Bonded child labour in a glorified economy

Venkatesh's mother (The Hindu)

Venkatesh was a nine-year-old boy in a country that claims to be the third largest economy in the world. He became a bonded labourer because his mother could not repay a loan of Rs15,000 that she had taken from her employer, Muthu. He became what Muthu called “collateral.”

The boy was employed in a distant farm to look after ducks and his mother was told that the loan amount now became Rs42,000 with interest and compound interest. The mother managed to collect that sum of money and reach Muthu’s farm that is 270 km away from her village. But Venkatesh wasn’t there.

“He ran away,” Muthu said. The man also accused the boy of having stolen his phone and some cash. He also abused the woman and her caste. Soon there was a police investigation and Venkatesh’s decomposing body was found buried near the Palar River. The autopsy stated the cause of death as “blunt force injury to the head by heavy weapon” (sic).

Today’s The Hindu has devoted one whole page to the tragic story of Venkatesh and others like him. Just the other day, Indian media celebrated the country’s rise as the third largest economy, beating Japan. I think that celebration of India’s GDP growth is a cruel joke on the millions of poor people in India. India may have beaten Japan in national GDP. But India’s rank on Human Development Index 2023-2024 is a poor 130 (out of 193 countries) while Japan’s is 24. On the Multidimensional Poverty Index, Japan towers far above India again: 1% vs 21%. 

From The Indian Express

What is India celebrating in the name of national GDP? The economic growth of a few individuals who are close to the Prime Minister? In 2024, India witnessed a 12% increase in its billionaire population, reaching 191 individuals. 26 new billionaires emerged in one year alone. According to economist Thomas Piketty, the top 1% of India’s population control 22.6% of the national income and 40.1% of the nation’s wealth.

Can India not distribute its wealth more equitably? Can India not provide better education and produce more job opportunities? Can India not stop all kinds of discriminations perpetrated in the name caste, gender, religion, and language – all of which became acute in the last decade?

India is growing economically. For a small section of its large population. Moreover, this growth is shorn of any moral commitment to justice, inclusion, and the wellbeing of the poorest. Only then can India claim greatness when the quality of life of its people rises above its cramped slums and exploited villages.