Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Vol. 5 Num 1094 Fri. June 29, 2007       Letters to Editor Of child labour Rafiqul Islam Rime, Chittagong It is nice that people these days are vocal about child labour and abuse of the labourers. Sadly, child labour in the twenty-first century is rampant in societies where, in reality, exists no balance between the rich & the poor. And in Bangladesh, unfortunately though, a staggering number of children are engaged in horrendous jobs, when they are supposed to be in school. The ratio is alarmingly on the rise. Interestingly, we all know that poverty is one of the causes of this inhuman practice, and that they (poor children) are to be put back on track -- the school. And given the facts, one might wonder if we have ever thought of eliminating this curse from society through a proper rehabilitation that needs a good chunk of money! Have we figured out the exact number of these destitute children? Have we, at all, figured out the budget for the rehabilitation project for them? And then, have we made/sorted out a comprehensive plan for them yet? We need to financially back their families first, so that they do not depend upon their wards' earnings; and then we've to ensure education for them. Only through such a concrete action oriented programme can we salvage these unfortunate children.