Saleem- “The Remote Cover Seller”

I had penned down this experience almost ten years back in 2010. Data will show some
improvement in the statistics but unfortunately, not much has changed in these years
when it comes to Child Labour. These children are not numbers and every child
matters.

=================================================================Decembe
r 26, 2010

Having nothing much serious to do on the holiday, makes me think. Recollect

memories from the past-good, bad and ugly….and feel the feeling. Some silent smiles
and some tears of remembrance of old days. Some incidences never leave you and
frequently keep daunting.

Over time, I developed a bad habit of sharing painful moments. Another bad habit that
I possess (this one being transferred with gene), is pondering and disturbing myself for
heart-touching moments. I know writing here won’t help the cause, but certainly, I feel
relaxed after sharing with you all. (I don’t know how many would read this-think upon-
reflect.)

I am missing the name of the only protagonist- the sign of ageing, you see.

Will that reduce the impact? I fear.

Ok- let us name the kid, the protagonist to make it easier. We will call him Saleem. The
name has nothing to do with Salman Rushdie’s Saleem Sinai of Midnight’s Children.

I’ll skip the name of the city in this one, for we have a tendency to associate geography
and demography with behavioural issues. Often these associations end up with false
attributions which further degrade moral values and bring us closer to being an
animal.

Forget it- considering we are busy individuals, with less time to read, why others are
disturbed in sleep at midnight, I’ll try to keep it short.
Coming straight to the point- Saleem is a kid of not more than 12 years of age. He sells
plastic remote covers. Remote that controls the television. Remote cover that protects
remote- from the naughty kids in every home and angry adult, who throw every
household thing in anger. Never thought our anger would earn bread for someone. I do
not know the background, why he used to do the pity job in the school hours. This
means he is not going to school like many others of his age group, whom we call child
labour.

While we were enjoying famous chaat at a famous spot, a voice just as pleasant as that
of a hummingbird wanted our attention. The voice of God- the voice reminds me of a
famous Hindi song that sings, “Bacche mann k sacche”- Kids are pure at heart. You
have to be a devil to ignore the voice.

The voice belongs to Saleem. Saleem- “The Remote Cover Seller”.

Many of us, the frequent visitors of this famous spot were familiar with Saleem and
Saleem also knew them all. Saleem was too naïve to understand that no one would buy
“Remote cover” on daily basis. Whenever he saw my friends in the market, he will try
to make a deal. Abhishek was a huge admirer of this kid.

Abhishek used to talk with Saleem politely-sign of civilized man and say, “Beta kal hi to
liya tha”.
Saleem would pester, “ Bhaiya ek aur le lo…please le lo bhaiya…le lo na bhaiya
please….please bhaiya”.

We have often seen small kids selling things that are useless to us. But some of us who
carry slightly softer heart would purchase these useless things, just to make the kid
happy. Abhishek belongs to the same caste of people- with a softer heart.

In the midst of all this, Abhishek told me that he had already purchased two from him.
I asked why two?

“ le lo na bhaiya please…teen din se ek bhi nahi bika”

He told me- "Brother, once I purchased it and this kid approached me next time also
selling me the same remote cover. The second time when he approached me, I offered
him ten rupees. But he refused to take the money unless the remote cover is
purchased".
I was surprised that even in this poor state of life; Saleem has moral values intact. Isn’t
this amazing? The respect for this kid multiplied in my heart. There is something for us
to learn from this kid.

“Bhaiya pppplease bhaiya”- he kept humming in the background.

Abhishek challenged us to test the self-respect of Saleem. The last time kid sold
Abhishek his first remote cover was two months back. We offered Saleem, ten rupees
again but not purchasing a remote cover.

But this time, he hesitantly accepted. Abhishek was shocked. How can Saleem change
in just two months? The hero Saleem- became ordinary to me with the acceptance of a
ten-rupee note.

In between tasty chaat and useless talks, we missed one line from the hummingbird.

“Bhaiya teen din se ek bhi nahi bika”

He was unable to sell even a single piece in the last three, which broke him down. Who
is responsible for this?

Do we have an answer, certainly NO?

Self-respect shattered, a kid brought up with the moral values passed on to him from
parents- for he has no teacher. But the ugly life has taught him how to survive in the
world. Forget about values when there is no food in the stomach.

We can offer him food, I said.

Saleem has somebody back home who is waiting for his return with the money.

Ask yourself, What would you do, when someone back home is waiting for you?

Often I see the status on Facebook regarding, “Delhi vendors and beggars, on traffic
signals”, many people hate them.

But the question remains unanswered, Who is responsible for this?

Saleem is unfortunate to have born into a poor family. We have not done anything
remarkable to get birth in a well to do family. It is by chance.

Please share your views...who knows when our thoughts become our action.
Next time when you meet a Saleem, at least do not hate him.

CONCLUSION
Child labour is any labour that prevents a child from receiving a full
time formal education. Helping around the house or working in a local
shop on weekends or for a few hours after school during the week is
not child labour. In fact, this kind of work can be good for a young
person- it helps them learn valuable life skills and knowledge.
However, if this work prevents a child from receiving a full time
formal education and when it contravenes existing laws on the
minimum age and condition for employment, it leads to child labour.

OR

It is time to consign child labour to the history books and to allow all
children to realise their rights. Child labour is a fact of life for children
and it is an issue that effect of all us in many country. It is the duty of
everyone to contribute to the stop child labour – governments, trade
unions, businesses, international organisations, communities,
employers, teachers, parents, children and you. The ‘school is the best
place to work’ campaign believe that child labour of any type of work
which is harmful to a child’s development including affecting full-time
quality education. The main key to eliminate child labour is political
mobilation and practical action. Despite promise made by world’s to
care for every child
 STORY NO 2
Anil is 13. He migrated from Uttar Pradesh to Haryana around twelve years ago.
Because they migrated from one state to another, his handicapped mother can
neither avail of the subsidies provided by the local governments, nor can receive her
widow and disabled-person pensions. Anil sells vegetables on cart and he is a sole
earner for his family of six - four younger siblings and his mother. His father passed
away recently. Anil wants to study but cannot due to family responsibilities.

15-year-old girl Deepika had to discontinue her studies due to financial crisis. After
that she lost her mother, she was saddled with the responsibility of looking after her
younger sisters and father.

Another 15-year-old from Panipat, Noorani, does sundry tailoring work and takes care

of a family of six members. She dropped out of school after the death of her mother
eight years back. Her father is an alcoholic who does not work.

The only silver lining in these children’s lives is that a few NGOs have come to their
aid. NGO, Humana India helped Anil in enrolling his brothers and sisters in school
but Anil has to manage his family’s financial crisis for now. This NGO came in touch
with Deepika and her family. They convinced her father to enroll the girls back in
school.

NGO also informed News18 that during Covid-19 lockdown, child labour has boomed
as closure of schools gave parents an opportunity to take their kids to work along with
them. “It is rampant in small contract companies to which large industries outsource
their work. These companies are not registered and are hence not audited.”
A survey done by International Labor Organization (ILO) reveals that over 4.5 million
Indian children are engaged in child labor. This figure comes after the census report of
2011. Ironically, India considers its youth as an asset and believes that we as a country
have abundance of opportunities and human resources. A serious fact check might
change this perspective.

CONCLUSION……………..

STORY 3