Think as you read

Whal is Saheh looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from:
Unlike his parents who looked through the garbage dumps for survival, for Saheb, it
bonanza, wondrous and magical. When one can find asilver coin, one hopes of finding was a
He lives in Seemapuri and his familu had come from Bangladesh back in 1971. more.
2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing
footwear?
The author disagrees with the usual explanation that is offered about it being a
to walk barefoot. She feels this is onlu an excuse for lack of money. They tradition in India
state of poverty'. live in 'a perpetual
3. Is Saheh happy working at the
tea-stall? Explain.
Saheb is secure working in a tea-stall where he is paid 800
He does not answer the writer's guestion rupees and is given all his meals.
whether he is happy but she notices that the
burden of responsibility has taken awas the carefree look from his
as he pleases. face. He can no longer do
4. What makes the city of
Firozabad famous?
Firozabad is famous for its bangles. Most families in Firozabad are
It is the centre of india's
glass-blowing industry engaged in making bangles.
glass and making where families work around furnaces, welding
bangles.
5. Mention the hazards of working in the glass
bangles industry?
Bangles are manufactured in glass furnaces with
and light. As a high temperatures, in dingy cells
consequence, the children, who slog their without air
close to these hot furnaces, often lose daylight
the brightness of their eyes.
hours in a cloistered room
6. How is Mukesh's
attitude to his situation different from that of his
Mukesh's father toiled first as a tailor, then as a bangle family?
familyexcept teach them the art of making maker but could not do anything for his
going blind from polishing bangles as 'his bangles. His grandmother accepted her husband's
break their 'god-given lineage'. karam, his destiny'. She believes that they
However,
determined to become a car mechanic. Mukesh does not want to pursue this cannot
trade. He is
Understanding the text
1. What could be some of the
reasons for the migration of people from
Although it is difficult for the people to relocate from villages to cities?
unabated. People migrate for villages to cities, this
various reasons. They could be: migration continues
(a) defragmentation of land holdings
(b) lack of job opportunities
 (0 lock of physical infrastructure-no factories or other forms of employment, no mediat
support, no educational institutions etc.
(d) lack of public health amenities such as sewage, drainage etc.
(o) ingbility to deal with environrnental hazards such as rains, storms etc.
(0 glamour of the city life lures youngster:
(a) linited opportunities for progress
(h) aspirations for a better lifestyle
2. Would you agree that promises made tothe poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think
this happens in the incidents narrated inthe fext!
Certainly. promises made to the poor children are rarely kept. Promises are made both at the
national and international levels to provide healthy lives, quality educotion; protection against
abuse, exploitation and violence, and combating HIVJAIDS. Yet, it is estirnated that 246 nillion
children are engaged in child labour. Of those, almost 171 million, work in hazardous conditions,
such as in mines, with chemicals andpesticides in agriculture or with dangerous rmachinery. They
are everywhere but invisible, toiling as domestic servants in hores, labouring behind the wall:
of workshops,hidden from view in plantations. Millions of girls work as dornestic servants and
unpaid household help and are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. As the worid
looks ahead to prosperity, many children barely have afuture, trapped in conditions of poverty,
conflict, and adegraded environment. Just like Saheb and Savita, their future is bleak.
The children become disillusioned and often turn cynical. This happens because of utter poverty
and the inability of the governrnent to provide social security to the people.

3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the hangle industry of Firozahad in poverty!
work in horrifis
Despite a government ban on child labour, 20,000 children in Firozabad
blindnes:,
conditions to support their poor farnilies. The workers areexposed tohazards such aschildren are
tuberculosis, bronchitis etc. Inspite of working in such hazardous conditions the
conveniently underpaid.
rmeans of tivelihosd. They con
They are forced to lead this life of poverty as this is their only anythirg except carry on the
barely afford two square neals a day. They have no money to doyoung men echo the iament of
business of making bangles, with not even enough to eat. The mind-numbing toil has killed all
their elders. Tirnes have not changed for generations. Years of
their drive and thre ability to drear..
the vicious circie of rriddlemen
They carnot organize themselves into acooperative and escape
leadership.
for fear of the police and due to lack of
They are caught in a web of poverty, burdened by the stigrna of caste. The bureaucrats and the
politicians are equally callous towards thern.
 Talking about the text
I. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream!
Mukesh, one of the children in Firozabad, aspires to be a motor mechanic. This is unlike most
people who work in bangle manufacturing units amidst appalling conditions. Most of the
people there, caught in the vicious circle, are born and die in the same miserable plight as their
forefathers. He dares to dream.
He has thought of his plan as much as a child of his age can. He is determined to become a
garage mechanic and to go to a garage and learn. He realizes that the garage is a long way
Jrom his home, yet he is resolute. will walk.' he insists. He dreams of driving cars that he
sees hurtling down the streets of his town. His passion and perseverance will help him achieve
his goals.
Thus, the fact that Mukesh is able to dream of breaking from tradition, is the first step towards
the realization of his dreams.

As Oprah Winfrey says, The key to realizing a dream is to focus, not on success, but
significance and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on
greater meaning.'
2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangle
industry.
Child labour implies a situation where children are forced to work in dangerous and
conditions that will most likely scar them physically, emotionally, and mentally for the unhealthy
their life. The glass and glassware industry in lndia is concentrated in Firozabad. These rest of
factories
produce anumber of glass items, such as bangles, chandeliers, wine glasses, beads, crockery,
bulbs, and cut glass items. The industry employs about 8,000 to 50,000 children
as eight years old. The factory floor is typically an inferno, due to intense some as young
heat (1 400-1600°
Celsius), poor ventilation, broken glass, dangling electric wires, and no
whatsoever. protective equipment
Often, glass splinters injure the workers, and pieces of glass cut into the bare feet of
The children bump into each other and may scorch their bodies. children.
Children are seen walking
barefoot over glass littered floors, some with scarred eyes and burnt scalps.
Child workers in the glass factories in Firozabad suffer from mental
bronchitis, eye problems, liver ailments, skin burns, chronic anemia, and retardation,
tuberculosis.
asthma,
conducted at the Maulana Azad Medical College, in New Delhi, show genetic damageStudies
bods cells of the labourers who have worked close to furnace heat for three years or in the
more.
Children working in factories often suffer from emotional, mental, and
Their childhood gets lost. psychological scars.
3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
There are various harmful effects of child labour. These include:
(a) Economic exploitation: Children may only receive one quarter of adult wages.
(b) Long working hours: Some children are expected to work for
up to 12-16 hours per day.
excessive hours, for example,
() Loss of educational opportunities: Mans children who work. either
or find that their educational performance withdraw from school
declines because of the work they are doing.
() Physical harm: Working children may experience
phusical harm in a number of ways in
terms of:
(0
() Increased risk of accidents
() Risk of physical violence from people in
authority
(i) Violent theft is a risk faced by child street vendors
(iv) Risk of illness from poor hygiene and exposure to bad
weather
(v) Harmful effects of chemicals
(e) Abuse and exploitation: It is essentially a socio-economic
poverty and illiteracy. It will require concerted efforts fromproblem
all
inextricably linked to
make a dent in the problem. It can be sections of the society to
eliminated bs:
() Legislative action plan
(i) Focusing general developmental
programmes for benefitting child labour
(ii) Subsidizing education
(iv) Providing basic necessities