Stars Of A Five Star University

Child-labour has become a usual phenomenon in the university. You can easily see small hands catering to the graduate and post-graduates students at almost every eating-joint on the campus.
It is like a summer school for Mahesh, a resident of Sultanpur district in U.P. He works with ‘Mona-Refreshment’— a popular joint at student-centre and generally collects dishes which students scatter here and there. “I am in class seventh . I am working in my vacations. My parents are farmers.” He claims be 15 years old but it doesn’t look like so. He didn’t have time for further questioning and left. If we go round towards the Arts-block, many canteens are closed due to vacations but English Department’s canteen is open. Manwar-short and lean built who claims his age above 14 years, washes dishes and serves tea and other snacks here.He is a resident of Bihar and doesn't know about his education.Similar is the situation at the 'Chemistry-Canteen'.The owner replied while counting the currency,"After all we are providing them employment and food.They are above 14 years."
The other canteens have workers who also started working as child -labourers but now they are grown-ups.In the sector-14 market ,the situation is even worse. At 'University Sweets',there are three to four child-labourers.Badal serves water and Santosh Kumar other food items.A small boy was scrubbing the floor. I asked his name.He looked at me but didn't reply.Even others do not know his name.Another one was washing dishes in the kitchen,customers are not allowed there.That's why I couldn't talk to him.These children are poor,illitrate and honest.They are ready to work on low wages.That's why they are employed. Most of them are from U.P. and Bihar.They are taught to state their age above 14 years.These shops and canteens work for several hours and even on Sundays.The employment of children below 14 years in these eastablishments is a clear violation of the Child Labour(Prohibtion and Regulatoin)Act,1986.It is also morally wrong for a university which fosters such labourers and boasts of its five star status.