subject: Child Labor: A Burning Issue In Circuses [print this page] Every one of us has a pleasant childhood memory related to circus. I still remember those days when my elder brother and I used to go to the circuses with our parents and family members. In those days, the circus company used to set up their tents in our locality during the winter season. A Circus is that particular medium which is enjoyed by people belonging to diverse age groups- whether its a child or a teen or an aged person.
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists. The circus artists display a great flexibility of body with the contortionists displaying their physical skills. The word circus basically means a circle or ring. The play area in a circus is a specific area where the circus artists play different dangerous and risk filled games to amuse the general public. Along with the teens and young age people, the circus companies also hire children as circus artists.
The basic reason behind hiring children is that they cost less than the young artists. The circus tradition in India dates back to the late nineteenth centuryalthough India has a much more ancient tradition of traveling entertainers, comparable and parallel to those of Asia and Europe. Indias traditional traveling circuses remain widely popular across the country, although their attendance has been falling in recent years. Despite their popularity, there have long been concerns about their treatment of child circus performers, many of whom are trafficked from Nepal.
India is considered to be the home of greatest number of child laborers. The Government of the country has passes Acts like Right to education Act and Child Labor Acts. But even after the passing of these Acts, the Government seems to have failed to check the number of child labors in the country. Its been noticed that a good portion of the children are hired by the circus companies. The children, who entertain, basically lead a life of isolation. They are deprived of their basic education apart from the other facilities. They are engaged into such hazardous activities that in a very early age they lose the charm of their childhood. The employment of children into circuses has also led to child trafficking where people, who dwell below the poverty line, often sell their children to the circus owners.
Studies on such children revealed that they are ill-treated, poorly paid and suffered abuse, including physical abuse, from circus owners or managers. In India, where many children work to support their families, there is still skepticism about the severity of the problem. To give children a safe place, the Supreme Court of India has banned child labor in the circuses. The Court declares that children, below the age group of 18 years cannot be employed by the circuses. Moreover, the Court further states that youngsters already working under the big circus names should be released. But all these efforts would go in vain if we cannot offer these children proper food, shelter and education. This can only be done if different NGOs and private organizations come forward to help these children.
