InfoAnda - Child misery behind Pakistan's festive bangles

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

China, Laos plan high-speed rail link | 8 December 2010
Anadigics sees tough 2011 as rivals chip away | | 4 May 2011
Sun Micro takes on Amazon in cloud computing | Technology | | 18 March 2009

Quake kills 50 in Myanmar, aftershock rattles Thai north | | 25 March 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Child misery behind Pakistan's festive bangles

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Child misery behind Pakistan's festive bangles AFP - Sunday, September 20 Send IM Story Print Pakistani boy Mohammad Adnan (right) is seen arranging bunches of bangles at a workshop in Hyderabad, east of the southern port city of Karachi. Adnan is just one of thousands of Pakistani children toiling to manufacture the popular glass bracelets that adorn the arms of practically every woman who can afford them in the south Asian nation of 170 million. HYDERABAD, Pakistan (AFP) - – Ten-year-old Mohammad Adnan leans towards the blazing furnace, moulding bangles for up to 12 hours a day to earn 18 cents to help feed his Pakistani family. "I'm just starting and can make six to seven tora (300 bangles) a day and earn 14 to 15 rupees," said Adnan, a smile on his tired face in Pakistan's southern city of Hyderabad. Adnan is just one of thousands of Pakistani children toiling to manufacture the popular glass bracelets that adorn the arms of practically every woman who can afford them in the south Asian nation of 170 million. The jewellery is particularly popular on festive occasions such as this week's Eid al-Fitr celebration that marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In the build-up to Eid, Pakistani artisans work overtime, hunched for hours over fires to churn out bangles in every possible colour, exerting maximum effort for least reward at the bottom of a high-earning industry. Mohammad Kaleem, Adnan's father, is one of the best paid, earning 3,000 rupees (36 dollars) a month for carving names and designs onto the thin glass. "I inherited this art from my father and now I am transferring it to my son," Kaleem said. Pakistan's bangle industry started on the banks of the Indus river in 1947 when a large number of artisans migrated to Hyderabad as British colonialists partitioned the Indian sub-continent, creating two independent nations. But for every bangle given as a present in wealthy homes this Eid, lies a disturbing tale of child labour, poverty and Dickensian misery. A 2004 survey commissioned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) found that 10,000 children aged five to 17 -- 1,000 of them younger than 10 and 29 percent of them girls -- were working in the bangle industry in Hyderabad. Most of them come from poor homes with illiterate parents, dropping out of school because of poverty. "I couldn't go to school after fourth grade because the whole family has to work to survive and our jobs coincide with school time," said 14-year-old Mohammad Kamran. Pakistan's last national child labour survey in 1996 said 3.3 million children were at work. Since then, the overall population has risen by 30 million and charities say the figures are much higher. "We believe these official figures are unrealistically low," says Pakistan's Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. "With at least 23 million children of school-going age not attending school, the actual number of child laborers must be higher," its website says. The ILO survey said 86 percent of the children worked full-time and that nearly 58 percent spoke of sickness or injury. The children suffer from fever, skin disease, cuts, wounds, headaches and backache due to heavy loads. The study highlighted the risks of working for hours at a time near the furnaces used for moulding and joining, and also from toxic chemicals used in coating and painting. In a closed room of a Hyderabad slum, Fatima Ali, 35, cuts a cylinder of glass into batches of 300, then starts to smooth the bangles over a flame. "I work along with my husband, three sons and two daughters (who are aged eight to 15) all day, yet we earn little more than 6,000 rupees (75 dollars) a month -- not enough to live a better life," she said. Fatima said she wore a bangle just once -- at her wedding 18 years ago. "I can't wear it now, because I feel no attraction in its colours and glitter like other women," she said. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Havana expects huge crowds for peace concert AFP - Monday, September 21 TV series shows broken New Jersey city fighting back Reuters - Monday, September 21 "30 Rock," "Mad Men" out to defend Emmy trophies Reuters - Monday, September 21 Lebanese critics blast Israeli director's 'Lebanon' AFP - Monday, September 21 Iranian filmmaker hits out at Tehran regime AFP - Monday, September 21 News Search Top Stories Yemen army 'kills 140 Shiite rebels' in north SA govt wants athletics chief fired over Semenya Crisis still grips Ukraine amid IMF jitters Thousands in Spain protest Opel job cuts I.Coast toxic dump 'still claiming lives' More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO Jackson mum, children get $86,000 per month IMF to sell 403 tonnes of gold to help poor Debate heats up over Wall Street rally More Most Viewed » Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO Poignant final farewell as Jackson laid to rest Remains of Jesus-era synagogue found in Israel Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Search Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 20 September 2009
Taliban leader Omar says foreign troops face defeat
'Eight dead' in migrant boat sinking off Morocco
U.S. Afghanistan commander's troops request ready | International |
I.Coast toxic dump 'still claiming lives'
Sacked Irish computer workers to get massive EU aid
Sweden slashes income tax further to boost jobs
