The Anti-Child Labour Campaign - The UNICEF Poster Girl Fiasco

It was in the month of October, this year, that the Government of India, with much fanfare, enacted the law of banning child labour, in this country. It was welcomed by one and all.

The United Nations Children's Fund, popularly known as UNICEF, while lending support to the government decision of banning child labour, had come out with its own anti-child labour campaign.

Eight year old Choonam Kumari alias Chuniya, from Northern Indian state of Bihar and hailing from a poor family, was the lucky one to have been chosen to feature in UNICEF's awareness campaign against child labour. The UNICEF poster depicting Chuniya's innocent smiling face, which had received country wide publicity, created the desired impact and became an instant hit with the Indian masses.

Later, Chuniya once again hit the news in the Indian press, but this time for wrong reason. She was found in the act of washing utensils near a roadside eatery, belonging to her father. Besides washing plates, she served food to walk in customers. Chuniya looking frail and lost, washing empty utensils on roadside was splashed all over the Indian newspapers. It brought instant indignation and shame among the people here.

The image depicting Chuniya, followed by the story of her poor plight, made a huge dent in the Indian government's campaign against child labour. It spoke hollow of the government intention of seriously tackling child labour issue. It is proved time and again that whenever the government came out with good intended act on paper, its implementation is left with lot to be desired. Like the saying, it is easier said than done.

Whereas, UNICEF's Anupam Srivastav, Director ( Communications), Patna, clarifying his stand on the issue, said there was no monetary compensation made to Chuniya's family for using her photograph for anti-child labour campaign and nor she was their brand ambassador.

In India the outcome of globalisation has seen the mushrooming of huge shopping malls, multiplex cinemas halls and swanky restaurants in urban cites and rural towns. But still in the handloom embroidery industries, firecracker units, diamond polishing units and local restaurants, one can find large scale employment of child labourers and exploitation.

This controversy has become a huge embarrassment, for the Bihar government and in a way, also a blessing in disguise, for Chuniya. The Bihar Chief Minister Mr Nitish Kumar, had instructed, the state welfare department to rehabilitate Chuniya and her family. The rehabilitation package, worked out, includes free education, clothing, lodging and foods for her. Das, a father of eight children including Chuniya, has agreed to send her to school.

This is only one instance of Chuniya being lucky enough to enjoy the Government's largesse, but there are countless of Chuniyas in India, toiling day in and out lending support to their poor family. Will the government of the day stand up, take notice of them and come to their rescue.