Rampant child labour means families receive no allowances, or even if they do, the money is too little
There are many economists who think investing in social protection schemes by the government is a waste of resources, money that could have been put in productive areas that give a boost to the economy and help generate jobs. But studies carried out in Nepal in the past have shown that social protection has had a positive impact on reducing family poverty and vulnerability. Now a new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children's Fund has it that social protection – helping families cope with economic and health shocks –reduces child labour and facilitates schooling. The report is based on evidences from a number of studies conducted since 2010. While there are different reasons for investing in social protection, 'eliminating child labour has to be one of the most compelling, given its pernicious impact on children's rights and well-being', says ILO's Director-General Guy Ryder.
Although child labour has been declining rapidly in Nepal, that it is still rampant, with more than a million children below 14 years of age still engaged in it, is a reality. This means their families receive no family or child allowances, or even if they do, the money is too little to put children out of work.
Nepal has launched a number of social protection schemes that have paid rich dividends. Way back in the mid-1990s, the then UML government had launched the old age allowance, or senior citizens' al-lowance, programme, under which citizens reaching 70 years are entitled to Rs 4,000 a month today. Studies show that in most families, especially in the rural communities, the money has gone to pay for the school tuition fees of their grandchildren or in the treatment of family members. Still some havetaken loans from a micro-finance company to start a business against a guarantee of the old age allowance.
A similar scheme exists solely for the residents of Karnali province. The "Bank Account for Daughters, Lifelong Security Programme," is another programme of Karnali, under which the provincial government deposits Rs 500 every month in the account of a girl child right from the time of her birth for a period of 20 years. At the end of the period, a sum of Rs 200,000 will have been deposited in her account – money that she is entitled to if she remains unmarried till then and has a secondary level education.
Madhes province has a similar programme for the girl child – 'Save Daughters, Educate Daughters' campaign. There are government allowances for single women while it provides financial subsidies to patients diagnosed with cancer or requiring heart surgery. And not to forget, there is the Employees Provident Fund and now the Social Security Fund that provide the much-needed cushion upon reaching retirement age.
Nepal's social protection schemes may not pay much, but they are a manifestation of the government's intent to provide succour, whatever little, to its needy citizens. But still a good percentage of the citizens are without any social protection as is evident by the rampant child labour and children out of school. It would thus be in the interest of the country to design the social protection schemes that are inclusive and child-labour sensitive.
Health workers' security
The government has amended the Security of Health Workers and Health Organisations Act, 2010 to ensure the safety and security of health personnel and health institutions. The government had to amend the Act following growing incidents of manhandling of health personnel and vandalism of health institutions over the death of patients in the course of treatment. The amendment notice, published in the Nepal Gazette this week, bans all kinds of disruptions in health institutions and misbehaviour with the health personnel. The local administration shall provide full protection to the health workers and health institutions upon request from the concerned institutions.
Any person(s) who commits any offence could face a jail sentence from two to five years or a fine not exceeding Rs 500,000, or both. At the same time, the concerned doctors and health institutions should also properly brief the family members of the concerned patient(s) about his or her health condition on time so that they are fully prepared for any eventuality.
Proper communication with the relatives of the patients can help prevent the aggrieved parties from committing any unruly acts. But, the law should not provide any legal protection for an erring doctor.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 20, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
