Grossly unaware of the legalities involved in their venture, a number of schoolchildren in the city are selling fire-crackers as a source of earning extra pocket money this Diwali.
Also, a bunch of minors are assisting their parents as helping hand in the business. But to one’s surprize neither the district administration nor State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) officials were found to be aware about the issue.
This reporter visited some of the stalls at Argora, Harmu, Chutia, Kanke, Hinoo and Upper Bazaar on Tuesday and found that the students were ‘bargaining with the customers like adults’.
“It is only this time of the year when I can earn money for crackers on my own,” said Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Harmu class sixth student Amit Kumar.
The boy was seen selling crackers at a shop owned by a lady aged around 40 years. “As of now the boy has nothing to do except schooling. It is our generosity to give him an opportunity of business learning to the boy,” the lady named Veena Kumari said.
Asked about the money she would pay to Kumar, she said, “It will be around Rs50. I hope that is enough for a child of his age.”
Besides, crackers, children were seen selling diyas (lamps), gharonda (small huts made of Thermocol or mud) and floor design stickers single handedly. “I always sell diyas from the day of Dhanteras to Diwali. It is not possible for my father to look over the business all by himself. He is a carpenter by profession. So, I take the responsibility of selling diyas here. I earn around Rs300 in the three day business. The generated amount is deposited to my father,” Hinoo United school class sixth student Sanjit Kumar said.
Similarly, laho and Sonu Tomar studying in standard fifth and seventh at a government school of Jehanabad district at Bihar said, “Our father sells helmet. We have come here for spending holidays. There can be nothing good than helping the family through a part-time job,” laho said.
Meanwhile, when an officer was asked for the monitoring steps taken by the district administration to keep a check on involvement of school goers in such hazardous works, the officer seemed ‘clueless’. “We will check the facts first and let you know,” he said.
SCPCR member Sanjay Kumar Mishra said they will soon approach the administration to begin the monitoring process.
“It is an offence to encourage minors in selling of crackers or any other Diwali products. School children are banned to work as street vendors. There are various acts and provisions to protect the children from such involvement,” he pointed out.