Children exploited in tobacco fields
Children of many villages of Lalmonirhat are working at tobacco plantations along with their parents who are unaware of the harmful effects of the crop. Harvesting and processing poses serious threat to their health and mindset. Although most parents are unaware of tobacco's harmfulness, some are well aware about the matter but they are sending their children to tobacco fields anyway to earn some extra cash. Also, harmful odor from tobacco makes the environment very uncomfortable for many children to work on the fields.
A large number of children, aged eight to twelve from farmer families at many villages in the district are becoming sick. But their parents are in denial and think the sickness is due to lack of proper diet.
Shariful Islam,11, son of Taher Ali at Sarpukur village of Aditmari Upazila, is a student of class five at Sarpukur Govt. Primary School said that he helps his parents to cultivate, harvest and process tobacco every year. He starts working in the tobacco fields from early morning, and continues to work before and after school. "Tobacco is our cash crop and we earn good from this crop. I don't know about anything much about tobacco. But it is true that bad smell from it makes me uncomfortable to stay long in the tobacco filed”, the child said. "My parents harvest tobacco and I transport tobacco leafs from home", said another child.
Delower Hossain, 50, of Sarpukur village of Aditmari Upazila said, he worked with his parents in the tobacco fields when he was child. So does his two school-going sons. "I have been working in the tobacco fields for the last 42 years, since when I was eight. I never faced any difficulty both physically and mentally and I'm still fit. So, I don't think my sons will face any difficulty either", he said.
On the other hand, another farmer, Haider Ali, 46, at Vadai village of Aditmari Upazila said, they have two sons and both they are studying at a local school. He never sends his sons to work in the tobacco fields. "I always share my view to other children and their parents", he said.
Habibur Rahman, a school teacher at Sarpukur village of Aditmari Upazila said, it is noticeable that children who work at tobacco fields are thinner than other children. Teachers always tell them no tot work at tobacco fields, but they ignore the alert due to their parents allowing them.
Contacting Lalmonirhat District Civil Surgeon CS Dr. Jahangir Alam Sarker said that bad smell and nicotine from tobacco is the source of different disease especially asthma, bronchitis, cancer and others. Disease source from tobacco easily attacks children than that of adults. He added that children should not be allowed to work at all, especially in tobacco fields.
Lalmonirhat Agriculture Extension Department (AED) official sources said that huge lands have been cultivated for tobacco in Lalmonirhat district this year. Aditmari Upazila Agriculture Officer Hamidur Rahman said that it is a bad practice for the farmers to allow their children working in the tobacco fields. Agriculture officials always campaigns to build up awareness among the farmers about the bad impact of tobacco for human body and soil, he said.
Published: 12:00 am Wednesday, April 02, 2014