UNICEF Poster Girl Fiasco

It was in the month of October, this year that the Government of India, with much fanfare, enacted the law of banning child labour, in this country. It was welcomed by one and all.

The United Nation’s children fund, popularly known as UNICEF, while lending support to the government decision of banning child labour, had come out with its own anti-child labour campaign.

Eight year old Choonam Kumari alias Chuniya, from Northern Indian state of Bihar and hailing from a poor family, was the lucky one to have been chosen to feature in UNICEF’s awareness campaign against child labour. The UNICEF poster depicting Chuniya’s innocent smiling face, which had received country wide publicity, created the desired impact and became instant hit with the Indian masses.

Later, Chuniya once again hit the news in the Indian press, but this time for wrong reason. She was found in the act of washing utensils near a roadside eatery, belonging to her father. Besides washing plates, she served food to walk in customers. Chuniya looking frail and lost, washing empty utensils on roadside was splashed all over the Indian newspapers. It brought instant indignation and shame among the people here.

The image depicting Chuniya, followed by story of her poor plight, made a huge dent in the Indian government’s campaign against child labour. It speak hollow of the government intention of seriously tackling child labour issue. It is proved time and again that whenever the government came out with good intended act on paper, its implementation is left with lot to be desired. Like the saying, it is easier said than done.

Where as, UNICEF’s Anupam Srivastav, Director ( Communications), Patna, clarifying his stand on the issue, say there was no monetary compensation made to Chuniya’s family for using her photograph for anti-child labour campaign and nor she was their brand ambassador.