Behind the physical scars lie deeper societal failures; it’s time for all of us—officials, parents, citizens—to recognise our collective responsibility and end child exploitation
Behind the daily hustle and bustle of life, amidst construction sites and dusty roads, lies a painful reality that often goes unnoticed: little children, some barely in their teens, toil with bricks and cement, their fragile bodies burdened with the weight of survival.
As a medical officer, I witness this firsthand in my OPD. These children come to me with cement-burned skin, open wounds, and hands that are cracked like old, dry earth. Their bodies are bruised, but what pains me more is their gaze, tired, empty, and distant as if someone snatched their childhood right from their eyes.
When I see the cracks on their hands and the emptiness in their young eyes, my heart chokes. I often struggle to hold my emotions. Sometimes, I have to pause between writing a prescription or dressing a wound just to swallow the lump in my throat. It’s not just the physical injuries I’m tending to. I feel like I’m staring into wounds, society has inflicted upon innocence. I return home thinking about them. I sit alone and ask myself: Why is this happening right in front of us? Why is no one asking questions?
Child Labour Is Illegal, So Why Does It Still Exist?
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act clearly states that employing children in hazardous work is a punishable offence. Yet, the law is violated every day in front of our eyes. Children are used as cheap, voiceless labour exposed to unsafe conditions, denied education, and robbed of their innocence.
And this makes me wonder and question myself: Why are so many people silent? Why are the authorities not seeing this? Are the Councillors, Tehsildars, Police officers, Teachers, and government officials unaware of these children working in plain sight? Do they never pause to question even once?
Responsibility Is Not Limited to One Profession
As a doctor, I have a responsibility when these children come to me. But this responsibility doesn’t stop at the hospital door. It extends to everyone: In the market, as a citizen. In schools, as teachers. In offices, as administrators. And on the street, as fellow human beings. Remaining silent is a form of participation in this injustice. These children are being failed not just by those who exploit them, but by all of us who look the other way.
Parents Must Be Held Accountable Too
Many of these children are sent into labour by their own families. Parents, driven by poverty or negligence, allow or even force their children into work instead of school. This is not only a legal failure but a moral one. No amount of poverty can justify stealing a child’s right to education, safety, and a childhood. As a society, we must also hold parents accountable, not just employers.
A Final Appeal
I can treat their wounds. But who will heal their lost childhood? Each scar, each cracked palm, is not just a mark of hard work; it is a symbol of society’s failure. Let’s ask ourselves honestly: If I see a child working and do nothing, am I not part of the problem? Let’s rise above silence and indifference. Let’s speak up. Because when a child is forced to work, it is not only their future that is stolen, it is our collective humanity that is wounded.
The writer is a Medical Officer at PHC Shargole
Dr Fazal Wani
wa*******@***il.com