Irene Menard comments : Child Labor!!! This is quite a subject!!! The US dealt with it a little over one hundred years ago. My parents were both allowed to leave school at age 14, in order to help support the family. My father was on his own at that age. The year was 1929!!! They were lucky to get jobs, as that was the year of the Great Depression. It was not long before that, however, that children were used as cheap labor. It is a difficult decision. In some respects, I can see how the additional income will help the family survive, now!!! But, how much more income can be obtained with more education??? Labor Unions were integral in making changes in the working environment, in the US, over the years. Some good, some not so good!!! They were exceptionally influential in the early days. The changes were for the positive. Some influences still exist, for example, everyone has access to the hazards in the working environment,and how old one should be to do a certain job. I realize that one can't compare India to the US. The cultures are so very different. A few things I do know........... It takes time for people to integrate new ideas... This can take years!!! The no smoking campaign in the US took many years. It's taking hold. fewer new smokers and more non-smoking areas. Diet in the US!!!!!! I don't know for sure, but there are more people out there walking and joining gyms then there were even 5 years ago. All this can be attributed to exposure on the media, (aka propaganda) Maybe propaganda will help in India too!!! Time will tell!!!!!!!!!!!!!
