UNFOLDING THE GALICHA...

Creating a masterpiece always costs a great amount to its maker or creator and never to forget even you pay good money to acquire it. Same happens when you buy a Galicha( woollen carpet) in Bhadohi(UP). Each piece (galicha) which usually costs around Rs.10,000, depending on the size, takes around 20-25 days to be made. This is because they are made in hand looms and the creators of these masterpieces are the children aged between 8-12 years who work for up to 10-12 hrs a day.

What this masterpiece asks its creator to sacrifice is not only his right to be educated but also his health. Many of these galicha looms children not only face severe back problems but also suffer from Tuberculosis. On the top of this, the children in the mill do not get more than 100 bugs a day. Sometimes, they do not get the pay itself.

When asked, the owners of these mills say that children do the work better and faster. Adding to it they also state that they (children) are easy to train and are a good labour in less money.

 However, child labour in such looms has been witnessed right from Industrial Revolution, when labours...cheap labours had a great demand. Many believe that child labour in such handlooms do not exist anymore. But the difference is only that in ancient times it was not illegal and today it is illegal, though we find it in many such places.

Another case is that of Naresh, who works in a sari shop in Surat. Previously, he worked in the velvet and cotton processing mill in Sachin and recently left the job to work in the sari shop. Naresh who is 14 yrs old says that he experienced a breathing problem while working in the mill and finds the new job wonderful because here he only has to show saris to the customers and fold them back. Naresh adds that he saves at least Rs. 3,000 a month. Whereas while in Sachin all his money went in medication.

One of the main reasons behind such respiratory and lung diseases is the lint or the wool particles that loiter around in the mills. In addition to this, many of the silk industry which is seasonal conducted a sampling wherein they found that more than 50% of their employees suffered from respiratory problems. However this problem was mainly found in employees working in dusty section, spinning and weaving areas.

The danger that existed at the inception of child labour exists even today. Even today, what is called as hazardous child labour is practiced, not only in India but all over the world, wherein children are forced to work at cotton plants where chemicals, pesticides and germicides are regularly sprayed to control pests.

Right from galicha to the silk saris that wear, there goes something which is very expensive.....which we cannot afford.

Think on it....

Posted by- Pandey Kavita

MACJ, PART-I