How long will our children be subject to forced labour, illicit activities because of poverty?

It is very frustrating that even after 50 years of independence we could not ensure basic rights of our children such as food, clothes, education, health and accommodation to make them worthy citizens. Thousands of children are subject to forced labour and illicit activities because of poverty. Many crooked people use them in various criminal activities in their own interests. If any child gets involved in criminal acts willingly or at the provocation of any other person, it is the responsibility of the state, family and the society to bring them back on the right track.
Usually, the derailed children are sent to ‘child development centres’ for their correction. Sadly, instead of treating them with love and affection, the children who are far from their parents and relatives, many of the child development centres reportedly torture them. Even several children were allegedly tortured to death at a development centre in Jashore.
Such a grave scenario of the child development centres was presented at a parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Social Welfare on Thursday. The committee deems an environment conducive for children must be ensured at the development centres by intensifying monitoring and increasing infrastructure and manpower. It also recommends enhanced allocation for daily meals at the centres operated by the Department of Social Services.
According to media reports, there are 909 children against a capacity of 300 seats at Tongi child development centre, 353 children against a capacity of 150 seats at Pulerhat child development centre in Jashore and 89 children against a capacity of 150 children at the girls development centre in Konabari, Gazipur. Currently, these centres accommodate children more than their capacity and the parliamentary committee recommends setting up several more child development centres.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Labour in its new report published recently said the children in Bangladesh are subjected to the worst forms of child labour, including commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour in the drying of fish, production of bricks, garments and leather goods.
Criminologists, however, hold economic and social reasons responsible for involvement of children in crimes. Though many children grow up with parents’ care, many others get involved in various crimes due to bad company. So, those who are responsible for taking care of children at these centres must show affection and kindness towards them.
An environment conducive to mental growth of children must be created at these centres. The authorities should also keep the children involved in sports and creative activities, besides their proper rehabilitation in society.