Boy in Gujarat

Just to evoke a clearer mental image of how many kids are employed underage:

"There are more children under the age of fourteen in India than the entire population of the United States. The great challenge of India, as a developing country, is to provide nutrition, education and health care to these children."

-indianembassy.org-

child labor is a complex issue that is rooted in poverty, there is unwavering commitment by the Government and the people of India as by other developing nations to combat it. Success can be achieved only through social engineering on a major scale combined with national economic growth.The following link is a personal account of a frail boy who has escaped from Pappadum (Indian wafer) unit in Gujarat, India.the boy was sold into slavery by his own parents to an agent for 7,000 rupees (equivalent of $143)

http://socialjustice.ekduniya.net/ThematicArea/Children/news/news_item.2006-10-09.9800038261