Say no to crackers for the sake of children: Ramesh
31 Oct 2013 11:56 PM GMT
This is the message of rural development minister Jairam Ramesh who feels that Diwali should be celebrated by lighting lamps only.
‘I have never celebrated Diwali in my life by bursting crackers. I light lamps and perform puja, but no crackers.
Because in cracker industry many children and bonded labourers are working. This should be an issue of concern for us,’ Ramesh said while announcing government’s rehabilitation programme on bonded labourers in 10 critically vulnerable districts across six states.
‘We cannot say that we have abolished bonded labour. It may be true on paper and we have laws on it, but we haven’t managed to finish it,’ the minister said, admitting that millions are still enslaved four decades after India enacted the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, 1976.
‘I have never celebrated Diwali in my life by bursting crackers. I light lamps and perform puja, but no crackers.
Because in cracker industry many children and bonded labourers are working. This should be an issue of concern for us,’ Ramesh said while announcing government’s rehabilitation programme on bonded labourers in 10 critically vulnerable districts across six states.
‘We cannot say that we have abolished bonded labour. It may be true on paper and we have laws on it, but we haven’t managed to finish it,’ the minister said, admitting that millions are still enslaved four decades after India enacted the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, 1976.
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