More evidence of child labor at the Commonwealth Games

As if the pressure was not mounting enough on India’s mismanagement of the upcoming Commonwealth Games — highlighted recently by a FP photo essay — CNN uncovers fresh evidence that child labor is being extensively used to "beautify" and build for the games. Knowledge and reports of the practice have been documented from early on ...

Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

As if the pressure was not mounting enough on India's mismanagement of the upcoming Commonwealth Games -- highlighted recently by a FP photo essay -- CNN uncovers fresh evidence that child labor is being extensively used to "beautify" and build for the games.

As if the pressure was not mounting enough on India’s mismanagement of the upcoming Commonwealth Games — highlighted recently by a FP photo essay — CNN uncovers fresh evidence that child labor is being extensively used to "beautify" and build for the games.

Knowledge and reports of the practice have been documented from early on this year, but the Indian government is apparently not completely aware of what is going on at its own construction sites. According to the CNN article,

"The [government] minister… went on to say that ‘she had wished’ somebody would have come and told her of the allegations."

While this may be true, child labor is pervasive in India, and some argue it is better than the alternatives. Perhaps the government was really just looking out for the children.

Mohammad Sagha is an editoral researcher at Foreign Policy.

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