Class 4 boy polishes shoes to earn bread for family
A Class 4 student dropped out of school to take up shoe polishing after his father died of jaundice four months ago.
Rohit Singh Jatav, a 10-yearold boy, took up his father’s job to earn bread for his mother, brother and two sisters. The family of four lives in a room at ward 34 of Bharatpur Municipal Corporation.
“I earn ₹50 to 100 daily from polishing shoes from 8am to 6pm on the footpath in front of the women’s hospital. I am happy to look after my family after,” said Rohit. “I take ₹10 for polishing a pair of shoes. Local police and people support me to carry on the job at the footpath.”
Rajasthan accounts for nearly 10% of the total child labour in the country, official data shows. There are 5.7 million child workers in India aged between five and 17, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Rohit’s brother Jayant Singh (7) studies in Class 1, and sisters Kajal Kumari (13) and Shivani Kumari (8) in Class 5 and 3.
BHARATPUR:
“I am disappointed to see my child working hard to support us. We are poor. Nobody came forward to help us after my husband Govind Singh died,” said Rohit’s mother Sunita Devi.
She is yet to get widow pension though she has approached people’s representatives and officials. She has not got a toilet sanctioned under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Sunita is illiterate and her health conditions do not permit her to do a job.
“I try to earn something to ensure two-time meals to our family,” said Rohit, who wants to continue his studies, but now earning for family is a priority for him. “We are happy to see people bursting crackers on Diwali. We are not in a position to celebrate any festival due to our critical financial condition.”
Child Welfare Committee chairman Saroj Lahiya said, “We have not received any communication about this case of child labour. The boy and his mother can get benefits under welfare schemes.”
Deputy mayor Indrapal Singh said, “The family has not met me to tell about their problems, such as lack of toilets. We will contact them to offer help.”