The Hindu Business Line : Law deprives the deprived

Nandini is a maid who battles through life — literally. Her mason husband prefers to knock himself out every evening with cheap grog, whether he has work or not (and there was a time when he would knock Nandini out as well till her sons — Ravi and Veera — grew up and threatened to leave their father only with his gums to wrestle with food).

There is no electrical connection in her house for years. But despite these hurdles, Nandini is brutally honest. She has every reason to pamper her needs with undetected dishonesty, but she never gives in to temptation. She maybe a shade mechanical with the washing and cleaning responsibilities, but you could leave your wallet and almirah keys with her and nothing would be ever disappear. And she never takes leave unless she is desperate. Like any mother, she dreams of her sons making it big some day. Ravi and Veera walk in sheepishly one day.

Ravi, Veera: Good morning, aunty.

Shraboni (the mistress of the house): Good morning. Sit both of you. Ravi, your mother says that you may be sent out of school?

Ravi: Yes, aunty. I am not able to study. There is no electricity in my house.

Shraboni: But I told you to come here along with your brother and study. My daughter cannot handle Tamil medium, but you can sit and study here.

Nandini: Madam, the teacher wants them to join the tuition class in the evening. He says that if they don't they will not pass the final examination. But how can I afford Rs 500 every month. And Ravi says that the teacher does not teach even in his tuition class and is horrible as a subject teacher in school.

Shraboni: Yes I know that not all Government-run free schools are good. Why don't you put them in a good Corporation school?

Nandini: It will be far away...

Shraboni: But they will get bus passes free...

Ravi: Aunty (hesitates and then speaks) if I spend so much time travelling, I will be late for my evening shift. I am earning Rs 550 every month.

Shraboni: Aren't you in the ninth standard now? (turns to Nandini) Why do you send him to work? He must study if he wishes to do well in future.

Nandini: I asked him not to work. I am working in five houses morning and evening to manage the expenses. He disobeyed me and joined that restaurant as a worker. And after seeing his elder brother working, Veera too went and joined the restaurant. So both of them work there now. (pauses) The work is so difficult and they pay so little. (pulls Veera's hands and opens them to show Shraboni) Look at his hands, madam. Look at the skin peeling off.

Shraboni: Why do you need to work, Veera? (Veera does not answer)

Nandini: I asked him to stop working, but he does not listen. He goes with Ravi every evening and returns late at night.

Shraboni: Is this all you want to be, Ravi, Veera? Workers in a restaurant? Unless you study, how will you come up in life and bring relief to your mother when she is older?

(Ravi hesitates for a long time and then speaks.)

Ravi: Aunty, we need the money... My father gives nothing to the family. He earns when he has work, hoards it and uses the money for his daily drinks when he does not have work. How can my mother manage alone? If she can work in five houses morning and evening, can wake up long before dawn and can go to sleep long after midnight, why can't we work? How will she pay our tuition fees? What she earns is not enough.

Shraboni: But you are children and law says child labour is illegal. Anyone employing children will be penalised heavily. I agree with the policymakers because children like you should study instead of wasting your young life away working in restaurants, fireworks companies and hosiery units.

Veera: That is why the restaurant owner does not allow us to step out when we are there. The dishwashing area is fully covered and it is a hidden unit with very thick walls. There are no windows. It cannot be seen even if you walk into the kitchen.

Shraboni: Tell me, Ravi, is this your life's goal — to be a dishwasher in a restaurant?

(Ravi hesitates, and looks at his mother)

Nandini: Speak. Aunty won't beat you like your teacher.

Ravi: Aunty (hesitates) it is easy to ban child labour... Do we really like to work in such restaurants where the owners threaten to beat us if we sit even for a short while? We don't like it one bit... But aunty we work silently because our earnings help my family. I and my brother earn Rs 800 a month.

My mother can now manage by working in three houses, instead of five. But she doesn't want to give up the jobs... Tell me aunty, is it wrong to save the money to get an electrical connection? We are saving our earnings to get an electrical connection. The actual charges are Rs 6,000 but we have to pay Rs 4,000 more.

Our electrician neighbour tells us that we need to spend another Rs 2,000 on wiring and switches, even if we have just a bulb in two rooms and a fan in one. Who will help us? Teachers want to make extra money, everyone wants more money. Everything is more expensive but my mother's earnings have not increased at all. Who will help us, aunty? Will the people who made the law help families like ours? We would love to study in a good school like Ashu does, but can we afford it?

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