEVER in hazardous industries. This is the Child Labour of Prohibition and
Regulation Act, 1986 that allows this sort of privilege for poor families who
has no choice. The type of industries that are considered hazardous are the
tobacco, stone crushing, catering, mining, cement and food packaging factories.
The Indian Labour ministry is trying
their hardest to be in tune with the international Labors organization (ILO).
ILOs’ only allows children above 14-years of age to be employed. A Child has
his/her rights to education, which is compulsory from the age of 6 to 14 years.
Those of 14-years and above has to abide to the international laws that has
been set to preserve human rights and prevent the abuse of human by higher
hierarchy of authority.
“Once the changes
are enacted employing any children below the age of 14 will be a criminal
offence,” a senior government functionary said, adding that this was done to
ensure the complete rights for children globally around the age of 6 –
14-years-old. Education is every humans basic necessity for survival and it
cannot/shall not be taken away from them. As of a survey done in 2001, about
1.29 crores of children were victims of child labour. That’s was the last
update, the 2011 survey is yet to be realized.
The employment of child labour can result in jail term or
a fine up too rs. 20,000 and some cases both!
stone mine
Kailash Satyarthi - Child Labour Activist [YouTube]