Road to Mideast peace 'blocked': Abbas
Families bear brunt of prisoners' plight in Iran
Iraq arrests three antiquities traffickers
Russia finds no secret cargo on Arctic Sea: report | International |
Two Afghan children killed by suspected woman bomber
Ahmadinejad Holocaust jibe 'totally unacceptable': Moscow
Serb gay pride parade off on lack of security assurances | International |
Pakistan police raid US-contracted security firm
Airman's bracelet lost in World War II returned
Bear attacks tourists at Japan bus station
Seven Mumbai suspects in custody: Islamabad
Racially charged killing ignites Ill. community
Pakistan jails 6 Germans over 'terror ties': report
Pakistani villagers bury dead as bomb toll hits 40
College band musicians suspended in hazing probe
Multinationals break Vietnam law in formula sales
Thai protesters mark anniversary of 2006 coup
Obama extends greetings on Muslim holiday
AP NewsAlert
Toughest test coming up for health care overhaul
Taliban leader tells US, NATO to study history
NJ police: Dad tells 4-year-old cocaine is candy
Pakistan: Mumbai suspects to be charged soon
Obama rolling into week of high diplomatic stakes
ADM's price fixing movie opens in firm's hometown
A look at members of the Senate Finance Committee
Movie on price fixing opens in ADM's hometown
Germany's beer festival kicks off
Precious wins top Toronto film festival prize | Entertainment |
White Stripes get personal in new film documentary | Entertainment |
CIA expanding presence in Afghanistan: report
France's trial of the decade kicks off
Thousands in Spain protest Opel job cuts
Sticky U.S.-Japan issues loom for Hatoyama in New York | International |
Eight migrants drown off Morocco: officials
Taliban leader Omar says foreign troops face defeat
Uighur film to show in Taiwan, testing China | International |
Obama to hold joint meeting with Netanyahu, Abbas
Captured Pakistani militant dies of wounds | International |
China wants more transparency in anti-graft drive | International |
Colombia softens stance on rebel hostage releases | International |
Japanese conductor wins French competition
Battle for Nina Wang's estate mesmerizes Hong Kong
Taliban leader tells 'invaders' to study history
Thaksin supporters vow new protests in Thailand
Obama to meet Netanyahu, Abbas
U. of Texas gets AP photojournalist's $7M archive
White House scouts possible Obama Copenhagen visit
Ill. scientist dies, possible plague bacteria link
Experts: Defense in Yale killing has tough job
Bombs, vid of exploding turtle found in NY search
Gates lashes out at critics of U.S. missile plan
Woman's stabbed body found at Central Park hotel
NY nuke plant siren mistakenly warns of emergency
Obama, family out in Georgetown
China spending to continue despite fears: experts
Fed expected to hold steady to back fragile recovery
30 Rock and Mad Men out to defend Emmy trophies | Entertainment |
Precious wins top Toronto film festival prize | Entertainment |
Car lovers start to dream again at Frankfurt show
"30 Rock" and "Mad Men" out to defend Emmy trophies
'Little Berlin', tiny German village divided by Wall
Heidi Fleiss loses Las Vegas dog grooming business
Riot of styles as London Fashion Week heats up
Atty: Estate deal possible in Michael Jackson case
"Precious" wins top Toronto film festival prize
Munich beer festival kicks off
Vancouver won't crack down on minor t-shirt dissent in venues
"White Stripes" get personal in new film documentary
Crisis still grips Ukraine amid IMF jitters
Khamenei slams Israel, West in holy Eid sermon
Yemen army 'kills 140 Shiite rebels' in north
SA govt wants athletics chief fired over Semenya
Kremlin says Israel promised not to strike Iran | International |
Yemen president says rebels use human shields | International |
U.N. confident Afghan vote resolved before winter | International |
Al Qaeda threatens Germany in second online video | International |
Foreign media poisoning Iran's atmosphere: Khamenei | International |
Somali rebel leader calls for more suicide attacks | International |
Juanes concert in Cuba readies for big crowd | International |
Anglican Church leader concerned about Iraq's Camp Ashraf | International |
German party says coalition with Merkel only option | International |
Three Afghans arrested in US attack probe
US serviceman killed in helicopter crash
2 Colorado men, 1 NYC man arrested in terror probe
Obama, Netanyahu, Abbas to meet amid tensions
Suspect in 4 Va. killings posted violent rap songs
Thailand's 81-year-old king hospitalized
China slams Taiwan city over Uighur film screening
US defense chief defends shift on missile shield
Stateless boy 3rd in Japan paper airplane contest
Captured Pakistan Taliban leader 'dies of injuries'
Aides: Paterson urged to reconsider NY gov race
Three suspects arrested in U.S. terrorism probe
Uighur film to show in Taiwan, angering China
Magnitude-5.1 earthquake in Mexico felt in Calif.
Japan may provide more aid to Afghanistan
Captured Pakistan Taliban commander dies in jail
Thai leader calls for peace after activists' clash
Thaksin supporters vow new protests in Thailand
Philippine troops clash with Abu Sayyaf militants
India's central bank faces tricky balancing act
Taiwan govt to 'take over' high-speed rail: report
China: Profit at state companies down last year
S.Korea's Lee asks G20 for "well-sequenced" exit strategies
TV series shows broken New Jersey city fighting back | Entertainment |
Lebanese critics blast Israeli director's 'Lebanon'
Iranian filmmaker hits out at Tehran regime
Britons find home is where the honey is
New social network with French touch unfurls in Brazil
Child misery behind Pakistan's festive bangles
Real-life 'superheroes' take to the streets in US
Kenya rainmakers called to the rescue
SKorea readies 'Asia's best track' for F1 debut
Where have east Germany's women gone?
Beyonce to perform in Malaysia despite dress code
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01