Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Handle with care

This is with reference to the article "Our children ... let us handle with care" (Open Page, Feb. 19). It is true that a child is a powerful sensitive tape and living computer. Unfortunately, nowadays, with excessive importance given to materialism and competitive consumerism, the child is being treated as a robot.

The expectations and desires of parents and schools are thrust upon them. It is nothing but a crime against the defenceless children. Let us help these bundles of energy blossom into good human beings.

D. Samuel Lawrence,
Madurai, T.N.

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Children are increasingly being used in commercials, whether or not the product they endorse is of use to them. The products range from nappy pads to textiles, cycles, lubricants, cosmetics, cooking oil, and even credit cards. There is an ad that shows a child worker being offered a particular brand of tea by her woman employer while studying at night. Though the stress is on the product, the ad creates an impression of endorsing child labour.

Though the children in the ad business are called `models' or `child artistes', it does not alter the fact that they are employed to promote consumerism. Child labour in any form should be discouraged.

M.J. Ruben,
Chennai

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